Category: Compact MPV 
Price Range: No data available
Neat styling inside and out, spacious interior with plenty of storage compartments, flexibility, brilliant 1.3 turbodiesel, entertaining handling.
Packaging not as ingenious as that of the Vauxhall Meriva and Honda Jazz, mediocre build quality, fidgety ride, sloppy gearshift action.
The Idea is a welcome addition to the growing mini-MPV sector but seen-it-before packaging means it joins rather than leads the field.
As you'd expect for a small urban runabout, the Idea is easy to get into and drive. The steering wheel adjusts for reach as well as rake, and the driver's seat is height adjustable. The dash-mounted gearlever is well positioned and the sturdy L-shaped indicator stalks are easy to operate. Toggle the Dualdrive button and the steering gets arcade-game light for finger-tip parking manoeuvres. The clutch is light, too, while the brakes are strong and throttle response prompt. The car's large windscreen and high driving position give the Idea driver a commanding view forward, but the massive blind spot caused by the thick A-pillars make leaving junctions a nightmare. The imprecise gearshift irritated somewhat, too, as did the tiny wing mirrors and badly offset pedals. Yes and no. Much of the fun can be attributed to those feisty petrol and diesel engines, which make the Idea a much more entertaining drive than its modest people-carrying role might suggest. They imbue the Idea with a perkiness and brio that you will never find in small German cars. And despite its top-heavy profile, the Idea can be hustled through town and along country roads without too much ado. There's a fair degree of roll, but the Idea hangs on gamely with understeer only setting-in quite late. There's even an entertaining degree of throttle adjustability for those wishing to feel very Italian. Lob the Idea into a corner, come off the power and the Fiat will obligingly wag its pert rear. Sadly, much of the engines' playfulness is offset by a fidgety ride that never settles down to deal effectively with under-tyre intrusions. Around town, the Idea's front strut and torsion beam rear suspension constantly jiggles, shakes and rattles those aboard. The gear lever action feels rubbery when the engines are crying out for a crisp and clean cog-swapping action. The steering is also pretty remote.
The Idea will only arrive with two engines - a 1.4-litre 95bhp petrol and a 1.3-litre turbodiesel. While Fiat's 1.2-litre petrol and 1.9-litre diesel will be available in Europe, Fiat UK reckons the two earmarked for right-hand-drive cars will meet most buyers' demands. The tiny 70bhp Multijet common-rail turbodiesel was developed with Fiat's partner General Motors. It's a cracking little engine - refined, frugal and torquey enough (132lb ft) for confident overtaking. Top speed is 100mph, and 60mph comes up in 15.4 seconds. That sounds terribly slow, but once above 20mph the Multijet engine surges ahead in any gear once the rev needle swings past 2000. Even with four on board, the little diesel flattens inclines and easily maintains an 80mph motorway cruise. It's clean and economical too, returning a low 135g/km on the CO2 emissions scale and miserly 55mpg on the combined fuel cycle. The 1.4-litre engine is dramatically different. After the relaxed diesel, the 95bhp unit feels perky and effervescent, racing enthusiastically up to its red line with a crisp exhaust rasp from its exhaust pipe. It reaches 62mph in 11.5 seconds and tops out at 108mph. Just as well it's so keen to rev: with only 94lb ft of torque, it has to be stirred into action to keep up with fast traffic. Still, it's an engaging engine with a good combined fuel economy figure of 42.8mpg and a CO2 rating of 157g/km.
