Fiat Fullback Cross
FIRST DRIVE Style-conscious pick-up is lavishly kitted out
Pick-up turns on the style with an array of lavish kit
IN a bid to attract more lifestyle customers to its recently launched Fullback pick-up, Fiat has released a more stylish ‘Cross’ variant. It majors on equipment and rugged looks, and is priced to compete with the entry-level versions of the new Mercedes X-class.
Inside, the Fullback Cross gets the same leather steering wheel, heated leather seats and touchscreen infotainment system as the lesser LX model.
However, from the outside, the Fullback Cross features enough design tweaks to mark it out as new. Black door mirrors, handles and a black textured sports bar in the load bed are paired off with chunky-looking black wheelarches, and matt-black alloy wheels. Bi-xenon headlights also feature, alongside a new grille and more pronounced silver skid plates. Styling is subjective, but the Fullback Cross has more of a Tonka Toy look, so should appeal to the more style-conscious pick-up buyers it’s squarely aimed at.
There’s no shortage of kit on the Cross, including satellite navigation, Bluetooth, DAB, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. A similarly specced X-class would cost you a great deal more.
The 178bhp 2.4-litre diesel is the only engine available, and performance is respectable, with the five-speed automatic gearbox making the most of the torque on offer. Refinement is decent too, but the 3,100kg maximum towing weight is beaten by the Nissan Navara’s 3,500kg.
In the most part, the Cross feels the same as any other Fullback to drive, so it’s relatively refined and Suv-like but still can’t disguise its commercial origins. However, the four-wheel-drive system benefits from a locking rear differential, making the Cross the most capable Fullback in the rough stuff.