Facelifted Fiat Tipo hatchback on sale now priced from £17,690
The updated Fiat Tipo hatchback will hit the UK market later this month sporting a few cosmetic tweaks and a new SUV-inspired Cross trim-level
Fiat has followed up the recently facelifted Panda city car with an updated version of its budget-conscious family hatchback – the Tipo. Fiat has now confirmed prices, it’ll be available to order at the end of November this year, and on UK roads early in 2021.
The revised model comes with updated styling and improved technology – but the biggest news is the arrival of a rugged new Fiat Tipo Cross variant, which sits at the top of the hatchback’s line-up, sporting tall-riding suspension and SUV-inspired body cladding.
Prices for the tweaked Tipo start at £17,690 – for which buyers get 16-inch steel wheels, LED daytime running lights, rear parking sensors, electrically adjustable door mirrors and an active grille shutter, which automatically closes off the car’s front end to help the engine warm up more quickly in cold conditions.
Buyers also get a range of driver assistance systems, such as a drowsiness monitor, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed assist and autonomous emergency braking system. Like most modern cars, there’s also lane-keeping assist and cruise control – along with a brand new seven-inch digital driver information display in the instrument panel.
The mid-range Tipo Life starts from £19,680 and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, front fog lamps, rear privacy glass and a demister function for the door mirrors. Inside, there’s a leather multifunction steering wheel, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a seven-inch infotainment system which offers support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Fiat’s SUV-inspired Tipo Cross variant builds on the Tipo Life’s specification with unique front and rear bumpers, a new radiator grille, black plastic body mouldings for the wheel arches and side skirts and roof rails. The car’s chassis also gets a tickle with taller suspension struts and a fresh set of 17-inch alloys, which provide an extra 7cm of ground clearance.
Inside, the Tipo Cross features unique upholstery, a rear-seat armrest, a couple of extra USB ports, a height adjustable passenger seat and an integrated sat-nav system – while front and rear parking sensors are fitted as standard. Unlike most of its rivals, the hatchback also comes with a full-size spare wheel. Prices for the rugged new model start from £21,690.
Fiat has overhauled the Tipo’s engine range for this facelifted model, dropping the previous car’s 1.4-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel units. In its place is a sole 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine – which is a naturally aspirated version of the turbocharged unit fitted to the Fiat 500X crossover.
It’s mated to a five-speed manual gearbox and generates 99bhp – which is around 20bhp less than the 500X’s engine. Fiat says it’ll return up to 51.4mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, while producing 125g/km CO2.
New Fiat Tipo: facelift updates
The standard Tipo line-up has been updated with a subtle new look. Most of Fiat’s changes are concentrated on the front of the car, with the hatchback receiving new LED headlights and a fresh chromework section for the front bumper.
The radiator grille is also new – and features a more imposing design. The nose has been fitted with the latest version of Fiat’s badge, too, with the Tipo becoming the second model to adopt the updated logo after the all-new, pure-electric 500.
Inside, Fiat’s revisions are limited in comparison to the exterior refresh, comprising a new steering wheel and some new trim for the climate control panel. The design changes are applied to both the hatchback model and the estate variant, which continues with a starting price of £19,190.
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