New Fiat Bravo Eco and MultiJet reviews
Fiat says its new Bravo models make it the greenest UK manufacturer
Author: David Miles
Published: 05 June 2008
Fiat UK says the three new additions to the Fiat Bravo range mean they are the “greenest” manufacturer in Europe with the average for their entire model range being 137.3g/km.
The latest 1.6-litre MultiJet 105 and 120bhp turbodiesel engines, the Eco model option and other technology being introduced by Fiat puts its cars in the lowest pollution bands and with impending changes to the VED rates in the UK will make them particularly attractive to financially stressed and highly taxed drivers.
Bravo Eco prices
The Bravo range in Britain is now extended to 17 models priced between £10,995 and £16,355 with five trim levels. The Bravo range is a C-segment (Ford Focus sized) five-door hatchback and so far an under-achiever for UK sales since it was launched a year ago.
But the range should receive a boost to its appeal with the availability of the new 1.6-litre 105/120bhp units as well as the £295 ‘Eco’ pack on the less powerful derivative with Active and Dynamic specification levels.
The Eco pack adds taller fifth and sixth gear ratios and low resistance tyres to slip it under 120g/km so the Vehicle Excise Duty is just £35.
Bravo Eco engines and specification
The new diesel engines are turbocharged to give exceptional performance for their size and come with manual six-speed boxes to improve economy and lower noise at the same time.
The tuning of these engines also ensures they can produce greater mid-range pulling power which does away with the necessity for frequent fuel-sapping gear changes and the combination of all these individual elements is an improvement of eight per cent in fuel efficiency as well as lower pollution and hence lower VED rates.
The range comprises five trim levels, Bravo, Active, Active-Sport, Dynamic and Sport and the new engines bring the power units available to six after the Bravo was launched last year with 150bhp 1.9 MultiJet and petrol 1.4 T-Jet units developing 90, 120 and 150bhp.
With the Eco pack the new 1.6-litre MultiJet 105bhp unit has average diesel fuel consumption close to 63mpg compared to almost 58mpg in the ‘normal’ 105bhp version and the 120bhp derivative.
Top speed and 0-62mph for both 105bhp units (standard and Eco), is 116mph and 11.3 seconds, while the 120bhp model exceeds 120mph and is almost a second quicker from standstill. The figures bear out Fiat’s assertion that the Eco changes really make a difference to the fuel consumption without hindering performance.
Prices of the 105bhp 1.6 MultiJet begin with the Active at £13,855. The 105bhp Active Eco is £14,150 and the likely best selling specification of Dynamic adds a £1,000 to the price. The 120bhp 1.6 MultiJet Dynamic costs £15,605.
Most versions have anti-locking brakes, air conditioning, remote locking, six airbags, electric front windows and door mirrors, CD player, two stage selectable electric steering, front foglights and headlamp delay.
Active-Sport includes figure hugging seats, leather trim details, alloys and spoilers.
Dynamic level gains powered rear windows, advanced sound and telephony systems, dual zone air conditioning and cruise control while Sport specification tops the range with firmer suspension, electronic brake assistance, sports instruments and red brake callipers.
The all-important Electronic Stability programme is only available as standard on Sport versions and as £350 option for other variants except the base Bravo where it not available at all. Not very clever. Still the Bravo does have a five-star Euro NCAP adult passenger safety rating.
Bravo driving dynamics
The Bravo as we know is an attractive looking five-door hatchback, reasonably roomy for five passengers with a big boot. However for driving dynamics it lags behind others in this sector. The ride is choppy and jittery, the body control is not tight, the steering lacks feel and feedback.
The rear visibility, because of its rising wedge design is not great but the new 1.6-litre MultiJet engines are real gems. Quiet, refined, responsive and given the right conditions very fuel and CO2 efficient.
Economy and emissions
The 1.6-litre MultiJet 120bhp unit is particularly responsive and compares with most 1.9-litre turbodiesel units for performance but betters them for fuel economy. The 105bhp unit is sweet as well but lacks that extra bit of power.
In Eco form with the higher ratio fifth and sixth gears the driving is better suited for open road and motorway work. On country roads more time is spent driving along in fourth gear because the torque of the engine cannot easily cope with the high gearing and struggles for response. Changing up and down gears is a full-time job.
Interestingly during a rain-soaked test drive this week over A and B roads the 105bhp Eco Bravo returned only 48.5mpg in real life conditions well below the 62.8mpg target figure. The 120bhp unit returned 46.6mpg instead of the published 57.6mpg but the Hyundai i30 Estate 1.6-litre 113bhp diesel estate, roughly the same size of car, I was using to get to and from the Fiat event returned, in the same driving conditions, 51mpg. But the CO2 figure is higher than the Eco Bravo costing £120 in road tax a year instead of £35.
The additional new power units and the Eco model option make the Bravo slightly more appealing. But it is a tough market place and with most other volume manufacturers offering similar ‘greener’ models I’m not convinced the demand for Bravo will greatly increase.
MILESTONES
Fiat Bravo 1.6 MultiJet 105 Dynamic Eco
Price: £15,150
Engine: 1.6-litre, four-cylinder high pressure turbodiesel engine, Euro V compliant, 106bhp, 214Nm of torque from 2,000rpm
Performance: 1126mph, 0-62mph 11.3 seconds, 62.8mpg (48.5mpg actual), CO2 119g/km
VED: Band B £35
BIK tax liability: 13%
Insurance group: 7
For: Low running costs, engine refinement, relaxed motorway driving, five-year warranty, money-back if- not-satisfied guarantee, could be London Congestion Charge free unless Boris changes the rules
Against: Lots of gear changing on country roads, indifferent handling and ride quality, ESP not fitted as standard
With climate change awareness growing and governments determined to cut CO2 emissions from transport, the hunt is on for greener cars. Our rundown presents the least polluting vehicles by emissions.
With cars emitting less than 120g/km of carbon dioxide exempt from the Congestion Charge and paying less road tax, car buyers are increasingly looking to small, green cars.
New low-emissions high-economy models added to Bravo range will boost sales, hopes Fiat
Fiat has launched three new engines for its Bravo hatchback range, including two new diesel 1.6-litre MultiJet options and an Eco model
With its current range freshened up and appeal widened, Fiat have released figures to accompany the spec for the new Bravo Multijet.
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