Fiat Stilo Active Air Con 1.2 5dr Review

Overall Rating

Comfortable, cheap road tax.

Onboard computer always crashing, fuel economy, engine undersized, resale value poor.

I have owned the Fiat Stilo Active for 2 months and it has spent more time in the garage than on the road, the computer management lights come on at will, the fuel consumption is obscene, and the car is grossly under powered. Is this why they only produce the 1.4 version now?

Members' Comments onmr s webb's Review

• Keith and Kaz on 17th Aug 2004

  I honestly dont know what tis reviewer expects, its Italian! Seriously, the reviewer must have a bad un because ours is very good. Granted the on board computer does tell lies, but ours is fixed now by TJ Vickers, maybe its your dealer who is the problem? If you want reliable buy a Japanese car, faceless as they are they are reliable! The Stilo is different, cool looking, says something more than "I am a shopping trolley" about the driver. Buy the Hot version if you want to set the road alight though, economy in ours is average 42mpg... yes 42! not bad for a petrol!!

• mr s webb on 24th Aug 2004

  i am glad you are pleased with your stilo.alas mine broke down yet again the other week and has now been in the garage for 2 weeks.you are right in saying it is my dealer thats at fault and i am in the proccess of taking them to court.
  i am sorry to say that all italian cars are like the tanks they made in the 2nd world war-they go faster backwards than forwards?
  i am not after a raceing car-just one that works!

• Alfoso on 23rd Apr 2005

  I'm an owner of a fiat, but I can't understand those dealers of yours. If they're the reason that fiat goes down why don't they undertake something? I'm not having trouble with because there are very few in my country. My advice is: drive these gorgeous cars and keep them in decent condition by repairing them in your local garage. It works...beleive me :)

• peter deane on 29th May 2006

  My other car is an old Fiat Coupe 2L. Old Italian high performance - part of the ownership is EXPECTING things to go wrong. However on a newish town runaround with all the modern bells & whistles etc you sure don't.

• rubblegum on 8th Jun 2006

  Fiat dealers are often the problem. Weird being charged Audi money for lousy service by staff who often appear absolutely disinterested in the job. I had opposite ends of the Fiat family (glutton for punishment?) a Coupe which was the fastest highest performance car Fiat made. One mechanic in the local dealership was great..he had one as well and the service was excellent. Same dealership did the worst service I've ever had on the Stilo..inc greasy hand prints up and down the white roof headliner. Its all down to people.

• Keith and Kaz on 12th Jun 2006

  Alfoso maybe someone could tell us all how we speak to Numero Uno within FIAT Italia? I feel sure they would want to know how their hard work in design and development is spoiled by the trashy Agents? The new Punto Grande looks great but my wife won't touch another Fiat, even though the only problem we have had is the computer and it Airbag problems. For a 1200 (strangled by exhaust emission regs and catalysers) its not bad for a runaround or a first car as they get 2 to 3 years old and beyond. Its a secondhand 2003 Nissan Micra for her next time, our daughter has a 10 year old example with 120,000 on the clock and it is totally dependable.