Fiat Tipo (2016) launch report

Although widely known today as a largely fun and affordable marque – due to the 500’s ongoing success – Fiat once made more rational products too. The 1980 mk1 Panda is a classic example and the Italian brand is resurrecting this approach with the new Tipo and re-entering the compact hatchback and estate market, the second-biggest sales segment in Europe.

Unfortunately, Fiat’s been away from this sector for a long time. The first generation Tipo stopped production in 1995; the brand’s last five-door compact hatchback – the so-so Bravo – was discontinued in 2014; and the brand hasn’t offered a compact estate since the Stilo Multiwagon ended in 2007. Since then Kia and Hyundai have done a rather good job at filling the void with two generations of Cee’d and i30 respectively.

Faced with such a tough gig, Fiat is trumpeting the Tipo’s “functionality, simplicity and personality”. That’s laudable enough, especially when business sales are crucial and it arguably succeeds in at least two out of those three aims.

The Tipo’s long wheelbase and more horizontal, rather than sloping, roofline ensure a genuinely functional cabin with good room for five, plus a large 440-litre boot space that trumps the Focus, Golf and the Koreans and is only beaten by the Civic and 308. The Tipo Station Wagon’s even greater 550-litre space also comes with some useful loading flexibility.

The Tipo’s pricing is really good value and simple with it, going up in £1,000 increments for each trim with equivalent engines. Starting at £12,995, the 95bhp 1.4 petrol five-door manual in base trim (the three trims have yet to have their names confirmed) gets air-conditioning, six airbags, front-electric windows, DAB radio, USB and Bluetooth. The middle trim starts at £13,995 for the same 1.4 unit, adding 5-inch a Uconnect colour touchscreen, 16-inch alloys, rear parking sensors and cruise control and top trim adds satnav, 17-inch alloys and a rear-view camera from £14,995.

A special business edition trim of the expected best-selling 120bhp 1.6 turbo diesel will also be available for £16,995, based on the mid-range trim but with a host of safety and comfort extras and a lower sub-90g/km tax rating.

Federico Rosasco, Fiat’s UK Tipo product manager, explained to Motor Trader that this model alone should account for one in five of all Tipos sold on these shores. At the time of going to press, residual values were yet to be announced, but Rosasco said the UK operation would be pushing “private channels at first to protect RVs”. That may be the toughest sell of all though. For while the Tipo is certainly functional and simple, it lacks enough of its third aim “personality’’ – due to generic exterior styling and a basic interior – to suggest strong retail desire. Time will tell.

Behind the wheel

The 120bhp 1.6 diesel manual (76.3mpg and 98g/km CO₂) is the key engine, set to account for 40% of sales. In both five-door and station wagon variants the unit has enough power for considered overtaking and suppresses cabin noise and vibration pretty well, despite hollow and cheap plastic interior rear door mouldings.

A dual-clutch automatic version of this engine will follow closely after, but wasn’t available to test. The word ‘sport’ doesn’t feature in the Tipo’s press pack and rightly so, but it still offers decent steering, brakes and body control through corners.

For buyers after a greater sense of speed, the 120bhp 1.4 turbo petrol (47.1mpg and 139g/km) is more sprightly with a 9.6-second 0-62mph time 0.2 secs quicker than the 120hp diesel. At £14,995 (£2,000 less than the 120bhp diesel and due to make up 15% of sales) it could be a good option for those not requiring a diesel’s range.

Neither the 95bhp 1.4 petrol manual nor auto-only 110bhp 1.6 torque-converter were available to try. In summary, unusually for Fiat, the Tipo is all about reason over emotion. If practicality is all a customer wants then the Tipo’s worth consideration.

About The Author

Guy Bird is a freelance motoring journalist