irishcar.com - Fiat Multipla 1.6

THE Fiat Multipla is big... spacious with many novel features... very comfortable, packs a smashing engine that’s quick ‘n’ quiet ‘n’ smooth and it’s an absolute joy to drive. But why design it this, er... stylistically challenged? As one person was heard to mutter: “A face that only a mother could love.”

Surely, at some stage, somebody somewhere down the line must have stepped back and said: “Heck, what have we done?” But then, was it another case of the king’s ‘new clothes’?

That said, everything about the Multipla under the skin is so right: brilliant, clever, unbelievable, wacky, weird and so wonderful. It’s many cars in one outstanding package. To which Fiat add that if they hadn’t made the Multipla look the way it does, the amazing interior wouldn’t be the way it is. A mighty strong point.

No doubt, like any other new style that arrives on the market, we will grow accustomed to its stange looking dolphin-like features, its small bonnet that’s shorter than a Punto, its bizarre ‘waistband’ below the windscreen and near vertical steep side windows. And we’ll probably even get used to its unusually-styled rear that harks back to the 1930s.

The front lights are arranged in three levels with the high beam lenses in the waistband below the windscreen, and low beam foglights in the nose.

It’s a vehicle of extravagant proportions, yet shorter than a three-door Bravo, but vastly wider and taller.

Mounted on an unusual space-frame chassis, the real novelty is that where most MPV’s have five or seven seats, the Multipla is a true six-seater with two rows of three individual seats of equal size making the car wider – it’s 7ft wide, so bear that in mind if you have a narrow garage – than rivals.

The centre seat of each row is mounted slightly behind the outer two, and there is a large, PROPER luggage area (from 430 litres to a maximum 1,300 litres – you can pile things high at the back). And it’s all set on a completely flat floor.

The rear seats can be easily removed individually – they each weigh 15kg – to convert into a large luggage area. Fold the rear centre seat forward and it becomes a table with four cup holders and two more cup holders are on the dash. Fold down the centre front seat and it, too, doubles as a table-cum-storage area or an optional fridge.

The instrument and control arrangement are innovative. By convention, the facia is a flat surface on which the various instruments and controls are assembled. The stylists have redesigned the facia to be three dimensional. The angled surface looks like a working table on which the various controls, gauges and objects are arranged to make the most of the available depth.

The instrument panel looks as though it it has been placed on the facia. Situated slightly to the left of the steering wheel, it is angled towards the driver for easy use. The gear lever sprouts from the dashboard to leave clear floor space.

The passenger cell itself is almost a rectangular box with doors that are big and wide opening.

It doesn’t feel especially cramped with a full house, even for the driver sitting with two companions because with the centre front seat being set back it prevents shoulder contact.

The abundance of features on our 1.6 ELX (£16,250 – on the road price) include power steering, driver and passenger airbags, electric windows and door mirrors, height adjustable steering and driver’s seat, air conditioning, alloy wheels, headlamp washers and front foglights.

Both the electrically controlled door mirrors are ‘bi-level’ with the lower level containing a mirror specially curved to show the pavement as you reverse or park.

POWER: Lots of it on tap from the smooth and quiet 1.6 litre 16v petrol engine. It produces a very healthy 103bhp to give a top speed of 106mph, a 0 to 62mph in 12.6 seconds and an average fuel consumption of 31.6 mpg.

I love the gearchange located on the dash but I simply hate the handbrake tucked away like it is on the right hand side of the driver’s seat. It takes a bit of finding with the hand and just doesn’t feel natural.

On the move performance is surprisingly brisk cosidering the Multipla’s big body, ride very smooth and handling is excellent. And with it’s high, car-like driving position and car-like handling, an delight to drive.

Multipla right under the skin	2000
THE Fiat Multipla is big... spacious with many novel features... very comfortable, packs a smashing engine that’s quick ‘n’ quiet ‘n’ smooth and it’s an absolute joy to drive. But why design it this, er... stylistically challenged? As one person was heard to mutter: “A face that only a mother could love.” Surely, at some stage, somebody somewhere down the line must have stepped back and said: “Heck, what have we done?” But then, was it another case of the king’s ‘new clothes’? That said, everything about the Multipla under the skin is so right: brilliant, clever, unbelievable, wacky, weird and so wonderful. It’s many cars in one outstanding package. To which Fiat add that if they hadn’t made the Multipla look the way it does, the amazing interior wouldn’t be the way it is. A mighty strong point. No doubt, like any other new style that arrives on the market, we will grow accustomed to its stange looking dolphin-like features, its small bonnet that’s shorter than a Punto, its bizarre ‘waistband’ below the windscreen and near vertical steep side windows. And we’ll probably even get used to its unusually-styled rear that harks back to the 1930s. The front lights are arranged in three levels with the high beam lenses in the waistband below the windscreen, and low beam foglights in the nose. It’s a vehicle of extravagant proportions, yet shorter than a three-door Bravo, but vastly wider and taller. Mounted on an unusual space-frame chassis, the real novelty is that where most MPV’s have five or seven seats, the Multipla is a true six-seater with two rows of three individual seats of equal size making the car wider – it’s 7ft wide, so bear that in mind if you have a narrow garage – than rivals. The centre seat of each row is mounted slightly behind the outer two, and there is a large, PROPER luggage area (from 430 litres to a maximum 1,300 litres – you can pile things high at the back). And it’s all set on a completely flat floor. The rear seats can be easily removed individually – they each weigh 15kg – to convert into a large luggage area. Fold the rear centre seat forward and it becomes a table with four cup holders and two more cup holders are on the dash. Fold down the centre front seat and it, too, doubles as a table-cum-storage area or an optional fridge. The instrument and control arrangement are innovative. By convention, the facia is a flat surface on which the various instruments and controls are assembled. The stylists have redesigned the facia to be three dimensional. The angled surface looks like a working table on which the various controls, gauges and objects are arranged to make the most of the available depth. The instrument panel looks as though it it has been placed on the facia. Situated slightly to the left of the steering wheel, it is angled towards the driver for easy use. The gear lever sprouts from the dashboard to leave clear floor space. The passenger cell itself is almost a rectangular box with doors that are big and wide opening. It doesn’t feel especially cramped with a full house, even for the driver sitting with two companions because with the centre front seat being set back it prevents shoulder contact. The abundance of features on our 1.6 ELX (£16,250 – on the road price) include power steering, driver and passenger airbags, electric windows and door mirrors, height adjustable steering and driver’s seat, air conditioning, alloy wheels, headlamp washers and front foglights. Both the electrically controlled door mirrors are ‘bi-level’ with the lower level containing a mirror specially curved to show the pavement as you reverse or park. POWER: Lots of it on tap from the smooth and quiet 1.6 litre 16v petrol engine. It produces a very healthy 103bhp to give a top speed of 106mph, a 0 to 62mph in 12.6 seconds and an average fuel consumption of 31.6 mpg. I love the gearchange located on the dash but I simply hate the handbrake tucked away like it is on the right hand side of the driver’s seat. It takes a bit of finding with the hand and just doesn’t feel natural. On the move performance is surprisingly brisk cosidering the Multipla’s big body, ride very smooth and handling is excellent. And with it’s high, car-like driving position and car-like handling, an delight to drive.
by Gerry Boud.

Multipla right under the skin