Fiat Tipo review

Were you one of those kids who bumbled along in life while your younger sibling became the star student, the golden child, and secretly (but not so secretly) your parents’ favourite child? Well, spare a thought for the Fiat Tipo. 

Despite being a practical, well-equipped and purse-friendly family hatchback, the Tipo lives in the shadow of the exceedingly popular and Instagram-famous Fiat 500. While its style-conscious sibling puts fashion first, though, the Tipo’s strong suit is value-for-money; it undercuts many big-name rivals, including the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. 

The Tipo is a spacious five-door hatchback with a decent amount of standard equipment;  even the most basic versions get air conditioning, electric front windows, a DAB radio and Bluetooth. And if the hatchback isn’t versatile enough for you, there’s also a Fiat Tipo Station Wagon estate that takes on the Focus Estate and Golf Estate. 

Depending on trim level, the Tipo goes head-to-head on price with the likes of the Kia Ceed, and can’t compete with the budget price tag of the Dacia Sandero. Choose a diesel engine, though, or one of the upper trim levels, and the price rises to make the Vauxhall Astra a tempting alternative. 

But is there more to the Fiat Tipo than the cold light of cost? Read on over the next few pages for everything you need to know about Fiat’s family car, including the best engines and trims. And once you’ve made your decision, head to our New Car Buying pages to see what kind of saving you can make, without haggling.