PERSONALISATION options are all the rage these days - motorists want to stamp their own mark on their vehicles and help them stand out from the crowd.

And the latest arrival from Fiat offers all the individuality and character you could wish for in a car.

First came the Fiat 500, a fun and funky city car that grabbed the attention of younger buyers. Then came the chunkier 500L with its larger dimensions aimed at customers looking for extra space and practicality.

And now Fiat has introduced the 500X which sits neatly between the two other models and is described by Fiat as the Italian Crossover.

It carries forward all the key design traits of the 500 with similar lights, grille and striking chrome trim, yet it adds a whole lot more into the mix.

There is a broad range of six engines - three petrol and three diesel - along with three transmissions options - manual, dual clutch auto and nine-speed fully automatic. Then there are three traction options - 4x2, 4x2 with traction and 4x4 on demand.

So already the customer has lots to choose from, but there's more.

For the 500X comes in two very different styles - a city look available in Pop, Pop Star and Lounge trims or the more rugged off-road appearance available in Cross or Cross Plus grades.

And of course, you can choose from a host of add-on packs and 12 colour shades along the way.

The 500X is priced from £14,595 to £25,845 and is perfectly placed to take on the likes of the Renault Captur, Nissan Juke and MINI Countryman.

I tried out two models on a lengthy road route that incorporated lots of fast, winding country lanes and the car definitely lived up to all the hype.

First up was the city-styled model in Pop Star trim powered by a 1.6 MultiJet 120bhp diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

This model is priced at £19,345 (£21,545 with options) and can sprint from 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds with a top speed of 115mph.

According to official figures it can achieve 68.9mpg on a combined run with carbon emissions of 109g/km.

There's no denying the 500X oozes Italian charm with its curvaceous lines, distinctive chrome trim, 17-inch alloys, rear spoiler and fun and funky character.

Step inside and it's difficult not to be wowed by the modern, sophisticated and cheery surroundings that greet you with a bright body-coloured dashboard fascia, contrasting seat shades and a host of techno treats at your disposal.

The interior is spacious and can easily accommodate four adults - five at a push - and the boot can cater for 350 litres of luggage (245 with spare wheel) and that capacity can be increased further thanks to 60:40 split folding rear seats.

Creature comforts include Fiat's Uconnect infotainment system with touchscreen and Bluetooth streaming, dual zone air conditioning, sat nav and plenty more besides.

There is also what Fiat calls a mood selector which allows the driver to switch the car from auto to sport or all-weather depending how you feel. And I have to confess the Sport mode was just perfect when tackling sweeping bends.

The acceleration was beautifully smooth, the steering very precise and there was ample bite from the diesel powertrain. And when an extra burst of pace was needed to get past a tractor then it was always at your disposal.

The 500X handled superbly well and gripped the Tarmac like glue meaning it could be thrown around for fun.

Next up was the more rugged off-road looking model in Cross trim powered by a 1.4-litre 140bhp MultiAir petrol engine.

This car priced at £18,595 (£21,295 with optional extras) can reach 62mph from a standing start in 9.8 seconds and tops out at 118mph. It can deliver a combined fuel economy of 47.1mpg with emissions of 139g/km.

Once again the car looked fabulous although a little more serious with its off-road bumpers with protective shield, dark grey roof rails and satin chrome finish to the door handles, front moulding and tailgate.

The interior was also lees flamboyant with a matt grey dashboard - but all the technology was very similar. The mood selector on these models offers auto, sport and traction for the extra grip.

Out on the road route, the 500X again proved itself very capable and coped easily with motorways, steep inclines and fast lanes and once again there was ample power from the engine as the car moved effortlessly through the six-speed manual transmission.

All 500X models come with a comprehensive range of safety features as standard but a Dynamic Safety Plus pack costing £650 adds the likes of lane departure warning, blind spot detection, a rear-view camera and forward collision mitigation.

Fiat believes there will be a 50:50 split between diesel and petrol sales with 70 per cent of customers opting for the city look.

But whatever the percentages, one thing is guaranteed - the compact crossover market is a better place with the arrival of the 500X - billed as one car with two souls.