CAR TESTAs a Cross, the refreshed Fiat Tipo looks just a bit more adventurous. But under the cool decoration is mainly a sober family car that mainly has its relatively favorable price.
Fiat Tipo Cross (100 hp / 74 kW), from €25,858
You can see that the Cross is the richest Tipo, especially on the outside. Compared to the other versions (Life and Sport), this top-of-the-range has SUV-like bumpers with contrasting matte paint, different 17-inch alloy wheels and a body that rises 16 centimeters higher above the asphalt. The latter is mainly due to the addition of tougher roof rails, because you do not have to count on an above-average high seating position.
Even as a Cross, the Tipo is not an SUV, but in a sense the successor of the Fiat Bravo. It is available as the tested five-door hatchback and as a station wagon and is in the class of the Volkswagen Golf, among others.
Furthermore, this Fiat is mainly a price fighter: even the reasonably richly dressed Cross is soon about 5000 euros cheaper than a comparable Kia Ceed, Opel Astra or Renault Megane. In particular, thanks to the standard assistance systems on the Cross, such as an automatic emergency braking system, a high beam assistant and adaptive cruise control, this Fiat offers great value for money. And it is above average spacious.
On board, however, it is difficult to deny that you have chosen the Transavia among the compact family cars. The Tipo does not excel in terms of technology, appearance, use of materials and finish. The plastics are rock solid and the design somewhat uninspired, although there is little to complain about the ease of use and the clarity. The driving behavior is somewhere between smooth and a tad drowsy, while the 100 hp 1.0 petrol engine (the only choice Fiat in the Netherlands supplies) is sufficient, but not exactly lively. In addition, the consumption (during this test 1 to 11.9) against.
Plus
+ Handy size and five doors
+ Attractive price
+ Plenty of space
+ Excellent assistance systems
min
– Disappointing (test) consumption
– Lazy motorbike character
– Interior design and atmosphere
– Material use and finish.
Conclusion
This Cross does its best to be fun, but most of all it’s down to earth and affordable. Fine, but this makes the Tipo – despite its brightened appearance – a Fiat that you buy with your mind rather than with your heart.
Additional test notes
The current Tipo generation dates back to 2015, but the model was introduced to us in 2017. In a sense (in terms of size anyway) this is the successor of the Bravo, which previously succeeded the Stilo. The first Tipo in history saw the light of day at the end of the eighties.
In addition to the tested Cross, Fiat also supplies a less ruggedly decorated version of the five-door hatchback. This is available as a basic version and as a slightly more luxurious Life. For those who need more space, a longer estate is also available. Where the five-door Tipo is 4.38 meters long, the station wagon measures 4.57 meters. In other countries, consumers can also get a four-door sedan.
Also in terms of luggage space, the Wagon is significantly more spacious with a capacity of 550 liters compared to 440 liters for the hatchback. Where the prices of the normal Tipo start at 22,190 euros, the wider variant costs at least 23,390 euros.
At the beginning of this year, the Tipo was given a small makeover. This included a new nose, which now bears the modernized Fiat logo. This consists of four stylized letters. Strangely enough, the older logo is still on the tailgate, on which the letters are in a shield.
In the Netherlands, every Tipo is supplied with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, equipped with a turbo. With a maximum power of 100 hp (74 kW), it performs sufficiently for this type of car, but that’s about all. Especially when you don’t challenge the power source but drive relaxed, he doesn’t like to put the socks in it. It is sufficiently smooth and quiet, but no more than that.
By the way, it pays to keep the revs of the engine low, because the fuel consumption clearly shoots up as soon as you put the turbo to work. The test consumption of a tight 1 in 12 is not to write home about, but when you drive a little more sporty, the Tipo is even more thirsty.
Also standard is a five-speed manual transmission. That may sound a bit poor in a segment where the six-speed gearbox and smooth automatics are starting to become the norm, but this transmission fits perfectly in the Tipo. It works lightly and sufficiently clearly and the proportions appear to be well matched to the character of the bike. So you don’t have too many revs on the highway; the engine noise is not too bad, while you still feel quite a bit of flexibility when overtaking.
The relatively favorable price of the Tipo is attractive. In fact, it’s its biggest plus. Especially because it combines it with excellent standard equipment: even the cheapest version already has a tire pressure monitoring system, a lane assistant and a system that tells you what the maximum speed is at the location where you are driving. Air conditioning and a radio with USB and dab + are also standard, as are an automatic interior mirror and a power steering with two positions (one works lighter for example when parking). A miss from Fiat: the automatic emergency braking system is only standard on the most expensive Cross.
If you prefer not to have 15-inch steel wheels and mirror caps and handles without paint, it is better to choose the Life. This adds for 23,990 euros – in addition to 16 or 17 inch wheels – including a larger touch screen, a sun visor with make-up mirror and Apple Carplay and Android Auto. You also get automatic air conditioning and an armrest between the front seats.
On the Cross, Fiat screws more beautiful, including 17-inch ‘Diamond Cut’ wheels, full LED headlights (with brighter light), front and rear parking sensors, an adaptive cruise control and a USB connection for the rear passengers. In itself, this is a neat list for just over 28,000 euros, although it remains striking that relatively common (security) systems are optional. For example, a blind spot warning costs 350 euros extra, Fiat wants an extra 100 euros for a height-adjustable passenger seat and you have to pay 300 euros extra for a reversing camera – which, incidentally, does not really give a sharp image.
How does the Fiat Tipo Cross compare to the Ford Focus Active? watch here the AutoWeek double test.
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