Fiat Idea Review

FIAT Idea 1.3 Multijet 16v Active

How It Looks - Interior

The first thing you notice is that the Speedo/Rev. Counter and other instruments have been placed in a centred binnacle on the dashboard. The reasoning behind this is that it is cheaper to build models for both the right hand and left hand markets. The jury is out as to whether we can live with the speedo being off set. It does take sometime to get used to, we prefer to simply scan our eyes down, rather than off to the left - but FIAT aren't the only manufacturer guilty of this.

There are some excellent design touches in the cabin and we wondered if there has been some influence from the Alessi design factory. The interior is functional, uncluttered and is family friendly.

The switchgear and controls have been carefully thought out and are easy to use and find.

In Car Entertainment and Satellite Navigation

The Active model is equipped with a face off non-integrated RDS radio and cassette player. Do people still have cassettes? Surely CD players are cheaper than cassette players; we cannot remember when we last drove a car with a cassette player. There is no excuse not to have an integrated single slot CD player/radio for ease of use and security. The better specified models feature an attractive, well designed unit.

Rivals

• Audi A2, Ford Fusion, Honda Jazz, Mazda2, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Mitsubishi Colt, Renault Modus, smart forfour, Toyota Yaris Verso & Vauxhall Meriva

What We Liked

• The exterior & interior styling
• The 1.3 litre MultiJet diesel engine
• All round visibility
• Practical interior

What We Disliked

• Air conditioning not standard on Active model
• Lack of CD player as standard - the Active model features a radio/cassette player

What We'd Like To See

• ESP and a full compliment of airbags as standard
• All round electric windows and mirrors
• A single slot CD player/radio as standard