Fiat Tipo Review 2023 | Top Gear
Advertisement
BBC TopGear
BBC TopGear
Subscribe to Top Gear magazine
Sign up to our Top Gear Magazine
Subscribe
Wednesday 4th October
Car Review

Fiat Tipo review

£14,915 - £20,910
610
Published: 13 Dec 2016
Advertisement
Fiat Tipo review: Probably Fiat’s least interesting car, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth ignoring

Good stuff

Cheap, better to drive than some others in its class

Bad stuff

Dull to look at, diesels aren't great, material quality

Overview

What is it?

The Fiat Tipo was originally launched in 1988, and quickly made a name for itself by being boxy and practical, and affordable to buy. This new one is a successor to the disappointing Bravo, which replaced the disappointing Stilo, which replaced, well, you get the idea.

In 2016, the modern-day Tipo is looking to tread a path more like the original Tipo and less like its disappointing descendants.

Advertisement - Page continues below

Prices start at £12,995, which is less than a base Ford Fiesta costs. And yet the Tipo is the size of a Focus. Bigger, in fact, should boot space and rear legroom be your major concerns. It’s the age old ‘big car for small money’ offer, which Kia and Hyundai used to major in (they’ve upgraded and now sell at VW Golf prices) and for which Dacia has recently become the go-to brand.

While Fiat has one of the smaller ranges in the mainstream car business, it increasingly has one of the more diverse: there are glamorous, fun cars like the Fiat 500 and Fiat 124 Spider, and then utterly prosaic models like this Tipo and the even squarer Panda. Oh, and the 500L and 500X, which sit somewhere between the two.

Advertisement - Page continues below

Our choice from the range

What's the verdict?

Probably Fiat’s least interesting car, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth ignoring if you love a bargain.

Essentially, Fiat’s pulling the ‘one-size-up’ trick that used to suit the Koreans so well, offering a Focus-sized car for nigh-on Fiesta money. And yes, you can pinpoint where the money has been saved, but it doesn’t stop the Tipo being a fit for purpose, honest workhorse. In light of how fun the 124 Spider is and how cool the 500 remains, the Tipo is probably Fiat’s least interesting car. But that doesn’t mean it’s worth ignoring if you love a bargain. 

The Rivals

compare car finance
Powered byZuto Logo
more on this car
Take one for a spin or order a brochure
Powered byRegit Logo

Subscribe to the Top Gear Newsletter

Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy.

BBC TopGear

Try BBC Top Gear Magazine

Get your first 5 issues for £5
subscribe