Fiat Multipla 1.6 ELX Review

Overall Rating

The diesel version performs mpg as stated. We have the 2 litre one, and it's got great acceleration.
It's fun and quirky, and it's got character!
6 seats makes it a good PSV for a family of 4 with a dog.
Great all round visibility for adults and kids of all ages.
Versatility - individual seats in the back means a variety of combinations of seating.
All seats recline, allowing everyone to choose their own comfort zone.
Picnic tables on the back of the middle seats.
Beaker holders in doors saves spills.
Big plus - middle seat in front can be very useful for separating children if needed!

Even my 13 year old son, crazy about Top Gear can't think of any! So Yo! Go buy one Jeremy!
Possibly the fabric upholstery. But most cars have this, and it cleans up brilliantly.
Some plastic bits have shown signs of wear and tear, but this is a family with boys and a dog. I'd defy any car to survive all that untarnished.

It's a fantastic family car, with all the advantages of a travelling picnic area! We bought ours 5 years ago, and we are now looking for a replacement car, but we are struggling to find an alternative to the Fiat Multipla 1.6 ELX. Ours is the original version with the quirky nose. We prefer that style to the newer streamlined version (if a Multipla can be called streamlined).

The versatility of the car is unbelievable. The rear seats can be fixed in two positions, approximately 20cm forward if needing a larger boot for travelling, and further back to give leg room when at home. It is like a tardis. The rear seats can either be tipped up or removed to allow it to be used as a van. Each seat is a proper adult sized seat, even in the back, and also adjustable. The rear seats can be removed individually to allow versatility. When going on holiday with the children and dog, a seat can be removed to allow the dog to sit on his bed next to the children, and the cases will easily fit in the boot. When seats are removed from the back, loads of stuff can be fitted in - drums, guitars, PA systems and amps etc.

Regarding travelling - one of my children suffered from travel sickness in our other car, but not in the Multipla. Visibility for the kids was great from a young age, and all round visibility is good.

The handbrake takes a bit of getting used to, being to the right of the driving seat. However, if it starts to get in the way on the way in and out of the car, it's a sure sign that the brakes need attention.

The controls are all easily within reach of the driver. The windscreen washer bottle is massive - it takes litres of water which lasts for ages.

Although it looks wider than the average car, being on a Fiat Bravo platform means that it is easily manoeuvred. When parking, the short nose and the flat back end mean that you can see clearly the extremities of the car. The side mirrors fold in too, which saves them being clipped by other cars or passers-by.

There are loads of places to store things, including a drawer under the front passenger seat, and additional storage under the sun visor. The backs of the middle seats, front and back have picnic trays on them - handy for our climate.