Fiat Tipo Station Wagon (2016) Review

The dashboard plastics are soft touch but textured in the style you’d expect of a 1990s Nissan and the layout has no finesse or style. It all works, though, and the essentials like air conditioning come as standard, along with Bluetooth, a USB port and an AUX socket. The only thing that’s missing is auto emergency brakes, which are optional rather than standard, regardless of trim level.

The basic system in the Easy model is perfectly adequate, and given that it is the entry-level model the inclusion of DAB and Bluetooth is welcome. If you’re on the tightest budget you won’t feel left out in terms of audio entertainment.

On the higher grades the 7-inch touchscreen sounds good on paper but can actually be quite fiddly to use, particularly on the move. Many of the icons and buttons are quite small on the screen, making it difficult to tap on the desired area. 

The most recent Tipo models have added a new design of touchscreen with a simplified button arrangement, and also incorporating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing you to use native apps and also bypass the need to go for the top spec models in order to get navigation in the car. 

The basic 1.4-litre petrol is cheap to buy but is an old engine and offers a best combined figure of 37.2mpg combined under the tougher WLTP rules, so expect mid-to-low 30s in normal driving. The turbocharged version of this engine is no better at 36.7mpg, but this is offset by significantly better performance that makes for easier driving.

The 1.6-litre diesel is the pick of the range in this respect, with a combined figure of 50.4mpg - certainly the best here but in the grand scheme of things it is not particularly competitive..

Because the Tipo Station Wagon range offers relatively modest performance, the result is the insurance groupings it falls into are also pleasingly low. In Easy trim with the 1.4-litre non-turbo petrol engine it falls into group 7, lower than some cars in the size class below.

Easy Plus trim and above moves most engines up one insurance group, with the 1.6-litre diesel moving into group 15 and the highest of any model. If your premiums are generally low this could mean the Tipo costs peanuts to insure, and also may be a good choice if your premiums are usually on the high side.

The Fiat Tipo Station Wagon has the same engine range as the hatchback, with 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines producing 95PS, 110PS and 120PS along with 1.3-litre and 1.6-litre MultiJet diesels.

The best engine of the lot is the 120PS 1.4-litre T-Jet petrol, which is responsive and quiet, reasonably priced and economical.

The diesel options are significantly more economical, with every variant officially capable of more than 70mpg – but the 90PS 1.3 MultiJet diesel is lacklustre and clattery. The 1.4 MultiJet is altogether better, with punchy torque delivery and decent refinement – but it’s also the most expensive engine option in the Tipo range, which will limit its appeal.

Euro NCAP tested the Fiat Tipo in 2016, and awarded it two separate scores; three stars overall for the standard version and four stars overall for the version with the safety pack. The scores for both versions are broadly identical.

Euro NCAP awarded 82 per cent for adult occupant protection, 60 per cent for child occupant protection and 62 per cent for pedestrian mitigation. The standard model was awarded a lowly 25 per cent for safety assist, while the safety pack version had this increased to 57 per cent.

ESC is fitted as standard, but there is no option for lane assist, an active bonnet or automatic emergency braking activated by a pedestrian. When EuroNCAP tested the Tipo the optional safety pack adds automatic emergency braking that is triggered by another vehicle as well as a speed limiter - now new vehicles are fitted with AEB as standard. 

Fiat does not quote an official unbraked maximum towing weight, but the braked towing weight depends on the engine and gearbox choice. Bottom of the pile is the 1.6 petrol automatic, at only 800kg, so is best avoided if you plan to tow.

The 1.6-litre MultiJet 120PS with the DCT gearbox offers 1000kg braked, while the rest of the range including the 1.4 petrol and T-Jet, and the 1.3 and 1.6-litre MultiJet diesels with a manual gearbox can tow up to 1200kg.