2004 Fiat Stilo 1.6 Active

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Author: Wilmer Muller

The new Fiat Stilo arrived on our shores late last year in hatchback and estate guise. At first the hatchback is only available as a three-door derivative but the five-door Stilo will join the local line-up soon.

There are two three-door models, the 1.9 JTD Dynamic and the 1.6 Active. We tested the 1.6-litre version.

Fiat launched the Stilo in 2002 in Europe as a rival to the popular VW Golf. In South Africa it also competes against cars such as the Toyota RunX, Peugeot 307, Opel Astra, Ford Focus and the Renault Megane.

This is a hotly contested segment in the local and international motoring scene and it is not going to be an easy task for the new Stilo to make a significant impact on this segment> But it definitely doesn't have to by shy about itself.

In Italian "Stilo" means style, and at first glance it is obvious that this Italian number has lots of it. It has a distinctive design and is individualistic. In three-door form the Stilo also appears rather sporty and in yellow, which was the colour of our test car, it is very striking.

While I was testing the Stilo I received quite a few thumbs-up signs from other drivers, while some even people walked up to me to tell me how sporty the new Stilo looks and that it is a nice fresh breeze. And I can't agree more...

But there were also some saying they don't like it at all and that the back is just "too weird". Point taken - but in my opinion the car's rear is actually quite muscular looking - and again it is different from anything else.

Looking at the front the Stilo has quite a pretty face with a sleek bonnet and headlights. Attractive six-spoke alloy wheels compliment the sporty look.

Although the three-door Stilo has a lower roofline and lower seating positions, which suits the sportier look, it has ample room.

There's more than enough leg, head and elbow room at the front and rear. Furthermore the boot is also quite spacious and it can be increased by folding the rear seats down.

The seats also offer good support and it is easy to find a comfortable driving position thanks to steering wheel also rake and height adjustment. Unfortunately there is no left foot rest for the driver.

It seems as if Fiat has gone to huge lengths to give the Stilo a quality interior. Everything appears solid and the quality of materials used is not too bad. It shares a lot if its plastics with its Alfa 147 cousin.

Although it doesn't have the same class-leading fit and finish of the VW Golf and Renault Megane, it compares well to cars such as the 307, RunX and Astra.

A disappointment is the blandness of the cabin which doesn't suit the car's exterior sporty appearance. The ambience is a bit sombre because most materials used are of a dark shade.

A nice aluminium touch here and there would have been nice to brighten up things.

The Stilo Active comes well equipped for its price. Standard features include electric windows and side mirrors.

It also has remote central locking and the car will lock automatically when you reach a speed of 20km/h - or after 30 seconds. Be careful not to leave your keys in with the engine running while you chat outside the car - you could find yourself locked out.

The car comes with a six-speaker radio/CD combination, a trip computer and climate control as well as has power steering featuring a CITY mode.

Also standard are "follow-me-home" headlights which are electrically adjustable. Front and rear foglights are also part of the package.

Safety features are comprehensive for a car in its class and for passenger protection there are multistage front airbags as well as side and window airbags. For further peace of mind the Stilo also gets ABS and EBD.

There are also a host of options to choose from and buyers can specify their cars with gizmos such as park distance control and a radio/CD with the ability to play MP3 files.

As mentioned the three door Stilo is available with a 1.6-litre and 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine.

The Stilo's 1.6-litre unit has a power output of 76 kW at 5 750 r/min and torque is a useful 145 Nm at 4 000. These figures compare well to the Golf 1.6 (74kW of power and 145 Nm of torque).

Sprinting around with the Stilo, which has a five-speed manual transmission, was satisfying and it goes from 0-100km/h in 12.06 while its top speed is 187km/h. Its performance figures are on a par with most of its rivals.

Front suspension uses an independent MacPherson strut configuration refined through the adoption of newly designed coil springs and wishbones with front and rear bushes in rubber and metal.

At the rear is a semi-independent suspension with a torsion beam. A very light anti-roll bar with a hollow cross-section has been fitted to increase structural rigidity.

The Stilo is a swift 1.6 hatch and never seems lazy at all. It pulls wells and shows enough enthusiasm on an open road.

Steering is light but lifeless. It is definitely not the most responsive in its class and there is not much feedback. Understeer is also pretty much a reality when cornering. Gear changing is slick and effortless.

The car is quite firm on the road and its overall driving dynamics are good for a car in its class.

It offers a smooth and refined ride and goes well in town and on longer stretches. Some people may find the ride a bit soft and not as dynamic as that of the Golf or the Megane.

The Stilo also impresses with its fuel consumption with a combined figure of 7.3 litres/100km and an out-of-town cycle dropping as low as 5.7 litres/100km.

The fact that people take notice of the Fiat Stilo, even though they might dislike some of its styling cues, means it is a real attention-grabber. Most comments about its looks were positive and we also think it is a stunner.

It is a welcome addition to the local hatch scene and offers a lot of individualism for potential buyers. Furthermore, even in three-door guise it is quite spacious, with loads of comfort features.

The Stilo probably won't steal any significant sales from the VW Golf and Renault Megane but it doesn't have to stand back for any of its rivals. It has an Italian bloodline and you can't ignore its presence.

Pricing and equipment levels are good and it is therefore at about a R151 000 good value for money. It is also worth taking note of its good fuel economy.

When compared to its cheaper sibling, the Palio, one notices that Fiat has made a lot of effort on the Stilo's build quality. The car is solid and most materials and features appear as if they will stand the test of time.

The Stilo is a good alternative when considering buying a 1600 hatch. It has style, class, comfort, a good ride and Italian flamboyance.

Pluses

Design

Fuel economy

Comfort features

Minuses

Steering

Bland interior

No left foot rest