Test drive FIAT Tipo SW 1.6 Multijet Lounge, when reason prevails over the heart

The FIAT Tipo has become one of the “must-haves” for customers looking for the best compromise between price and practicality.

That is why this week, in the Highmotor road test section, we have with us the FIAT Tipo with estate body and 1.6 diesel engine producing 120 CV, a very logical combination.

Exterior design

The Tipo is a product designed within the Ægea Project, which seeks to identify and develop affordable mobility solutions for different markets, including Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Its design is based on the prototype of the same name, first presented in 2015.

We had already seen it at its press presentations, both in its saloon version and in its five-door variant, which you can read about via the links. However, we had not yet had access to the estate version, the most versatile and practical of them all.

The lines of the Tipo are, without doubt, a real surprise. Its front end, aggressive and attractive to the eye, matches perfectly with a harmonious side profile and a rear in which, in this estate body, the third volume has been designed so that it blends perfectly with the rest of the bodywork.

A large horizontal grille is the starting point, combined with three-dimensional details finished in chrome, enhancing its look. The elongated light units integrate, in this version, daytime LED lighting and elliptical projectors for the dipped beam. The result is visually very satisfying.

At the lower part we find a flush bumper with two large side mouldings that integrate the fog lights and are outlined in chrome, again improving the vehicle’s visual impression. A small air intake completes the ensemble, arguably the most attractive part of the bodywork.

The side view of the Tipo SW is, once again, very well balanced. The lines generated at the front flow dynamically in a slight upward trend that can be perceived in the crease at the height of the door handles or in the chrome strip running along the base of the windows.

The wheels, which on this trim are 17-inch with two-tone finish, match perfectly with the balanced character of the Italian model, which has not succumbed to the temptation of fitting excessively large tyres, aiming to improve only an appearance that in this class of vehicle is not the most important factor.

With a length of 4.57 metres, the Tipo SW enjoys very discreet proportions, combined with a height of 1.51 metres and a width of 1.74 metres. The difference compared to the five-door version is 20 centimetres in length, which falls exclusively on the loading area.

Interior design

The interior of the FIAT Tipo is, once again, an ode to practicality and simplicity. That does not prevent the dashboard from having a pleasant design to the eye, thanks to the fluid lines running horizontally across it, divided into two well-defined planes by a silver-toned strip at mid-height.

At the top we find the UConnect HD 7″ infotainment system, brand new and exclusive to the 5-door and SW bodies, as well as instrumentation of generous dimensions, easy to read and understand which also offers a large amount of information through an on-board computer controlled by the buttons on the left spoke of the steering wheel.

In the lower part of the dashboard, to the left of the steering wheel, we have a series of switches to control systems such as headlight height, fog lighting, tyre pressure monitoring or deactivation of the ESC stability control.

In the central area we find the hazard warning light switches and the activation of CITY mode for the power steering. At the bottom, a climate control module with large controls and, where fitted, the switches for the front seat heating.

Simple but solid construction and well finished
The materials used for the interior trim of the Tipo are simple and essentially rigid, but the feel is good, as is the fit between parts, which generates no spurious noise once under way, not even when driving over broken asphalt.

The seats are quite firm, and in our unit they were upholstered in a leather that looks attractive but feels rather stiff to the touch. With electric heating and lumbar adjustment on the front seats, they adapt properly to the driver, providing sufficient comfort on medium and long journeys.

At the rear there is a three-seat bench, split-folding 60:40. It also features, on the central backrest, a practical armrest which, admittedly, makes the backrest in the centre seat too hard. Space for occupants is very good, whether longitudinal, lateral or headroom for the legs, although it is better suited to two people rather than three, with the third seat somewhat restricted by a central console and a rather intrusive transmission tunnel.

The boot, with a capacity of 550 litres, is the largest and most capacious in the whole Tipo range. Its shape is very regular, and it also features a double floor with two different heights, which allows the load to be compartmentalised and, when the second-row backrests are folded down, leaves a completely flat surface with no steps.

Driving dynamics

With a range of engines powered by petrol, diesel and LPG, our unit is equipped with a powertrain consisting of a 1.6 Multijet II diesel engine producing 120 CV and 320 Nm, coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox. This combination, the most performance-oriented in the range, gives the Tipo a homologated 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 10.1 seconds, with a top speed of 200 km/h.

The engine is, without doubt, one of the key points of this family compact
This powerplant is one of FCA’s best known, fitted to a multitude of models from the brand. It is an engine that delivers excellent results in both performance and consumption figures. In fact, this Tipo has a homologated average consumption of 3.7 litres/100 km, 4.4 litres/100 km on the urban cycle and a negligible 3.3 litres/100 km on the extra-urban cycle. Homologated CO2 emissions are 98 g/km on the combined cycle.

Although we know these figures are unattainable in real life, in practical use the Tipo is one of the most frugal vehicles in its class, with figures of around 4 litres on the open road, below 5 litres on dual carriageways and no more than 6.5 litres in urban driving being easily achievable. In our test cycle, after more than 1,100 km, the average consumption came to 5.4 litres/100 km.

Besides its economy, the Tipo is remarkably agile with this engine, which has unusual strength once past 1,800 rpm. Below that figure the performance is somewhat weaker, but usable from 1,500 rpm. The thrust this engine delivers up to 3,500 rpm, beyond which it starts to fall off, is such that it is easy to think it has 15 or 20 CV more than the official figures suggest.

Power is sent to the front axle through a 6-speed manual gearbox, with a feel that could be improved. While in normal use the gears engage easily and without effort (although the travel is rather long), as soon as you try to change gear a bit faster, it is easy to miss a gear and the action becomes rough and imprecise. It is therefore a gearbox designed for use without any pretensions of any kind.

The suspension comprises MacPherson struts at the front and a semi-independent torsion beam at the rear. While the suspension does a good job of isolating the body from road imperfections, its rather soft tuning means that the inertia of the nearly 1,500 kg it weighs becomes clearly apparent.

In-cabin sound insulation is also good, with sufficient acoustic isolation thanks to the good work on both aerodynamics and well-controlled rolling noise. Motorway journeys become an easy task, accompanied by a multimedia system that in this latest version also offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. However, at least in our unit, it showed somewhat erratic behaviour when connecting an iPhone, even locking up on a couple of occasions. It seems there is a software update that resolves this issue.

Range and versions: how much is the unit you see worth?

The Tipo SW range consists of four different trim levels -Pop, Easy, Lounge and S-Design- powered by two petrol engines -1.4 with 95 CV and 1.4 T-Jet with 120 CV-, two diesel engines -1.3 Multijet with 95 CV and 1.6 Multijet with 120 CV- and an LPG-powered option based on the 1.4 T-Jet with 120 CV.

As of October 2017, the range has a starting price, promotions included, of €12,600, corresponding to the 1.4 95 CV Pop version with 6-speed manual gearbox. If you want to opt for diesel, the most affordable option is the 1.3 Multijet 95 CV Pop with 6-speed manual gearbox, with a starting price of €15,201.

Our unit, commercially named 1.6 Multijet 120 CV Lounge 6-speed, has a price starting at €22,410. The standard equipment for this version is very complete, with items such as automatic climate control, daytime LED lighting, the visibility pack with light and rain sensors, cruise control, 17-inch wheels and roof bars.

To all this must be added Mediterranean Blue metallic paint (€510), the Lounge Leather Pack (€900), the Lounge Business Pack (€900), the Safety Plus Pack (€500) and the Lounge Comfort Pack (€300). The final result is a catalogue price of just over €25,000, which after the discounts applied by the brand comes down to around €20,000, depending on each customer’s particular conditions.

Technical specifications of this car

SedanFIAT Tipo1 version · from 20,100 €