For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota C-HR have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Fiat 500X doesn't offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Pre-Collision System in the C-HR as “Superior.” The 500X scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

The C-HR's standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 500X and is only available on 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus.

The C-HR has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle's blind spots where the side view mirrors don't reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 500X's blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the C-HR has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus offers a rear cross-path warning system and it costs extra.

The C-HR's driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The 500X doesn't offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the C-HR and the 500X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight's “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the C-HR the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 145 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 500X last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Toyota's powertrain warranty covers the C-HR 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 500X ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the C-HR for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Fiat doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the 500X.

There are over 3 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Fiat dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the C-HR's warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the C-HR has a standard 520-amp battery. The 500X's 500-amp battery isn't as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the C-HR's reliability 20 points higher than the 500X.

The C-HR has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The 500X doesn't offer a CVT.

The C-HR stops shorter than the 500X:

For better traction, the C-HR has larger tires than the 500X (225/50R18 vs. 215/60R17).

The C-HR's tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 500X AWD's standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the C-HR has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 500X AWD.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the C-HR's wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the 500X (103.9 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

The C-HR Limited handles at .81 G's, while the 500X pulls only .78 G's of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The C-HR XLE executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the 500X Trekking (28.3 seconds @ .59 average G's vs. 28.7 seconds @ .59 average G's).

For better maneuverability, the C-HR's turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the 500X's (34.2 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

The C-HR has 2.1 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear headroom than the 500X.

The front step up height for the C-HR is 3.4 inches lower than the 500X (16” vs. 19.4”). The C-HR's rear step up height is 3.1 inches lower than the 500X's (16.5” vs. 19.6”).

The C-HR has a much larger cargo volume than the 500X with its rear seat up (19.1 vs. 14.1 cubic feet).

The C-HR's front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The 500X's rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the C-HR the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the 500X can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The C-HR has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The 500X doesn't offer a locking fuel door.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don't exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The C-HR's available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 500X's headlights are rated “Poor.”

The C-HR has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The 500X only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The 500X's optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The C-HR Limited's standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The C-HR has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won't have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the 500X and isn't available on the 500X Pop.

The C-HR's standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The 500X Pop doesn't offer automatic air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the C-HR has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn't offer rear vents.

The Toyota C-HR outsold the Fiat 500X by over 32 to one during the 2021 model year.