Test: Fiat Tipo Cross

With the addition of the Cross, Fiat has also immediately revised the engine palette of the Tipo, and thoroughly too. To immediately start with some expectation management: in spite of their rugged appearance, the Tipo Cross is not available with four-wheel drive. It is a front-wheel drive, in this test equipped with a 1-litre 3-cylinder and a manual gearbox. We also encounter this technique in the regular versions of the Tipo.
The Fiat Tipo is no longer available in the Netherlands with the larger four-cylinder. Those outdated power sources ensured with their high consumption and ditto CO2 emissions and, as a result, considerable bpm amount, that the Tipo was virtually unsaleable with us. From now on, all Tipos, including the Tipo Cross, are equipped with the modern FireFly 3-cylinder that we also know from other Fiats and Jeeps, in this case with a maximum power of 100 hp. There is no choice. With this engine it takes little effort to score a decent consumption, at least as long as you switch up on time. That brings us straight to the weak spot of the machine. Although it delivers its maximum pulling power at 1,500 rpm, the engine appears to have little sense below 2,000 rpm. He only gets excited when the tachometer needle approaches 3,000. This means that a lower resistance must be sought for a quick insertion or overtaking action with the boldly shifting five-speed gearbox.

Off-road?

As a manufacturer you have to deal with natural laws that cannot be fooled. When you put a car higher on its legs, the center of gravity simply moves up with it. However, Fiat shows that raising the chassis does not necessarily lead to a week and a movable whole. The Tipo Cross chassis is sturdy and leaves a significantly more mature impression than the powertrain. The setting of shock absorbers, stabilizers and springs is set up in such a way that the Tipo feels nice and stable without being uncomfortable. There is absolutely no question of excessive tilting. The Italian maintains a nice course over the asphalt. This chassis is absolutely the boss of the modest drivetrain. The controls could have been a little less distant. It works numbly and fairly lightly, and to think that there is also a button that increases the assistance at parking speeds …
The main advantage of the raised bases is a slightly easier entry and exit compared to the regular variants. The Tipo Cross is no less than 16 centimeters higher than the regular type. This is partly because it is slightly higher on its legs, but also because of the roof rails, which also count. However, it does not affect the interior space in any way. Just like with the normal Tipo, you will not be short of space in the front and in the back it is also spacious enough for a compact middle class. According to the manufacturer, you can lose 440 liters under the rear shelf of the Tipo, not bad in the C-segment.

Function over form

Functionality has been paramount in the design of the Fiat interior. It takes little effort to find your way through this. The car can be operated logically. The instruments are partly digital, so you can easily visualize the desired information. The functionality of the infotainment system is limited, which has the positive effect that you do not have to swipe for many things, but can simply press a button. However, you can expand the possibilities with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The design of the buttons and switches does not deserve a beauty prize. It looks a bit cluttered, as if at the eleventh hour some buttons have been added here and there. Actually, that is no longer possible in this segment, just like the scratch-sensitive hard plastic with leather texture.
Fiat gives you the choice of two trim levels: for €25,858 you have the Tipo City Cross and the Tipo Cross is available for €28,190. The first is based on the Tipo City Life, which costs €23,990, which means that you do not have to pay an extra two thousand euros for the higher chassis (plus ditto entry) and the sturdy appearance, and you will also receive fog lamps at the front, as well as LED lighting. rear and rear parking sensors. With the more complete Tipo Cross you get, in addition to some external glimmer, quite a bit of extra functionality, for example LED headlights with automatic high beam, adaptive cruise control, also parking sensors at the front and sensors for rain and light. For those who deem it necessary, Fiat still has separate options such as heated seats, a reversing camera and a blind spot warning system.