Eyecatcher (Fiat Multipla in general)

Member Name: chrispitts

Product:	Fiat Multipla in general
Date:	02/12/03 (1199 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Unique, Versatile, Family-friendly

Disadvantages: A bit ugly, Odd ergonomics, Not everyone's cup of tea

You've all seen them, haven't you? Those weird vehicles, with the bug-eyes! Most people have to look twice, just to ensure their eyes aren't deceiving them. With the Multipla, Fiat have managed to create the most unique car on the road. (Although Renault are beginning to get in on the act with their new creations...)

So I'm going to tell you the story of how I came to choose a Multipla, and what I think of it now, after 2 weeks ownership.... are you sitting comfortably....?

We're not a big family, really. Just me, the wife, the daughter (aged 2 1/2) and the dog. But we often found the boot of our old Laguna filling up when we went on long trips, so we were looking for something a little bit bigger.
There is another, slightly more selfish reason to get something larger - I'm a bit on the tall side (6'3), and wanted to sit in a slightly more upright position.

We researched possible replacements for the Laguna in depth. We went through all the different options - Estates (boring, and surprisingly poor leg room in the back), Galaxy/Alhambra etc. (too big), Scenic (too boring), Zafira (a close second, but still very dull), Picasso (my wife couldn't stand it), 4x4 (rubbish fuel consumption, and we'd only be getting one for pose value)....

After umming and ahhhing we set off to our local "car supermarket", to have a closer look. We'd already seen the Multipla, and liked the appearance (I know, I know....) but as soon as we took it for a test drive, our decision was made.

So that's the story..... but what made us decide on the Multipla?:

1. Versatility

The Multipla, unlike any other car in it's class, seats 3 abreast in the front, and 3 abreast in the back. And the middle seat isn't "toddler-sized" either - it's a full-grown, independantly adjustable adult-sized seat. There's no feeling of being squashed at any time, even with 6
adults in the car (although the England Rugby Squad might possibly struggle a bit...)
The middle seat in both the front and back fold down to create a handy table. Bizarrely, the hole in the middle is the perfect size for holding McDonalds Drinks trays in place!
It gets better. The back seats, with a bit of fiddling, come out altogether, leaving an absolutely cavernous load space.

2. Driveability

For such a big car, the Multipla actually handles very well. My version has a 2 litre diesel engine, which, for a diesel, has surprisingly good acceleration (particularly in second gear!) The increased width of the car means cornering is comfortable, without the swaying which often accompanies cornering in MPVs. Bizarrely, the width causes no problems at all with parking/driving along narrow streets etc. I was initially expecting trouble, but found I adapted to the extra width easily.
One thing that didn't really strike me on the test drive was quite how high the Multipla is. I'm not sure whether it is due to the shape, but it never really struck me as such a big car. However, in queues of traffic, we now find ourselves looking down on many cars - we're actually at a similar height to the Toyota LandCruiser!
The driving position is very comfortable, with an electrically-height-adjustable driver's seat, which is great fun to play with. Visibility is absolutely incredible, with huge expanses of glass surrounding the driver on all sides, and the support columns aren't too wide. The side mirrors are enormous, with an additional bit on the bottom focussed along the bottom of the car - great for judging distance from the kerb when parking!
We've already taken the car on one longish journey, and found it very comfortable indeed. Usually, I end a journey feeling tired and achy, but I got out of the car feeling totally refreshed!
AND NOW A BIG WARNING: Drivers of the Multipla, apparently, need to have held a full l
icence for over a year, otherwise they will not be insured. Bizarre but true. My wife is not pleased!

3. Uniqueness

Well, there's no doubt there! But the unique appearance doesn't end on the exterior. If you look closely, you'll see the rather odd door handles, peeking over the window-sills. Then, you might spot the dashboard, centred in the car, rather than being in front of the driver. With bright colours, and those huge windows, you'll never see another car quite like it!!!

4. Usefulness

For a young family, the Multipla is ideal - they've thought of everything, from wipe-clean surfaces on the back of the front seats (where little muddy feet tend to kick...) to the huge windows, allowing fantastic visibility for all occupants. The boot is surprisingly big, given the not-too-impressive length of the car, and as I've already mentioned, the ride is extremely comfortable. Oh, and all importantly - it averages 42 mpg - not bad for a car this size.

5. The Down-sides

There must be some negatives.... And there are.

The handbrake is to the right of the driver, between the seat and the door. If you're not careful, as you get out, your heel can hit the handbrake, releasing it. As I have discovered, this is not clever if you've parked on a slope.

The fresh and funky layout is all very well, but there are a few moments when you wish you had better access to the controls. Two in particular - to operate the front electric windows, you have to slide your hand horizontally under the protruding door handle. And the dash-board mounted gearstick is all very well, but it does mean you have to fiddle around behind it to find the heating controls.

And surprisingly for a car this size, there isn't an enormous amount of storage space, in terms of little cubbyholes etc. The two main storage areas (in front of the driver and front passenger) are smaller than in a standard ca
r, and the tiny storage bins above the sun-shades are only really useful for storing glasses.

However, I'm in no doubt at all that the Multipla is the best car I've driven, and will give us many happy years of motoring. And at least if I'm driving it, I don't have to look at that ugly exterior!!!

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