Sunday, February 06, 2005
Fiat Stilo
There's a popular saying that you only get one chance to make a first impression. Well, to some extent that holds good for the motor industry, but it doesn't stop a manufacturer from making improvements to a model where it finds a need to do so.
Such is the case with Fiat's Stilo, launched at a time when Fiat in Italy was receiving some negative press comment on account of its falling European sales figures and industrial unrest. Rover's 75 suffered a similar fate, being launched at the Birmingham Motor show on the same day that parent company BMW announced the possible closure of Longbridge... it certainly doesn't help. Against a backdrop like this the original Stilo didn't get off to the ideal start and UK fleet buyers were understandably a little cautious about exactly where the brand was going.
Fiat's answer is a new Stilo which, while not dramatically different in appearance, has a higher level of specification, better materials and some improvements to the exterior styling.
The 20-model UK line-up, priced from £9995 to £16,095 on-the-road, embraces three body styles - 3-door, 5-door and the Multi Wagon estate. A price reduction by an average of 3.5% across the entire range (representing a saving of some £500) reinforces the Stilo's value-for-money proposition. Even at entry level, standard equipment specification includes Dualdrive electric power steering, 'My Car' function customisation, front and side airbags, electric windows, remote central locking, 'Follow Me Home' headlamps and electric child security locks.
Our long-termer is the 2.4-litre in Prestigio trim. It's potent five-cylinder, 20-valve engine delivers 170bhp at 6000rpm and 165lb.ft of torque at 3500rpm - a relatively low engine speed for petrol engines which provides better in-gear acceleration. Top speed is 136mph and 60mph is reached in 8.5 seconds.
Combined fuel consumption is 28.8mpg and CO2 emissions are 233g/km, making this a less than tax-efficient model compared to most diesels. That said, with an on-the-road price of just £14,395 drivers will have to go a long way to find another car in this class with similar size, performance and specification for a lower price.
First impressions of the new Stilo indicate that Fiat has continued to make improvements in build quality and, though our test car is fitted with leather seats which are an £800 option, the interior looks and feels more in keeping with its rivals than was the case when the car was first launched. Exterior panel fit and shut lines are also up with the best in class now.
Overall styling is decidedly understated coming from a manufacturer that also boasts models such as the Multipla. Critics claim that it is lacking in personality but, had Fiat gone too far the other way, fleets would have said it was too wacky to be mainstream fleet.
In the end, it will be a little like those Italian designer shoes that you see in so many of the high street stores nowadays. You don't dare to try them on until one day you see a colleague in a pair and then you wish you had bought them for yourself. Be bold.
FIAT STILO 2.4 PRESTIGIO 5DROTR Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£14,395Max power . . . . . . . . . .170bhp @ 6,000rpmMax torque . . . . . . . . . .163lb.ft @ 3,500rpm0-62mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.5 secsTop speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136mphCombined MPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28.8mpgCO2 emissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .233 g/kmTypical monthly rental . . . . . . . . . . . . .£317. Car rental for the future?
Such is the case with Fiat's Stilo, launched at a time when Fiat in Italy was receiving some negative press comment on account of its falling European sales figures and industrial unrest. Rover's 75 suffered a similar fate, being launched at the Birmingham Motor show on the same day that parent company BMW announced the possible closure of Longbridge... it certainly doesn't help. Against a backdrop like this the original Stilo didn't get off to the ideal start and UK fleet buyers were understandably a little cautious about exactly where the brand was going.
Fiat's answer is a new Stilo which, while not dramatically different in appearance, has a higher level of specification, better materials and some improvements to the exterior styling.
The 20-model UK line-up, priced from £9995 to £16,095 on-the-road, embraces three body styles - 3-door, 5-door and the Multi Wagon estate. A price reduction by an average of 3.5% across the entire range (representing a saving of some £500) reinforces the Stilo's value-for-money proposition. Even at entry level, standard equipment specification includes Dualdrive electric power steering, 'My Car' function customisation, front and side airbags, electric windows, remote central locking, 'Follow Me Home' headlamps and electric child security locks.
Our long-termer is the 2.4-litre in Prestigio trim. It's potent five-cylinder, 20-valve engine delivers 170bhp at 6000rpm and 165lb.ft of torque at 3500rpm - a relatively low engine speed for petrol engines which provides better in-gear acceleration. Top speed is 136mph and 60mph is reached in 8.5 seconds.
Combined fuel consumption is 28.8mpg and CO2 emissions are 233g/km, making this a less than tax-efficient model compared to most diesels. That said, with an on-the-road price of just £14,395 drivers will have to go a long way to find another car in this class with similar size, performance and specification for a lower price.
First impressions of the new Stilo indicate that Fiat has continued to make improvements in build quality and, though our test car is fitted with leather seats which are an £800 option, the interior looks and feels more in keeping with its rivals than was the case when the car was first launched. Exterior panel fit and shut lines are also up with the best in class now.
Overall styling is decidedly understated coming from a manufacturer that also boasts models such as the Multipla. Critics claim that it is lacking in personality but, had Fiat gone too far the other way, fleets would have said it was too wacky to be mainstream fleet.
In the end, it will be a little like those Italian designer shoes that you see in so many of the high street stores nowadays. You don't dare to try them on until one day you see a colleague in a pair and then you wish you had bought them for yourself. Be bold.
FIAT STILO 2.4 PRESTIGIO 5DROTR Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£14,395Max power . . . . . . . . . .170bhp @ 6,000rpmMax torque . . . . . . . . . .163lb.ft @ 3,500rpm0-62mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.5 secsTop speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136mphCombined MPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28.8mpgCO2 emissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .233 g/kmTypical monthly rental . . . . . . . . . . . . .£317. Car rental for the future?
# posted by Liz Laurie @ 1:25 PM 
