Fiat Fullback
When Fiat decided to make their entry into the growing pick-up sector, they chose not to put in the time and investment required to design, engineer and manufacture a new model, writes Motoring Editor Ian Strachan.
Instead they took the market leader and re-badged it as a Fiat. Which is why, when you sit in the new Fiat Fullback, you feel as if you could be sitting in a Mitsubishi L200. Because it is a Mitsubishi L200. It even goes down the same production line.
Apart from the badging there are some other differences between the two models. The Fiat gives you a choice between a regular or extended cab, and there’s no basic entry model in the Fiat range. Cleverly they have worked out that most pick-up buyers in the UK and Europe don’t want a utility vehicle. They want an up-spec vehicle with leather seats and all the goodies, but they also want the generous tax concessions which pick-ups provide.
I tested the top-of-the-range Fullback – the Fullback Cross D-Cab – with a 2.4 common rail diesel engine pumping out 180 bhp.
The double-cab pickup has moved from builders’ transport to fashion accessory in a few short years. What used to be at home on a building site now graces the drives of the most fashion conscious cool dude. And my test vehicle came with 17 inch black alloy wheels, chunky black sports bar, over-fenders and side steps, making it even more un-missable.
Mitsubishi has dominated the UK pick up market for some time now, and the Fiat has all of the Mitsubishi’s virtues – a combination of head-swivelling style, commanding driving position and downright practicality.
This vehicle gives you bags of style and plenty of creature comforts for just a shade over £35,000.
For all its style and street cred, the Fullback Cross is basically a pimped-up off-roader, and there’s no doubt it can handle the rough stuff. Its high ground clearance, long suspension travel and powerful 2.4 diesel engine, along with permanent four wheel drive with fully locking rear differential, equip it for any sort of terrain you might throw at it.
But inside you get smart comfortable black leather seats with electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, attractive leather trim, automatic dual-zone climate control with rear seat ducts, heated electric folding door mirrors and a high quality multi-media DAB radio and satnav with a 7.1 inch touchscreen.
With a nod to the snowflake generation not used to this sort of vehicle, there’s also a heated steering wheel, heated seats and soft-opening tailgate.
Other standard equipment includes cruise control with speed limiter, rear parking camera, bi-xenon automatic headlamps, front fog lights, lane departure warning, steering wheel-mounted controls, all round electric windows and all round airbags.
True, the diesel engine is a tad noisy compared with many of its 21st century oil burning competitors, but the grunt underlines its power and adds to the perception that this is a comfortable car which also means business.
Handling is pretty good for a vehicle of this nature, though you do get some body roll when cornering thanks to the long travel suspension. If you need off road performance you can switch from two wheel drive to four wheel drive with a simple floor-mounted dial.
The direct injection diesel engine is a powerful unit, and linked to a five speed automatic gear box it performs well. Delivering all that power is thirsty work, but you can still expect to get nearly 38 mpg in mixed driving.
If you need it, the Fullback has impressive towing capacity (3100kg). But you probably won’t need that if you only plan to cruise the high street in it.
This car is more Gucci than ToeTector, but it’s a case of style AND substance.
