Sharpened-up Fiat Tipo stickered

Stellantis South Africa has continued its rollout of updated models, with the latest being the refreshed Fiat Tipo.

Arriving after the tweaked 500 and 500X, the Turkish-built Tipo, which debuted six years ago and benefitted from its first mid-life enhancement last year, arrives in South Africa once again as either a hatchback or sedan with the estate and crossover-inspired Cross remaining Old Continent only models.

Aesthetically, the Tipo’s exterior tweaks consists of a new grille brandishing Fiat’s block letter corporate badge, new headlights with full-LEDs on some models, updated front and rear bumpers, a new Ice Matte colour option and restyled alloy wheels.

For South Africa, the line-up comprises seven models spanning three trim grades; base, City Life and Life.

Starting the range off, the unbadged base model only comes in sedan form with notable features comprising 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, a five-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system, front electric windows, Electronic Stability Programme and a tyre-pressure monitor.

Moving up to the City Life nets automatic as opposed to manual air-conditioning, a 3.5-inch TFT instrument cluster display, a leather wrapped multi-function steering wheel, embedded satellite navigation, all-around parking sensors, front fog lamps, rear electric windows and a reverse camera.

ALSO READ: New Cross variants joins updated Fiat Tipo range

The City Life’s specification also includes keyless entry, auto on/off LED headlights, height adjustable driver’s seat, LED daytime running lights, electric mirrors and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Sitting at the top-end of the range, the Life receives the same items of the City Life, in addition to push-button start, rain sensing auto on/off headlights, cruise control, 17-inch alloys and an electrochromatic rear-view mirror.

Underneath the bonnet, Fiat has retained the same petrol engines as the pre-facelift Tipo, but dropped the 1.3 Multijet turbodiesel the sedan offered.

Whereas the European model derives motivation from the Brazilian developed and made turbocharged Firefly engines, the South African Tipo continues to offer two normally aspirated mills; the 1.4 that makes 70kW/127Nm and the 81kW/152Nm 1.6.

Top speed is rated at 185 km/h for the former and 192 km/h for the latter, with the benchmark 0-100 km/h sprint finished in 11.5 and 11.2 seconds respectively.

Combined fuel consumption stands at 5.7 L/100 km for the 1.4 and at 6.3 L/100 km for the 1.6 with transmission choices consisting of a six-speed manual on the former and a six-speed automatic on the latter.

Pricing

A five year/100 000 km warranty and three year/100 000 km service plan is again standard across the range.

• Tipo Sedan 1.4 – R299 900
• Tipo Hatch 1.4 City Life – R369 900
• Tipo Sedan 1.4 City Life – R369 900
• Tipo Hatch 1.4 Life – R399 900
• Tipo Sedan 1.6 City Life AT – R429 900
• Tipo Hatch 1.6 City Life AT – R419 900
• Tipo Hatch 1.6 Life AT – R449 900

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