Fiat Tipo (2016-2024) Review

Written by Andrew Brady
Quick overview
Pros
- Decent cabin space and a big boot
- Should be cheap to insure
- Very, very, very cheap to buy
Cons
- Feels very, very, very cheap inside
- Not great on infotainment and safety kit
- Mediocre to drive
Overall verdict on the Fiat Tipo
"They say that ‘you pays your money and you takes your choice’. The thing is, what if your priority is to pay as little money as possible, and you don’t give a flying Fiat about the quality of what that money gets you? Well, dear friends, that’s where the Fiat Tipo comes in."

In a similar mould to the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra with which we’re all familiar, the Fiat Tipo in this review is a compact family hatchback with ample interior space and a big boot. It comes with a range of petrol and diesel engines, and while its styling is nothing out of the ordinary, it looks smart enough compared with family hatchback rivals.
The difference is, though, that this car was cheap when new and follows this through to the used market. We mean really, really cheap. Or rather it was when first launched - a few years back the Tipo could be had brand new from a little over £15,000. However, because it also happens to have catastrophic resale values, there are even bigger savings to be made on the used market. Even other ‘budget’ offerings like the Skoda Scala can’t be picked up this cheaply.
Now, unfortunately, we don’t live in a world where you get something for nothing, so there are penalties to pay for such a low price tag. The interior is short on quality - in terms of both its materials and its assembly - while the early basic versions do without some fairly important items of standard equipment, a half-decent infotainment system being the most notable absentee.
The Fiat Tipo only has three Euro NCAP stars out of five (cars fitted with the optional safety pack achieved four), meaning pricier rivals are generally safer, while the engines on offer aren’t very economical and are merely mediocre on performance and refinement. In fact, the driving experience is pretty mediocre all round, with a slightly unsettled ride and stodgy handling.
The thing is, though, that with the majority of these shortcomings, they only really become a problem when you start comparing the Tipo with other cars. Yes, it struggles in most areas compared with rivals but judged in isolation then none of it is stuff that you couldn’t put up with, especially if you’re looking to spend as little as possible. So, while the Tipo is far from being the best family car, there’s certainly a place for it.
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Is the Fiat Tipo right for you?
What’s the best Fiat Tipo model/engine to choose?
What other cars are similar to the Fiat Tipo?
Comfort and design: Fiat Tipo interior
"The Fiat Tipo isn't exactly at the cutting edge of interior style and technology, but it's a comfortable and roomy place to sit. Not every function is buried in a touchscreen, either, making it easy to operate on the move. Early entry-level cars came sparsely equipped, however."

The Fiat Tipo offers loads of adjustment for both the driver’s seat and steering wheel, so it’s pretty easy to get comfy, and the seats are reasonably supportive, too. You get a decent view of the road ahead, but your over-the-shoulder visibility isn’t that great due to a small rear window with bulky pillars either side."
Entry-level Easy cars didn't have rear parking sensors, either, and you had to go all the way up to Lounge trim before you get a reversing camera.
The radio (or touchscreen, depending on the trim/age of your car) is placed high up on the dashboard so you don’t have to divert your gaze too far from the road, and while the basic nature of the infotainment system (we’ll talk more about this in a minute) makes the cabin feel rather low-tech, it does mean there are physical buttons for most functions, which is good for ergonomics. The buttons and switches - even those on the steering wheel - are all big enough to hit at a glance, and they’re all clearly marked, too.
Quality and design
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, Nav and Stereo in the Skoda Karoq
Space and practicality: Fiat Tipo boot space
Handling and ride quality: What is the Fiat Tipo like to drive?
"The Fiat Tipo doesn't stack up well next to pricier rivals in terms of the driving experience, but in isolation it's decent enough to drive. If you're coming from an older car then it'll certainly be an improvement."

If you’re just looking for a cheap way to get around (which many used buyers will) then, judged in isolation, the Fiat Tipo will be absolutely fine for most drivers. However, once you start comparing it with its contemporaries, you quickly realise many of the savings that were made were probably taken from the engineering budget.
It’s not an uncomfortable car by any means, with a rather soft suspension setup, but despite this, it’s still true that most rivals - budget ones or otherwise - do a better job of mopping up the effects of a scruffy road surface, and that’s the case at all speeds. Even on roads that look fairly immaculate, you’ll feel a tremor resonating underneath you that you just don’t feel in other cars of this type.
The softness in the suspension also results in a floaty feel over crests and more body roll in corners, and that - plus the fact it's shorter on front-end grip than most rivals - mean it doesn’t feel particularly eager about changing direction. Its agility is further dented by its steering. It’s too heavy at low speeds, too light at higher speeds, and whatever your speed, it’s about as accurate as a pound-shop pregnancy test.
It really doesn't make much difference which version of the Tipo you opt for, none of them are particularly entertaining to drive. Fine in isolation, but today it's been outclassed by basically every rival.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Fiat Tipo?
Refinement and noise levels
Safety equipment: How safe is the Fiat Tipo?
MPG and fuel costs: What does a Fiat Tipo cost to run?
"A cheap car needs to be cheap to run, too - and although none of the Fiat Tipo's engines are exactly thirsty, they aren't as economical on paper as some of the car's rivals."

This is a super-important area for a budget car because if you want your car to be cheap to buy, chances are you also want it to be cheap to run. Tested against the latest WLTP standards, both the Fiat Tipo’s petrol engines will return an average figure of around 40mpg, while the 1.6 diesel has an equivalent figure of around 56mpg.
In both cases, though, those figures are some way behind those of rivals. The Skoda Scala, for instance, can better the Tipo by around 5mpg in diesel form, and a whopping 10mpg in petrol form, officially at least. Those are not inconsiderable differences, and will really mount up over time if you do significant mileage.
How reliable is the Fiat Tipo?
Insurance groups and costs
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Fiat Tipo?
How much should you be paying for a used Fiat Tipo?
The Fiat Tipo was a real bargain when it first went on sale, while heavy depreciation means there are some good value used buys to be found.

Happily, for used buyers at least, values of the Fiat Tipo dropped like a lead balloon even from its affordable new prices. Values start from around £5000 for a 2017 Tipo 1.4 Easy Plus with 50,000 miles.
Even opting for a last of the line Tipo with just 15,000 miles on the clock needn't cost much - reckon on spending around £11,000 for one with the last of the line 1.0-litre petrol engine.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
What is the Fiat Tipo based on?
Is the Fiat Tipo automatic?
Is the Fiat Tipo reliable?
Fiat Tipo cars for sale on heycar
Fiat Tipo1.0 5dr
202157,129 milesPetrolor £6,790£6,990
£200 offGreat priceSG143NUFiat Tipo1.4 Mirror 5dr
202143,344 milesPetrol£164 mo£9,068
DeliveryFiat Tipo1.4 Easy 5dr
201757,106 milesPetrol£5,995
Fair priceDeliveryFiat Tipo1.3 Multijet Lounge 5dr
201816,892 milesDieselor £7,850£8,350
£500 offCV116SQFiat Tipo1.0 Life 5dr
202127,924 milesPetrol£167 mo£9,832
Good priceS419EG
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