What they said when the Fiat Idea was new… (Mar 3 2004)
FEW manufacturers can rival Fiat's expertise in small cars, so it was about time the Italians entered the fray in the hotly-contested mini-MPV market.
So welcome to a little 'un that not only packs in the flexibility of the breed but does it with panache and with a remarkable sense of spaciousness. A bright Idea, indeed.
Aimed firmly at young families, the car comes initially in five versions, with Active, Dynamic and Eleganza trim levels and 1.4 16v petrol and 1.3 16v turbo common rail diesel engines.
Externally, it manages to look a true Fiat while conforming to the standard compact MPV style.
It is tall, short drop-nosed, extensively glassed and features a chopped-off rear end, while the rising flank lines give it a quite eager look.
The considerable height - at 1,660mm the Idea is as tall as it is wide - is the key ingredient in what Fiat has created. There's an impressive amount of space for rear passengers, variable through an individual sliding seats system, and getting in and out of the back doors is so easy.
If you want to carry more luggage you simply shift the seats forward, yet people space remains good.
The back seats also double fold to a stack position (hence no need for a take-out facility) and recline as well.
We haven't finished yet. The front seats fold over in table fashion so that, in conjuction with flipped rear seats, this sub-4m car can actually sleep two people!
In all, there are 32 different seating configurations in the Idea. Buy in the huge SkyDome glass roof and you virtually have a conservatory on wheels.
There's nice Italian style to it all, too, both in the upholstery and the dash design, and storage space everywhere.
Not everything works in favour of the driver, it should be said. Dials are positioned centre dash, with the speedo set so far left it is almost in front of the passenger - clearly this is one down side of the conversion from left-hand-drive - while the front pillars obstruct the view something horrid.
That's really out of character because otherwise, with all its glass and the high seating, the Idea provides wonderful visibility for all occupants. The slim rear pillars, created by a low lights tower, are, indeed, a clever touch.
The tight lay-out of the foot pedals takes some getting used to, but otherwise the car is good and fun to drive. Built on the existing Punto platform, it incorporates suspension features from the next generation of that car and very successful it is.
Despite all that height, stability and surefootedness is good, providing a convincing and comfortable ride even over some pretty poor surfaces.
The Idea is agile to handle and Fiat's Dualdrive feature, whereby you can relax the steering in congested areas at the push of a button, helps, as does a 10.4m turning circle.
The car performs happily enough on the open road, too, though neither engine could be decribed as stirring.
The FIRE 95bhp petrol unit is the livelier performer, generating a top speed of 109mph and a standstill to 62mph time of 11.5 seconds. But the manual gearbox is long-legged in the interests of economy and lengthy climbs can find it out.
The 70bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbo diesel is quite smooth and delivers an average of over 55mpg, but it is steady rather than virile. Top speed is under 100mph and the sprint time stretches to 15.4 seconds.
Both units will become available with an auto/sequential gearbox later this year.
Electric power steering and ABS with electronic brake force distribution are standard driving aids across the range, and a stability programme with traction control, anti-slip and torque modulation, brake assist and hill-holder function, is available as an option.
All Ideas provide front airbags, electric front windows, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, height-adjustable driver's seat, remote central locking, six-speaker sound system and those useful 40/20/40 split back seats.
Dynamic and Eleganza add more and there are some choice options, just a few of which have been mentioned above.
With the impressive new Panda and a revised Stilo, Fiat seems to be bounding back after a lean spell. Getting the Idea across to the public can only step up that revival.
Words: John Scantlebury
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