Fiat Linea Overview
The Fiat Linea has always been a fun to drive car and the current model gets upmarket interiors and a healthy equipment list that makes it quite a good value for money offering. The interiors get a dual tone theme with a Fiat 500 like contrast mid section that houses circular chrome ringed air vents, the piano black housing for the middle air vents also look nice while the shiny black stereo compliments the air vent housing above. The Emotion variant also gets leather upholstery to give the car a premium appeal.
The Fiat Linea comes loaded with a stereo, power windows all around, tilt adjustable power steering, electrically adjustable ORVMs, automatic headlamps with programmable follow-me-home function, rain sensing wipers, central locking, mileage computer, rear defogger, disc brakes all around and anti-lock brakes as standard. Top end models also get, rear a/c vents, a rear arm rest with cupholders, front airbags, a rear sun blind, cruise control, alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, climate control, Bluetooth compatible stereo with steering mounted controls and a height adjustable driver’s seat. Apply car loan for Fiat Linea .
Under the hood, the new Fiat Linea will continue to be powered by a turbocharged 1.4 litre petrol engine developing 116PS of power @ 6,000 rpm and 207Nm of torque @ 4,500 rpm, a naturally aspirated version of the 1.4 litre petrol engine developing 90PS of power @ 6,000 rpm and 115Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm while the 1.3 litre turbo diesel engine develops 93PS of power @ 4,000 rpm and 209Nm of torque @ 2,000 rpm.
All three engines are mated to five-speed gearboxes and like earlier, there is no automatic variant for the Linea.
Fiat Linea Exterior & Look
When Fiat unveiled the 125S it displayed the car in a shade of electric blue with powder black alloys and a blacked out grille. Our car however, had none of the pizzazz of the launch model and had instead been trimmed out in a shade of chocolate brown with white alloy wheels. The only indication of something exciting is a 125S badge at the rear.
To look at, the Linea is a car I would call interesting as it manages to stand out in a crowd. The current car is a facelift that was launched in 2014. The face is dominated by a two slat chrome grille while the bumper gets a chrome insert that dips in the middle. On the side we can see the forward leaning stance as well heavily flared wheel arches. There is excessive chrome and minimal badging at the rear but this is balanced out by the grey coloured plastic cladding jutting out from the underbody. For more info on Fiat Linea visit Iiitdm
Fiat Linea Interior & Space
On the inside you get the same refreshed interior of the 2014 Linea and the only addition is an intuitive five-inch touch screen system. Although the screen is on the smaller side, it is a high res unit and the piano black finish surround looks really nice. The dashboard itself has a nice flow to it and all controls fall to hand easily. The dull white and grey dual tone colour theme is livened up by the dim orange ambient lighting on the dashboard. Quality in some sections is exceptional and you get nice soft touch plastics for the dash top. But as you go lower down you will find some hard plastics and there are some ill-fitting panels too. But overall fit and finish is more than acceptable and is a huge jump over the original Linea.
Although the dashboard is ergonomic the same can’t be said of the driving position. Like before the pedals are still a bit off-set, the steering is placed too high and close to the driver and the front seats lack enough thigh support. On the positive side they are well contoured and back support is good too. At the rear, space is just about enough but the bench itself is comfy with good thigh support and a well-judged backrest angle. But headroom is in short supply and even people with average height will find it a bit cramped. The car still boasts of a humongous 500 litre boot that can accommodate your weekend luggage easily. But a larger opening and a lower loading lip could have make it more practical.
As far as equipment is concerned the Linea comes with a long list of features. The touchscreen infotainment system comes with a radio, Bluetooth connectivity, AUX, USB and you also get a navigation system. You also get unique bits like rain sensing wipers and automatic headlamps which add to the feel good factor. On the downside the Linea doesn’t get a rear camera, but thankfully the car comes equipped with parking sensors.
Fiat Linea Engine & Gearbox
This Linea 125S is powered by is a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 123bhp and 208Nm of torque with power going to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. This is a 9bhp/1Nm increase over the older T-Jet variants. This output makes it the most powerful car in the segment. First the engine and gearbox- At city speeds the engine performs just fine and there is sufficient torque to let you potter around in third gear at 40kmph without too much effort thanks to the long gearing. In the older car there was considerable turbo lag which Fiat has managed to address with this update.
Head to an open stretch, bury the throttle and you are greeted by this surge post the 2000rpm mark that pulls the car forward in a rush of mild torque steer and grin inducing acceleration. While the gearing is stretched out to achieve efficiency and actually does manage to spread out the torque well, the throws feel rubbery and imprecise. It does not complement the rev happy nature of the engine and will take time to get used to.
If there is one thing that Fiat has always managed to achieve is a decent balance between ride and handling. Despite being jacked up to an SUV like 190mm ground clearance, the Linea is fun to drive. The hydraulic power steering despite feeling heavy at low speeds gives good feedback and this working in tow with a suspension setup that is slightly on the stiffer side allows you to have good fun with the car in the corners. The low-speed ride too is quite sorted as the setup absorbs most road imperfections and transmits just enough back for you to know what you are going through.
Fiat Linea Driving Dynamics
Now to the aspect the Linea has always shone in. Despite raising the ground clearance to an SUV rivalling 190mm, this Fiat is still one of the finest in terms of both ride and handling. The steering which feels a bit heavy at low speeds, comes alive as you go faster and it provides good feedback and it weighs up consistently too. The car does roll quite a bit when you corner hard but never to the point of feeling nervous or out of its comfort zone and the wide 205 section tyres provide loads of grip too. For more information on Fiat Linea check AutoZhop.
If the handling is good then the ride is even better. You do feel some firmness at lower speeds but is well judged and the Linea absorbs the biggest of potholes with aplomb. The high 190mm ground clearance combined with the long travel suspension makes it perfect for our ever broken and rutted roads. Straight-line stability is exceptional too and this combined with the potent engine makes it a potent long distance tool. The brakes though feel wooden and a more progressive brake feel would have been welcomed.
Fiat Linea Safety & Security
Braking and safety, both these aspects have been looked well by Fiat in Linea. The halting of front wheels is supported by disc brakes while the rear wheels have been awarded with drum brakes. The larger diameter of disc brakes allows instantaneous deceleration of car while the safety aspect in sudden braking is looked into by Anti Lock braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) system that distributes braking force equally to all four wheels preventing sliding and squealing of tyres. Other measures taken to ensure safety of its passengers include an Anti-theft engine immobilizer, Fire Prevention System (FPS), 3 safety headrests, programmable speed limit that helps controlling speed of the car, digital door open indicator, power steering, and double crank prevention system.
Fiat Linea Price in Pune
Fiat Linea On-Road Price in Pune ranges from 9,59,715 to 11,54,769 for variants Linea 1.4 Active Advanced Multijet and Linea 1.4L Active Fire respectively. Fiat Linea is available in 3 variants and 5 colours. Below are details of Fiat Linea variants price in Pune. Check for Linea price in Pune at Tryaldrive.
Fiat Linea Final Word
Fiat Linea sets a high benchmark in C segment with its stunning looks, well done interiors, and above par driving dynamics. The car gives a tough competition to all its rivals now only in terms of style and design but also in terms of power and performance. The exteriors have been done really well which allows the car to enjoy a huge fan following. The excessive use of chrome gives it an upmarket appeal which is one of the favourite features in Indian automotive market. The acceptable ground clearance in combination with a strong suspension system makes it a suitable choice with respect to Indian roads. Those looking for long trips and frequent air port trips would love to have this car as the boot space easily swallows entire luggage, a higher bay though ask for long hands to place the luggage.
The insides have been done pretty well except, but would be more appreciated if it could accommodate five members comfortable in place of four. The rear seats offer ample sitting comfort but those with long legs are recommended to use front seats for longer journeys. The quality of material used is decent and beige and black interiors form a sophisticated ambience with the car. You would definitely love the new introduced features like Blue&Me, My Car, and height adjustable driver arm rest. Storage space is enough but could have been better if Fiat could look into providing bottle holders and larger cup holders. The car is your behaves pretty well on city roads as well as freeways.
The power churned by both the engines is good though turbo lag is noticed sometimes. The driving dynamics is where Linea wins the war with its multi functional steering and light clutch. Handling the car over all kind of roads is an easier game due to this factor. Fiat needs a better marketing strategy to promote this car considering its rivals have been promoting their vehicle in a much aggressive way. On a whole, Fiat Linea is a perfect car for those looking to enjoy a comfortable ride in a features studded European style sedan that delivers acceptable mileage and power.