Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Fiat Tipo (2016-2023) - Engines, performance and drive

The strong diesels and quiet petrols are good units, but the Tipo isn’t as much fun to drive as some rivals

Engines, performance and drive rating

3.5

How we review cars
Find your Fiat Tipo
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Just so you know, this is an older review of the 2016-2023 Fiat Tipo. If you are interested in information about a used Fiat Tipo, or news about the latest Fiat models, please follow the links provided.

On the move, the Fiat Tipo has a relaxed feel, with soft suspension and a comfortable driving position adding up to a smooth driving experience.

Advertisement - Article continues below

As a result of that comfort-focused softness, the Fiat loses out when it comes to the driving experience. The car rolls quite a bit as you take a turn quickly, and while the steering doesn’t have a lot of feel, it’s weighted well enough, and there’s plenty of grip. It’s not a bad car to drive, but the Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus put it to shame, unfortunately. The Astra is just as comfortable to drive, too.

While the Tipo is a little behind its rivals for ride comfort, for example, there’s really not much in it and the Fiat does tackle bumpy roads pretty well, as well as keeping small imperfections in the background. The seating position feels lower than in rivals, although it's no more comfortable.

Engines

The naturally aspirated 94bhp 1.4 petrol is very refined, being very quiet at low revs around town and only making an intrusive noise at higher speeds. Wind and road noise start to build up as well on the motorway - though those are generally well contained in the Tipo. Performance from the petrol unit isn’t bad, but it’s not as punchy as the turbo petrol or diesel.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Ateca

2025 SEAT

Ateca

19,591 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £20,086
View Ateca
C-HR

2022 Toyota

C-HR

30,493 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £20,790
View C-HR
C3 Aircross

2019 Citroen

C3 Aircross

49,228 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £8,999
View C3 Aircross
TT

2023 Audi

TT

61,207 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £16,499
View TT

While the 1.4 T-Jet is slightly thirstier, we'd choose this engine over the other petrol because of its better responses. There's more torque from lower revs, and with 118bhp on tap it's sprightly enough to keep pace with traffic.

The 1.6-litre diesel is rattly from the outside, but it’s nearly as quiet as the petrol from the inside. Rev it hard and you’ll certainly hear the harsh noise, but most of the time the engine note is very much in the background. With 320Nm of torque, the diesel feels rapid, especially in-gear. The engine feels gutsy when the turbo kicks in, delivering plenty of torque to push the car along – which is a good thing, as it means you don’t have to rev it too hard. The six-speed manual feels rubbery, and if you change gears too fast, it’ll crunch as you slot the next ratio home.

There’s plenty of torque at low revs, which makes motorway driving easier since you won’t have to change down to start an overtake. Plus, it means you can stay away from the top the rev range, which is a lot noisier – sadly, the Tipo suffers in terms of refinement, with the Multijet engine being rattly and sounding unpleasant in the cabin.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,116 off RRP*Used from £18,900
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,831 off RRP*Used from £15,519
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,600
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025