In a nutsell:
- Inexpensive Fiat Tipo gets a new update, with revised looks, a new front grille, and new batch of engines in the offing.
- New ‘Tipo Cross’ joins the line-up, an SUV-ish version of the hatchback with a higher ride height.
- New tech for the interior includes a new digital instrument clusters.
- Full price and specs to be announced later this year.
The affordable Fiat Tipo has been given an eye-catching refresh - with a new high-riding, SUV-inspired ‘Tipo Cross’ added to the line-up.
The Tipo might not be a vehicle for petrolheads, but it’s a practical, well-specced family hatchback that won’t punch a hole in your wallet.
In fact, you can lease a Tipo from just £174 per month, and you might consider it a quirky alternative to the likes of the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf or Kia Ceed.
Like those cars, the Tipo has long been available as either a hatchback or an estate.
But now a new Tipo has swung into the Fiat car park - the ‘Cross’, which sits 7cm higher than the standard car and has a stab at becoming a mini SUV coupe.
As well as giving you a more commanding view of the road, the Tipo Cross also features black plastic protective cladding on the bumpers and wheel arches, a different set of alloy wheels, as well as roof bars.
Fiat talks about the Tipo Cross having a ‘more powerful stance on the road’ compared with its Tipo siblings, and a muscular new front grille and bull bar certainly improves the car’s looks.
And there are also exterior styling tweaks to the bog-standard Tipos, to give the cars a more ‘modern, dynamic and elegant look’.
You get updated headlights, now with full-LEDs, refreshed bumpers and a redesigned grille, with the new ‘FIAT’ badge writ large across the front end - just like you’ll find on the new Fiat 500.
The Tipo has always been well equipped as standard, coming with air-con, Bluetooth and a DAB radio.
Now there’s also a new fully configurable 7-inch digital cluster to replace the previous analogue instrument panel, bringing the Tipo into the modern age.
A more ergonomic steering wheel provides better visibility of the dials, while the air conditioning controls have been updated with new chrome and black inserts.
Fiat has teased an ‘updated engine offering’ - but for the time being, we don’t know precisely what that is, as the Italian firm is keeping its lips sealed for now.
What we do know is that the outgoing line-up comes with a choice of three engines - a 1.4 litre petrol producing 95 hp, a petrol unit that develops 120 hp, and a 1.6 litre diesel that also produces 120 hp.
So how exactly might the Tipo powertrain look when details are eventually released?
A glance across at the recently updated Fiat 500 might give away a few clues… The new range of 500s are all plug-in hybrids, with plans to phase out traditional engines altogether.
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We’d be surprised if the Tipo doesn’t follow in the 500s tyre tracks to offer a hybrid model, too.
The other thing we’re not quite sure about is price, with cost to be announced later this year.
But with base models currently priced £15,820, you can expect a figure north of that amount.
A Fiat spokesperson says: “The Fiat Tipo was launched in 2016 with a saloon version, 5-door and Station Wagon, and now the family is set to grow with the addition of the new Tipo Cross.
“From launch it has contributed to the performance of the Fiat brand, with more than 70% of its sales volumes in markets beyond Italy and a total of 670,000 units sold.”
We’ll bring you more details on the Tipo as and when they’re released.
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