Today almost nothing runs – or drives – without electrical support. Fiat also knows this and offers a corresponding Tipo. However, his electric shock is mild.

Fiat now only offers the Tipo as a hybrid petrol engine. The double heart even allows purely electric driving on a modest level. Above all, the new drive makes the practical station wagon economical, powerful and unfortunately also a bit more expensive.

The first impression

The Tipo no longer looks completely fresh, although cross elements and a smart LED daytime running light give it a certain modernity. More importantly, however, the compact Italian is a stately family station wagon with a spacious interior. Despite the hard plastic, the ambience is homely. The infotainment system’s 10-inch touchscreen is particularly appealing because Android Auto can be integrated wirelessly.

In the street

After the start, the new hybrid drive with a 1.5-liter petrol engine and 20 hp starter generator remains silent. Only when the automatic lever is set to D or R and the accelerator pedal is pressed does the double heart switch from EV to combustion mode. However, the 48-volt machine and mini battery only allow purely electric driving in crawler gear and usually only a few hundred meters away. More impressive is how the e-machine, which is located close to the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, helps the 130 hp petrol engine to propel itself. 8.8 seconds for the sprint to 100 km/h and a top speed of 207 km/h speak for themselves.

The transmission shifts smoothly, but somewhat sluggishly. All in all, the drive unit remains cultivated despite a rough note from the petrol engine and rough load change reactions from the electric machine that switches on or off. And efficient. Consumption on the Autobahn was 6.5 liters. In the city and in the countryside 5.5 liters are possible.

The costs

For a long time, the Tipo station wagon was an insider tip, which still cost around 20,000 euros in 2021. With the now alternative hybrid drive, the starting price has climbed to 29,500 euros. However, it will not be much more. For the well-equipped “Red” version, which costs around 33,000 euros, there are still two packages to choose from, with which the price can be pushed up to a maximum of 35,300 euros.

The Competitors

If you look around, the Tipo station wagon remains interesting despite the jump in price. Comparably motorized versions of the Ford Focus Tournament and Renault Megane Grandtour cost at least 34,000 euros. With the Kia Ceed Sportswagon, which is already available for around 28,000 euros with a 160 hp petrol engine and automatic transmission, there is also a cheap alternative.

Finally

Powerful, fast and efficient at the same time – the new 1.5-liter mild hybrid petrol engine is a good, but currently the only choice for the Tipo station wagon suitable for everyday use. With the new double-heart technology, the Italian has advanced into higher price regions. Low costs were actually the traditionally strongest argument for the Tipo.

Specifications Fiat Tipo Combi Hybrid

Five-door, five-seater station wagon, length: 4.57 meters, width: 1.79 meters (with exterior mirrors: n/a), height: 1.51 meters, wheelbase: 2.64 meters, trunk volume: 550 – 1,650 liters

1.5 liter four-cylinder petrol engine with turbocharging and 15 kW/20 hp electric motor, output 96 kW/130 hp, seven-speed TCT, 0-100 km/h: 8.8 s, Vmax: 207 km/h , standard consumption: 5.9 l (WLTP), test consumption: 6.4 l/100 km, price: from 29,490 euros