This is a car built with one factor in mind, the family. The Fiat Idea has it all: interior space, external looks and performance. As usual, the Italians managed to mix looks with performance and utility, making the Idea the ideal vehicle car for a family, with all the loads it carries.
Externally, the car looks elegant and smart - lines only an Italian designer from Fiat could come out with and produce. The wide bonnet and the chrome grid gives the car a lot of presence and the rectangular headlights add to the car's straight lines.
These lines go all round the car, clean and symmetrical. A very large windscreen gives the driver a clear, unobstructed view of the road and all that is around. The back drops flat and this helps the driver when reversing.
From the inside the Fiat Idea gives us a warm, comfortable feel as soon as you step inside. The driving position is commanding and has a high seating posture, thus allowing the driver further uncompromised views.
A very elegant dashboard is laid out in front of the driver. Two large dials, the rev counter and a speedometer, have a set of smaller clocks for the fuel and temperature in between. These important instruments are laid out prominently in front of the driver.
If we look further, we find other buttons, which will help make the drive more comfortable. As for head and shoulder space, the car has ample - we could easily walk in and out of the car without any difficult whatsoever.
Back seat passengers have equal space and comfort as those in front. The front and back seats move to give you the ideal formation and position to seat the passengers as comfortably as possible in the vehicle.
As for the drive, I was very impressed by the performance of the 1.4-litre powertrain producing 95 bhp and delivering peak torque (pulling power) of 128 Nm at 5,800 rpm with a maximum speed of 175 km/h. Not bad at all for a family car.
I must say we were four adults in this car and the Idea took off each time I pushed the pedal down. The roadholding was equally as effective and the car was stable and solidly planted on the road. The corners were taken with confidence and comfort.
The gear change was smooth as silk, and when it came to parking the Idea has the 'City' button, which makes your steering feather light and easier to manoeuvre into a difficult parking slot.
The 'City' button' is also highly effective when driving at slow speeds but one must turn it off when on the open road because the steering wheel would become too light and efficient, making the car less stable.
As soon as the system is off the car is definitely more stable and planted to the ground at higher speeds.
Apart from the 1.4 we drove, the Fiat Idea comes with a 1.2 producing 80 bhp, and a 1.4 giving a 77 bhp, both petrol engines.
Then there are two 1.3 Multijet diesel engines, one producing 70 bhp and the other 90 bhp and finally a 1.9 Multijet producing 100 bhp.
The boot is very large and gives you all the space you require to load plenty of shopping. Plus if you end up needing more luggage space you can move the rear seats to suit more space.
The car comes in very smart colours and finishings that only the Italian design can provide and when one puts the entire package together you end up with a very interesting finish.
I must say that this car gives a great drive allowing the owner to have a family car with a fun drive feel.
At a glance
Engine type: 1.4-litre four-cylinder double overhead camshaft with hydraulic tappets (toothed belt), 4 valves per cylinder.
Suspension
Front: independent wheel, McPherson type, with anti-roll bar, telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers
Rear: semi-independent wheels connected by torsion beam, telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers
Braking system
Brakes - D (disc) - T (drum)
Front: discs ventilated 257 mm diameter x 22 mm thick
Rear: drums 203 mm diameter x 38 mm thick
Max. power output: 95 bhp at 5,800 rpm.
Max. torque: 128 Nm at 4,500 rpm.
Acceleration, 0-100 km/h: 11.5 seconds.
Max. speed: 175 km/h.
Fuel consumption (litres/100 km), mixed cycle: 6.6.
Carbon dioxide emissions (g/km): 157.
Environmental classification: Euro 4.
Length: 3,930 mm, width: 1,598 mm, height: 1,660 mm.
Externally, the car looks elegant and smart - lines only an Italian designer from Fiat could come out with and produce. The wide bonnet and the chrome grid gives the car a lot of presence and the rectangular headlights add to the car's straight lines.
These lines go all round the car, clean and symmetrical. A very large windscreen gives the driver a clear, unobstructed view of the road and all that is around. The back drops flat and this helps the driver when reversing.
From the inside the Fiat Idea gives us a warm, comfortable feel as soon as you step inside. The driving position is commanding and has a high seating posture, thus allowing the driver further uncompromised views.
A very elegant dashboard is laid out in front of the driver. Two large dials, the rev counter and a speedometer, have a set of smaller clocks for the fuel and temperature in between. These important instruments are laid out prominently in front of the driver.
If we look further, we find other buttons, which will help make the drive more comfortable. As for head and shoulder space, the car has ample - we could easily walk in and out of the car without any difficult whatsoever.
Back seat passengers have equal space and comfort as those in front. The front and back seats move to give you the ideal formation and position to seat the passengers as comfortably as possible in the vehicle.
As for the drive, I was very impressed by the performance of the 1.4-litre powertrain producing 95 bhp and delivering peak torque (pulling power) of 128 Nm at 5,800 rpm with a maximum speed of 175 km/h. Not bad at all for a family car.
I must say we were four adults in this car and the Idea took off each time I pushed the pedal down. The roadholding was equally as effective and the car was stable and solidly planted on the road. The corners were taken with confidence and comfort.
The gear change was smooth as silk, and when it came to parking the Idea has the 'City' button, which makes your steering feather light and easier to manoeuvre into a difficult parking slot.
The 'City' button' is also highly effective when driving at slow speeds but one must turn it off when on the open road because the steering wheel would become too light and efficient, making the car less stable.
As soon as the system is off the car is definitely more stable and planted to the ground at higher speeds.
Apart from the 1.4 we drove, the Fiat Idea comes with a 1.2 producing 80 bhp, and a 1.4 giving a 77 bhp, both petrol engines.
Then there are two 1.3 Multijet diesel engines, one producing 70 bhp and the other 90 bhp and finally a 1.9 Multijet producing 100 bhp.
The boot is very large and gives you all the space you require to load plenty of shopping. Plus if you end up needing more luggage space you can move the rear seats to suit more space.
The car comes in very smart colours and finishings that only the Italian design can provide and when one puts the entire package together you end up with a very interesting finish.
I must say that this car gives a great drive allowing the owner to have a family car with a fun drive feel.
At a glance
Engine type: 1.4-litre four-cylinder double overhead camshaft with hydraulic tappets (toothed belt), 4 valves per cylinder.
Suspension
Front: independent wheel, McPherson type, with anti-roll bar, telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers
Rear: semi-independent wheels connected by torsion beam, telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers
Braking system
Brakes - D (disc) - T (drum)
Front: discs ventilated 257 mm diameter x 22 mm thick
Rear: drums 203 mm diameter x 38 mm thick
Max. power output: 95 bhp at 5,800 rpm.
Max. torque: 128 Nm at 4,500 rpm.
Acceleration, 0-100 km/h: 11.5 seconds.
Max. speed: 175 km/h.
Fuel consumption (litres/100 km), mixed cycle: 6.6.
Carbon dioxide emissions (g/km): 157.
Environmental classification: Euro 4.
Length: 3,930 mm, width: 1,598 mm, height: 1,660 mm.