Fiat Multipla

Is it an ugly duckling or a beautiful swan? It appears that there are two distinct camps of opinion when it comes to the Fiat Multipla - and those that love the car value it as an immensely practical and cleverly designed people carrier.

Auto Express Car Reviews

March 2003

Is it an ugly duckling or a beautiful swan? It appears that there are two distinct camps of opinion when it comes to the Fiat Multipla - and those that love the car value it as an immensely practical and cleverly designed people carrier.
Despite its unconventional looks, there's no denying that the Multipla is a useful holdall. Thanks to a clever seating arrangement and wide platform, the vehicle can carry six passengers in comfort, while the two-row seat layout means that there's also an incredibly generous boot.
The Fiat also benefits from a well thought out cabin and a good driving position, while it feels more like a car than a multi-passenger vehicle.
However, the Multipla's greatest asset second-hand is its price. The unconventional styling puts a lot of potential buyers off, which means that there are some serious bargains out there for the canny customer.
Checklist
* Door and window seals can come loose, causing an ingress of water into the cabin. Lift the floor mats in the front and rear to check for trapped moisture and examine the seals all the way round to see if they're split.
* Some owners have had faults with the coded immobilisers on ELX models. The system works with a transponder in the key, but in areas of high radio activity - for example, hospitals or airports - the rays can get jammed, and the only way to start the car is to tow it away from the radio source.
* We've heard of ECU failures, identified by electrical faults such as windows that go up and down by themselves. Check all components work correctly and that there's no hesitation starting.
* Examine the clutch operation carefully, especially on high-mileage cars, as changing the clutch on a Multipla is a complicated and expensive job.
* Don't tug on the handbrake too hard - if you pull it too high up, the ratchet sometimes sticks.
Glass's View
People are suspicious of the Multipla largely because of its controversial styling, so second-hand prices aren't that strong. That's good news for buyers, though, because the Fiat offers much better value for money than the Vauxhall Zafira. The earliest V-plate examples are available for only ΂£6,500 - half what they cost new. Make sure you go for a metallic colour as these won't age as quickly.
My Multipla...
With three greyhounds, grandchildren and an elderly father-in-law to transport, the Fiat Multipla is Chris Ridler's ideal car. "I bought it purely on the grounds of its practicality," said the 62-year-old from Ledbury, Worcestershire. "I thought it looked a bit peculiar at first, but now I really like the styling and am disappointed that Fiat is going to make the replacement plain and boring by comparison."
Chris is retired, but runs a greyhound rescue service in his spare time, so he regularly transports up to three dogs in the back of his Multipla. "The load space is excellent and it's easy to get the cage in and out, although the trim around the bootlip can get scuffed," he explained.
The minor faults in the 25,000 miles Chris has covered include a dodgy temperature sensor, two leaky headlight units, a problematic radio and a sticking seatbelt - but none of these has put him off. "I can truly say that the Multipla is the first car I've owned where I'd definitely buy another," he said. "I can't think of anything more suitable to replace it with, and I've been converted into a big fan."