FIAT's New Tipo Aims For Practicality And Value
- Aaron Alleyne-Wake
- May 5, 2016
- 3 min read
Today FIAT announced full details of the all-new Tipo hatchback and Tipo Station Wagon which will go on sale in the UK in September starting from £12,995 and £13,995 respectively.
Low on price, big on practicality
Three trim models are available on both models but the names of them are to be confirmed. What has been confirmed however is in the entry model buyers can expect air conditioning, remote central locking, front electric windows, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, DAB digital radio and six airbags. The Station Wagon adds rear electric windows and longitudinal roof bars. This is a generous amount of kit considering that the prices start at £12,995 and don't think that space has been compromised either.
Both models of the Tipo will feature best-in-class boot space, the hatchback offered 440 litres whilst the station wagon offers 550 litres. You can expect to find a good amount of storage in the cabin too, there are a variety of compartments and cubbyholes which add up to a total of 12 litres. Loading the car should be a doddle as the rear seats are a 60/40 split and can be folded flat. Not only is there space plenty of space for items, FIAT say there will be enough room in the back to seat three six-feet-plus adults thanks to class-leading headroom and legroom.
High Quality Build
The Tipo was designed at FIAT's Style Centre in Italy and was developed in Turkey, alongside Tofaş R&D. The car is made in the Tofaş plant in Bursa which is one of the best automotive factories in the world and has received a World Class Manufacturing Gold Medal. The new Tipo is bound to be well-built and should last you a long time then.
What provides the power?
If you go with the entry model then you will have two engines to choose from, the 1.4 litre petrol and the 1.3 turbo diesel. The petrol engine powers the basic models and provides a modest 95 bhp which is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Top speed is 115 mph and 0-62 will come eventually, with a time of 12.1 seconds for the hatchback and 12.3 for the Station Wagon. FIAT state that both models will offer a combined MPG of 49.6 mpg.
If you want something more frugal then you can opt for the 1.3 MultiJet turbo diesel engine which would cost an extra £2,000 and offers the same 95 bhp output. The top speed and 0-62 are around the same but what you're paying the extra for of course is for the fuel economy. The 1.3 unit will deliver a combined figure of 76.3 mpg but unlike the petrol engine it is mated with a five-speed gearbox.
For those of you who want a bit more oomph, you can opt for either the mid range or top model where you can choose to have the 1.4 T-Jet Turbo petrol, the 1.6 MultiJet turbo diesel or the 1.6 E-Torq petrol - the automatic model. These engines will give you a slightly larger output with respective top speeds of 124 mph, 124 mph and 119 mph.
So it looks like FIAT could be on to a winner with the Tipo as it cheaper than its rivals but also offers the best space. But will it be enough to tempt buyers away from the car such as the Vauxhall Astra or the Ford Focus? I'm sure it will at least do enough to make them think twice.
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