2020 Fiat Tipo Review | Made its debut in 1988, the Fiat Tipo lineup quickly rose to prominence due to its affordability, practicality and boxy look. Although the Tipo has never been ranked among the top small cars, it is nevertheless a solid choice especially for buyers who look for an affordable and reliable vehicle.
The fact that the lineup survived for over three decades only proves how much customers like it. And now, we get to see the latest member of the lineup: the 2020 Fiat Tipo. What kind of a small car the new Tipo is? We give it a review of it below.
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2020 Fiat Tipo Redesign
Outwardly, the new Tipo looks decent. It has a boxy look, sleek and smooth lines, and many contours all around the body. It doesn’t look stand out that much but it sure is pleasant to look at. That shouldn’t be a surprise considering its form follows function.
Similar to the exterior, the interior also speaks loudly of practicality. From the design, you can just know that it is focused on basic functionality and providing a sufficient level of comfort. Again, form follows function.
The materials used for the interior are decent at best and have average build quality. The base model comes with very limited features albeit many features are available on the higher models. The driving position is normal, shuffling the wheel and seat to customize it is easy, and there are decent headroom and plenty of legroom for everyone including rear passengers.
What is unfortunate, however, is that the base model comes equipped with a radio, instead of an infotainment display. A 5.0-inch infotainment display is available only to mid-range models. For such a vehicle at a very affordable price, this is understandable.
Performance
Next is the performance. What engine options available for the 2020 Fiat Tipo? What about the power outputs? Fiat offers four engine options (two petrol, two diesel) and five power outputs for the Tipo. The following are the engines and the outputs:
- A 1.4-liter petrol T-jet engine, with outputs of 95 horsepower (non-turbo) and 120 horsepower (turbo)
- A 1.6-liter petrol MultiJet, with an output of 110 horsepower
- A 1.3-liter diesel, with an output of 95 horsepower
- A 1.6-liter diesel, with an output of 120 horsepower
The 1.3-liter diesel engine is the least powerful but is a decent economical option. The more powerful 1.6-liter diesel, on the other hand, is more refined, powerful, and quieter than the 1.3-liter although it is not as economical.
As for the 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter petrol engines, the former is a lot quieter and more fun to drive between the two. The 1.6-liter may have better output than the non-turbo 1.4-liter engine, but it has less fuel efficiency and more carbon dioxide emissions, which makes it less attractive option out of the two.
For the transmission, a five-speed manual transmission is available for the entry-level models, while a six-speed automatic transmission is offered for the models with larger engines. Fiat has announced that a dual-clutch transmission will be offered in the near future although the exact date is still unclear.
Driving
For the Tipo, the automaker puts the focus on reducing ride harshness, vibration, and noise effect. As a result, the 2020 Tipo is a small that is comfortable to cruise with little to no disturbance from wind noise or rough roads.
While the Tipo may not be as refined or as fun to drive, for its price it surely is a solid choice. The level of grip is decent and can turn with minimal body roll. Riding on the 2020 Tipo is reasonably comfortable but when the stiff suspension and harsh bumps meet, the car feels a bit unsettled. This unsettled feeling is even more apparent when riding on damaged roads.
2020 Fiat Tipo Price
The starting price of the Fiat Tip is around $18,800. At this price, you get the base model with standard features. The highest starting price is around $26,500, which gets you the top model with many features. These are the starting prices. Additional packages and features are not included.
Verdict
The 2020 Fiat Tipo is just like its predecessor. It is surely a good small car, nothing more and nothing less. It has a good design, practical and comfortable interior, decent engines with both petrol and diesel options available, and various features available. Good, but nothing special.