The roomiest Fiat 500, the 500L, is being updated. There are three distinct versions of the car: Urban, Cross and Wagon, offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines. Fiat says 40 per cent of all components are new.

Externally, the revised front bumper with signature trapezoidal trim and the chromed “studded” three-dimensional lower grille mesh are intended to give the car an elegant look. The chromed inserts at the rear are designed to underline the 500 family feeling and horizontal trims reinforce the car’s presence on the road. The fog and reversing lights are now in the underside of the bumper.

The updated Fiat 500L is available in ten pastel or metallic colours and with three types of roof: body-coloured, glossy black or white or matt black, giving customers a choice of no less than 36 colour combinations. The colours available are the new Denim Blue, Sicilian Orange and Donatello Bronze, Bossa Nova White, Hip Hop Yellow, Darkwave Black, Minimal Grey, Heavy Metal Grey, Beatbox Green and Pasodoble Red.

Fiat says the interior of the new Fiat 500L is completely new, starting with an updated dashboard intended to give a more high-tech and iconic look.

The area behind the restyled multifunctional steering wheel, now with added chrome accents, has an updated design with two circular instrument gauges on either side of a 3.5-inch colour graphic display. This combination of new steering wheel and dashboard improves the visibility of the instrument cluster, which is further enhanced by white backlighting. The driver also benefits from a TFT colour digital display.

The new Fiat 500L displays a wraparound glazing concept to improve visibility and ease of parking, thanks to its glazed A-pillar. Available as a fixed panel or electrically opening, the 1.5m² optional panoramic glass roof of Fiat 500L means that occupants can enjoy a light, bright passenger compartment.

The dashboard has new, larger storage compartments and the introduction of new comfort features, such as the central armrest. The gear lever has also been redesigned and placed higher up for greater driving comfort.

Boot volume with the rear seat in the forward position is 455 litres for the Urban and Cross models. The boot on the Wagon offers up to 493 litres when the two additional seats are folded. With the rear seats folded and tumbled, capacity rises to 1480 litres for Urban and Cross and 1509 for the Wagon.

The new Fiat 500L is available with three distinctive personalities: Urban, Cross and Wagon. What Fiat describes as the more adventurous character of the Fiat 500L is represented by the Cross version, which has new bumpers and a skid plate, new two-colour diamond-finish 17-inch alloy wheels and a bold grille to give it a sporty appearance. Ground clearance is raised by 25mm, and there’s a new Uconnect HD Live 7-inch touchscreen and a new Mode Selector; with a choice of Normal, Traction+ and Gravity Control.

Normal is the default function and is designed to provide a comfortable, safe ride in ordinary conditions. Traction+, which can be activated at speeds of less than 18mph, helps the car to start on slippery surfaces and provides optimal torque distribution across the front axle, braking the wheel with less grip on the ground and transferring torque to the one with more grip. Gravity Control keeps the speed constant when descending steep slopes, and can be enabled when the Traction+ function is active. The new Fiat 500L Cross is 4.28m long with a wheelbase of 2.61m. It is 1.80m wide and 1.68m high.

The metropolitan soul of the Fiat 500L finds expression in the Urban version, available in Pop Star and Lounge trim levels. In Pop Star trim, also available in the new Denim Blue colour, the new Fiat 500L Urban comes complete with ABS, ESP, 6 airbags, air conditioning, cruise control, multifunction Techno-leather steering wheel, electrically adjustable & heated door mirrors, 3.5-inch colour TFT display, 5-inch Uconnect radio with Bluetooth, voice control, USB port and Aux-in, rear seat with 60/40 split, LED daytime running lights and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The Lounge trim features upgraded seat upholstery, a dashboard fascia finished with technical fabric, dual zone climate control, fixed glass roof, chromed inserts, fog lights, Uconnect HD Live 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, voice control, DAB radio, 2 USB ports and Aux-in, rain and dusk sensors, rear parking sensors and Cargo Magic Space height-adjustable load platform. The Fiat 500L Urban measures 4.24m in length, has a wheelbase of 2.61m, is 1.78m wide and 1.66m high.

The Wagon, available in a seven seat configuration, is available in Pop Star or Lounge trim. Fiat says the 500L Wagon is the most compact seven-seater on the market at 4.38m long.

Exclusive packs are also available across the new Fiat 500L range: City, Comfort, Safety, Style and Style Plus packs.

Autonomous City Brake, available as part of the Safety Pack, consists of a laser sensor located on the top of the windscreen to monitor the position of the cars ahead. When travelling at less than 18mph, the system automatically brakes the new Fiat 500L if a potential collision is imminent.

Other key equipment includes the child monitoring mirror to keep an eye on rear seat passengers, LED daylight running lights and parking lights. As well as electrical adjustment and heating, the door mirrors can be upgraded to fold electrically and add puddle lights, to illuminate the area around the car when light is poor.

The passenger compartment lighting is also improved, with the Style Plus Pack providing with ambient light in the base of the central console, on the central tunnel and on the doors. The optional rear parking camera, included in the City Pack, has an improved resolution and active grid lines to assist parking.

New smartphone integration systems are debuting on the new Fiat 500L. Smartphone apps can be accessed directly on the 7-inch high-resolution touchscreen of the Uconnect HD Live system integrated in the dashboard. The system is also available with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.

The next-generation Uconnect system features a hands-free Bluetooth interface, audio streaming, text reader and voice recognition, AUX-in and USB ports with iPod integration, controls on the steering wheel. A rear parking camera and the new TomTom 3D built-in navigation system are also optionally available. The Uconnect LIVE app offers music streaming with Deezer and TuneIn, news from Reuters and connected navigation with TomTom LIVE, as well as updating Facebook and Twitter. Users can also monitor their driving style with eco:Drive and my:Car.

The Fiat 500L is now available with the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Apple CarPlay integrates the iPhone with the display and native controls of the car so users can make calls, play their music, send and receive messages, get directions optimised for traffic conditions and much more, while staying focused on the road.

With Android Auto drivers can access Google Maps, with voice-guided navigation, real time traffic information and lane guidance and Google Play Music, among other music services. They can also make and receive calls and send messages while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

The Fiat 500L can be upgraded with the BeatsAudio system, which boasts a total power of 520Watt. The package is completed by an amplifier with DSP and 8 channels, featuring a built-in advanced equalisation algorithm.

There are two diesel engines: the 94 bhp 1,300cc 16V MultiJet, also available with Dualogic transmission, and the 118 bhp 1,600cc 16V MultiJet. All engines comply with the Euro 6 standards.

The new Fiat 500L will be priced from £16,195 OTR for a Fiat 500L Urban 1.4 95hp Pop Star, with first deliveries taking place from September.