Fiat’s team player
The Fullback pick-up is designed to meet all your business and family needs, claims GILES BLAIR
YOU only have to consider the number of pick-up trucks that you see on the roads to realise that they are increasingly popular as family transporters.
Put simply, they are no longer the preserve of farmers and builders. And even those owners who do regard them as workhorses are now likely to demand the latest technologies to help them go about their daily lives.
And so it is that many manufacturers have made their pick-up trucks reflect the flexible professional and recreational needs of those at the wheel – even down to the styling of the vehicles.
A brilliant case in point is the Fiat Fullback – currently available in either SX or more upmarket LX trims, with an even more “lifestyle” friendly version, the Cross, due to arrive soon.
The front of the Fullback has an upmarket appearance of a sports SUV, with its swept-back fascia, chunky front bumper and roomy cab-forward layout.
Two strips of satin silver trim are used to frame the front grille on the entry-level SX, which has 16in alloy wheels as standard, while LX versions also have chrome-finished door mirrors, door handles and side steps, along with 17in alloys.
Step inside and you’ll find a carlike cabin, with an attractive twotone black-and-silver dashboard, supportive and comfortable seats and pretty generous rear passenger room.
The list of goodies onboard is impressive, too. Even the SX offers an MP3-friendly sound system with Bluetooth connectivity, central locking, a start/stop system, electric windows, cruise control with a speed limiter and a raft of airbags along with ABS with EBD and ESC with hill-hold assist.
Move up to the LX and you’ll get the likes of a 6.1in touchscreen infotainment system with sat nav, DAB radio and handy rear view camera, electric heated door mirrors, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and auto lights and wipers.
The SX is powered a 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine that produces 150hp and 380Nm of torque and its official combined fuel economy figure is 40.9mpg with CO2 emissions at 180g/km.
The standard SX transmission is a six-speed manual gearbox with on-demand four-wheel drive.
The power and torque outputs of 4WD LX version are increased to 180hp and 430Nm yet its official average mpg and CO2 figures remain the same.
Opt for the five-speed automatic transmission and those stats change to 37.7mpg and 196g/km of carbon emissions.
And despite the creature comforts, the Fullback is a useful worker. It offers a one-tonne payload with a bed length of up to 1.52m, 3100kg unbraked towing capacity (2700kg for the SX model) and a best-in-class turning circle.
There’s a sophisticated double wishbone front suspension and a solid axle with leaf springs for maximum reliability and sturdiness.
With on-the-road prices starting at £26,683 for the SX and topping out at £30,943 for the LX auto, it’s well worth considering making the Fiat Fullback part of your team.