Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
The entry-level Fiat Tipo is cheaper than the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf by a considerable margin. In fact, you’ll have to go for Cross trim or above before you start to match those rivals' entry-level prices. Unfortunately, the news isn’t so good if you want the mild-hybrid variant, because it ups the list price significantly.
On top of that, the Tipo doesn’t hold its value as well as its rivals, so it will be less competitive on PCP car finance because future values are a factor in setting the price. Our What Car? New Car Deals pages can help you find the best offers.
Taking a step up to Cross trim adds more rugged styling elements, adaptive cruise control and some additional parking aids. Top-tier (Red) trim is similar to Cross but has lots of bespoke interior materials and Fiat’s Red kit, which gives you special air filters, antibacterial treatment on surfaces and a sanitiser dispenser. Unless those items are of special importance to you, we’d stick with our chosen City Life trim.
It’s good to see that every Tipo gets automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist and traffic-sign recognition as standard. Still, it scored only four stars out of five when it was safety tested by Euro NCAP due to higher loads on the chest and head in a front impact. That was back in 2016, when the tests were less stringent, so rivals tested more recently may keep you safer in a crash.
Fiat as a manufacturer finished at the bottom of the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey, which is a bit of a worry, especially when the warranty is a pretty standard three years, rather than the seven you get with the Kia Ceed.
