Home
Active Topics
Search
Latest images
Register
Log in
Hi guys!..here is a TD report of Fiat Linea from our AutocarIndia ! :)
Exteriors
Walk around the car, you can't help but notice how gorgeous this car looks. True to its Italian roots, this is quite an attractive car in flesh. If you look at it head-on, it does look a little bug-eyed. But the overall effect is pretty good and almost everyone will be pleased with what they see. Personally, the front three-quarters is its best photographic side. The rear looks pretty good too and the tail-lamps remind you of the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, which is definately a good thing. To put it in a nutshell, the Linea looks a lot more expensive than its pricetag suggests.
Interiors
Gone are the images of Palio interiors. This is a distinctly modern design with a bit of retro elements like the instrument cluster. Plastic quality is generally decent, but some bits like the plastics of the centre console feel low rent. The steering wheel is meaty and feels good to grip and houses controls for the music system and other accessories. You'll love the fact that the Linea comes loaded with features. The 'Emotion' variant we tested gets climate control, trip computer, MP3 audio system, power windows, central locking, fog lamps and bluetooth technology for connecting cellphones known as the 'Blue & Me'. It is essentially the same feature found on the Fiat 500. The cabin is finished in a combo of beige and black colours which goes well with its design.
The seats are generally comfortable and come with a range of adjustments, but the front seats are forward sloping which robs the passenger of thigh support. The rear seat is also very comfortable and has good amounts of legroom and shoulder room. While that curving roofline looks great, it doesn't do a lot of good for the rear headroom and taller passengers might have their hairstyles messed up. The Linea doesn't lack in space, be it passenger or luggage. The boot is deep and well shaped and has a capacity of 500 litres.
Performance, Ride & Handling
The Linea is powered by the famed 1.3 litre Multijet unit pumping out 90bhp and 20.4kgm of torque. The higher power output is thanks largely to a bigger variable vane turbo. Refinement has always been the multijet's forte. At idle, noise and vibration is well suppressed with the motor only becoming slightly gruff at higher speeds.
Power delivery is also like the other multijets. There is a distinct turbo lag up till 1500rpm, once past that mark it starts picking up. While it doesn't have the pin you to the seat acceleration like in the Swift, the midrange has decent punch and it doesn't let off till 4500rpm. The short gearing is good for the city and the Linea manages to be in higher gears for most of the time. This reflects in the fuel efficiecny stakes with the car managing 12.9kpl in the city. But out on the highway, the engine is turning over at a higher speed than usual because of which the highway figure suffers a bit. The Linea went 17.5 kilometres to a litre of diesel.
Fiats have always been known for their ride and handling and the Linea doesn't disappoint. It rides exceptionally over bad patches of road. Low speed ride has a bit of a hard edge, but this pays dividends at higher speeds where the Linea smothers almost anything in its path. It scores well even in the handling department. The steering is well weighted and is precise. It gives good feedback from the road as well. Turn into a corner and you'll be impressed by the grip levels. Body roll is well controlled and it helps you to pile into corners with lot of confidence. The chassis can definately take more power.
Verdict
The Linea is spacious and comfortable, it comes bristling with features and is powered by a world renowned diesel motor that is both refined and efficient. All this is expected to come at a very good price of Rs 7-9 lakh which will put it bang in the middle of Verna, Fiesta and City territory and this car is almost a class bigger from its main rivals. This makes it incredible value for money. From the looks of it, Fiat seems to have a winner on its hands.
(source:Autocarindia)
Exteriors
Walk around the car, you can't help but notice how gorgeous this car looks. True to its Italian roots, this is quite an attractive car in flesh. If you look at it head-on, it does look a little bug-eyed. But the overall effect is pretty good and almost everyone will be pleased with what they see. Personally, the front three-quarters is its best photographic side. The rear looks pretty good too and the tail-lamps remind you of the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, which is definately a good thing. To put it in a nutshell, the Linea looks a lot more expensive than its pricetag suggests.
Interiors
Gone are the images of Palio interiors. This is a distinctly modern design with a bit of retro elements like the instrument cluster. Plastic quality is generally decent, but some bits like the plastics of the centre console feel low rent. The steering wheel is meaty and feels good to grip and houses controls for the music system and other accessories. You'll love the fact that the Linea comes loaded with features. The 'Emotion' variant we tested gets climate control, trip computer, MP3 audio system, power windows, central locking, fog lamps and bluetooth technology for connecting cellphones known as the 'Blue & Me'. It is essentially the same feature found on the Fiat 500. The cabin is finished in a combo of beige and black colours which goes well with its design.
The seats are generally comfortable and come with a range of adjustments, but the front seats are forward sloping which robs the passenger of thigh support. The rear seat is also very comfortable and has good amounts of legroom and shoulder room. While that curving roofline looks great, it doesn't do a lot of good for the rear headroom and taller passengers might have their hairstyles messed up. The Linea doesn't lack in space, be it passenger or luggage. The boot is deep and well shaped and has a capacity of 500 litres.
Performance, Ride & Handling
The Linea is powered by the famed 1.3 litre Multijet unit pumping out 90bhp and 20.4kgm of torque. The higher power output is thanks largely to a bigger variable vane turbo. Refinement has always been the multijet's forte. At idle, noise and vibration is well suppressed with the motor only becoming slightly gruff at higher speeds.
Power delivery is also like the other multijets. There is a distinct turbo lag up till 1500rpm, once past that mark it starts picking up. While it doesn't have the pin you to the seat acceleration like in the Swift, the midrange has decent punch and it doesn't let off till 4500rpm. The short gearing is good for the city and the Linea manages to be in higher gears for most of the time. This reflects in the fuel efficiecny stakes with the car managing 12.9kpl in the city. But out on the highway, the engine is turning over at a higher speed than usual because of which the highway figure suffers a bit. The Linea went 17.5 kilometres to a litre of diesel.
Fiats have always been known for their ride and handling and the Linea doesn't disappoint. It rides exceptionally over bad patches of road. Low speed ride has a bit of a hard edge, but this pays dividends at higher speeds where the Linea smothers almost anything in its path. It scores well even in the handling department. The steering is well weighted and is precise. It gives good feedback from the road as well. Turn into a corner and you'll be impressed by the grip levels. Body roll is well controlled and it helps you to pile into corners with lot of confidence. The chassis can definately take more power.
Verdict
The Linea is spacious and comfortable, it comes bristling with features and is powered by a world renowned diesel motor that is both refined and efficient. All this is expected to come at a very good price of Rs 7-9 lakh which will put it bang in the middle of Verna, Fiesta and City territory and this car is almost a class bigger from its main rivals. This makes it incredible value for money. From the looks of it, Fiat seems to have a winner on its hands.
(source:Autocarindia)
