SLEEK AND CHEERFUL
Fiat Tipo offers handsome looks and great kit on a budget that’s hard to beat
My gran was fond of a saying or two and one of her favourites was: “Look after the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.”
This popped into my mind when I was test-driving this week’s car, the Fiat Tipo, which is the brand’s budget buy. And with prices starting at just £12,995, you can’t go far wrong.
The name Tipo isn’t new. Fiat had a car wearing that name badge back in the 90s but that is the only thing about this car that is a nod to the past.
It is a good-sized, five-door, family hatchback. The Tipo looks a lot more prestigious than its price tag suggests thanks to a bold front grille, stylish headlights, nice creases along its body and a neat rear spoiler.
The level of standard equipment is impressive across the range and all models get six air bags, air conditioning, Bluetooth, DAB radio, front electric windows, central locking and split-folding rear seats.
The interior of this car isn’t exactly inspired but I didn’t expect it to be and therefore wasn’t overly disappointed. After all, you get what you pay for. Another of my gran’s favourite sayings.
When you are behind the wheel you wil l f ind a good variety of seat and steering wheel adjustments to ensure you get the perfect position.
The seats are comfortable and the ride is reasonably smooth. The steering could be sharper and more responsive but overall this car’s handling is decent. The 1.6 diesel engine in my model performed well and packed a decent punch when I hit the gas. The dash is well laid out and all of the functions are simple to use. The cabin also has a decent amount of cubby holes for storage and there is a USB port so you can keep your mobile charged. In the back, you can easi ly f it three adults. Knee room is excellent and while head room is a little bit tighter, unless you are over six foot this shouldn’t be an issue. If this car is going to be mainly used for transporting the kids then the good news is that the rear door openings are wide, which means getting car seats in and out is easy. This was a big plus for me. You will also find ISOFIX mounts on the outer rear seats. Storage is very good and the 440 litres of boot space will be more than adequate as you go about your daily business. If you need more space, easy-to- flip rear seats provide this. My range- topping model was fitted with a five- inch touch screen. This came as standard on my car but is an optional extra on other models. My advice to you would be don’t bother. It is so small it is pretty much useless. There are two petrol and two diesel engines to choose from and you can also have either a manual or auto. There are also four trim levels on offer. If you want a new car that is practical and a budget buy then the Fiat Tipo is definitely worth a look.