Fiat Linea 1.3 Multijet 95 CV, road test (Exterior design, interior and finishes)

We continue with the test of the Fiat Linea diesel, one of the so-called low-cost models whose greatest strength is its full equipment, a good boot and a competitive starting price without having to give up the comforts of a modern car.

We told you all about the 95 CV diesel engine in the first part of the test, a small engine that meets the demands of a model like the Linea. Now, in the second part, we turn to the exterior and interior design.

Exterior design

The most controversial point of the Fiat Linea is its exterior design, because, to be frank, it doesn’t have lines that win you over or a made in Italy design that appeals at first sight. It is simply functional: it is a three-box body derived from a city car.

The car received a facelift this year, adding some elements that modernise the front of the Linea, with a new grille that is more modern and less busy than the previous generation, and a new front bumper with chrome elements.

And the changes stop there, because the rest of the design hardly varies from the previous model. The side profile remains intact and the rear – possibly the area where the design could be improved most – barely changes, with a new chrome trim in the centre of the tailgate, and the number plate has been moved from the lower part of the bumper to the centre of the boot lid.

It is worth noting that standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels (195/55 R16), something uncommon in a low-cost car. Another element you don’t have to pay extra for is the front fog lights. And as a final point on the exterior design, the body height is worth highlighting, an interesting feature if you regularly drive on roads in poor condition or unpaved areas (not necessarily rural ones, because judging by the state of some roads…)

Interior design, roominess and finishes

The interior design has improved considerably over the previous generation. The Linea always took the Fiat Punto’s interior as its basis, and this restyle follows suit by adding the interior of the new Punto. The colour combination of black on the dashboard and light-coloured areas, together with the seats, makes the cabin look lively.

The quality for a model like the Linea is decent, that is, there is a lot of hard plastic across the dashboard, but the quality is in line with the car’s price and the fit and finish seemed correct to us. The instrument cluster is modern and comprehensive in terms of information, but it surprised us that it seems taken from a petrol model because it goes up to 7,000 rpm and has no red zone.

The driving position is odd at first: the steering wheel adjusts for height but not for reach, and the seat sits slightly high, so it takes a while to get used to the driving position. That said, visibility is good and armrests are standard, something essential on long journeys. The seat padding is firm, but appreciated on longer trips.

In the rear seats, the legroom is surprising, reaching or surpassing that of any compact on the market. Furthermore, as there is no raised central tunnel, three adults can travel reasonably comfortably in the rear.

In short, we liked the interior for its look and colour combination. There is a lot of hard plastic in the materials used – but that is typical for the segment – and the space in the rear seats is on a par with a compact.

Storage and boot

In terms of storage and glove compartments, it doesn’t fall short: it has a large main glovebox and cup holders in the centre console, as well as a small compartment under the centre armrest and reasonably sized door pockets.

Although its best quality is the boot with a capacity of 500 litres, the only drawback is that the loading aperture isn’t very wide because of the tailgate, but for those who want an economical car with a good boot, the Linea doesn’t disappoint in this respect.

In the third part of the test, we will focus on the standard equipment, review safety and give our overall verdict on the car.

Photos | Rubén R., Test team, Sergio R., Diego G. Moreira