1.4 120hp T-Jet S Design 5dr

Easy-Going Motoring....

I bought the Tipo new nearly 3 years ago. I was attracted to the S-Design trim level as it had a high level of kit especially for the price, including Xenon headlights, climate control, rain sensors, auto lights, nice alloy wheels, part (fake) leather interior, 7" touchscreen with TomTom nav plus Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. Mine also had the Safety Plus Pack which bumps the EuroNCAP score from 3 to 4 stars and adds Autonomous Emergency Braking and Adaptive (Radar) Cruise Control, both of which work well.

It drives decently with no surprises - the ride is comfy considering the 18" wheels and state of many roads, it's refined on all but the roughest surfaces and the engine is very responsive for its size, with a nice note to it at higher revs (it's the same unit used in the Abarth 500). It's not the sharpest handling thing but it somehow feels quite alert without being twitchy. Fuel economy is a little below what I expected at 37mpg over 15,000 miles, but it seldom does more than 20 miles at a time (commute is just 4 miles) and it has done better on long runs - adding around 30 miles to a tank of fuel.

There's some good storage spaces in the cabin including two large cup holders, decent enough door bins, reasonable glove box and a large storage area in front of the gearstick, which would hold a wallet, phone and a can of drink without any bother. The boot seems big for the size of the car and I only have the hatchback version - the estate must be massive.

Running costs have been par for the course - fuel economy not quite as good as expected but the diesels are much more frugal if that's what you're after. Servicing costs have only been £180 ish per year - this year I expect it to be over £300, but Fiat have been running a '3 years servicing for £299' offer since I bought my car, which is a big saving. Dealership has been very accommodating and professional, even though I bought it from a different one. Reliability issues have amounted to a new battery and a new DAB antenna, both fixed for free under warranty. Fiat Roadside Assistance is included for the full 3 year warranty period & having used it when the battery failed, they were very polite and helpful. It's also lost a lot less money than I expected (around £2000 per year), in part helped by the discount on list price that I got (around £3500).

Overall very happy and would definitely buy another Fiat.

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