Fiat Tipo hatch and estate to rival Golf and Focus from September

Fiat’s Tipo will be available in hatchback and estate bodystyles, but not as a saloon, when it goes up against the VW Golf and Ford Focus this September.

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The Italian carmaker claims that the estate Tipo has the largest boot in its segment (550 litres) but that’s blatantly untrue; Peugeot’s 308 SW has the most capacious luggage area with 660 litres, followed by the 587-litre Seat Leon ST.

Stretching for 4.57 metres overall, the estate will be able to shift loads up to 1.8 metres long too.

Fiat is also claiming class-leading legroom for rear passengers, and outstanding headroom but with a height of 1.51 metres, it is taller than its C-segment rivals so they may have got that one right.

Engines and kit

Customers will be able to choose from three petrol engine – a 16-valve 1.4L unit with a 95bhp power output, a 1.4 turbo with 120bhp, and a 1.6 e-TorQ with 110bhp, mated to a six-speed auto gearbox. Diesel drivers will be able to choose from a 1.3L 95bhp or a 1.6 120bhp MultiJetII.

Oddly for a small family car where diesel typically offers the lowest running costs, the 1.4 turbo petrol will be the greenest option, emitting 98g/km CO2 and returning 76.3mpg combined.

Exactly how equipment will be split over three trim levels is yet to be confirmed but Fiat has suggested that the Tipo will be well-specced with even the most basic models coming with air-con, remote central locking, electric mirrors, six airbags, DAB digital radio, bluetooth, and for estate models, rear electric windows. Optional extras add a rear parking camera and TomTom sat nav software.

Full pricing and spec will be confirmed closer to the Tipo’s September launch.

What does Tipo mean?

Italian for ‘type’, Tipo was originally used between 1988 and 1995 for a small family car, which was named European Car of the Year in 1989.

The reborn production model unveiled today in Geneva was devised from the Aegea Project saloon concept first seen at May’s Istanbul Motor Show.

The Tipo was designed in Italy and developed in Turkey, where it will retain its Aegea concept name. It will also be built in Turkey at Bursa.

Find out what we thought of other recent Fiats:
500, 500C Convertible, 500X crossover

Tipo at a glance:

Length: 4.37 / 4.57 metres (hatch / estate)
Width: 1.79 metres
Height: 1.50 / 1.51 metres
Wheelbase: 2.64 metres
Boot space: 440 / 550 litres
Diesel engines: 1.3 95bhp, 1.6 MultiJetII 120bhp
Petrols: 1.4 95bhp, 1.4 turbo 120bhp, 1.6 e-TorQ 110bhp
Greenest: 1.4 turbo 120bhp – 98g/km CO2, 76.3mpg combined 
Available: September 2016