Linea Diesel and Petrol, A comparative study

Hello Friends, before I start my review, let me tell you, this is purely my opinion on the cars, and I do not remain responsible for any choices you make post reading this article.

I have owned Maruti 800, Santro, Fiat Adventure and presently own Honda City (2008).
Looks are one of the best in any car on the road as on today. External finish of the car is superb. The door trims, crome handles, side moulding, bumper guards are very elgantly placed and worth the looks. Linea takes your breath away at its looks, there no doubt and no one will disagree on this. Even the ardent FIAT haters will vouch for the looks of the car. The side indicators cover the entire bi-parabala headlamp area and give a classy look to the front of the car. The car has a follow me head lamp feature, which will remain on even after you are out of the car and will switch off after few seconds, depending on how you program it. This is for your convenience, when you are parking in the dark. The rear boot has a hydraulic release. The rear boot cover is well protected with carpet matt, with Fiat written on it. The boot space is 500 litres. The Italians have given and spare wheel cover holder, so that, when you are getting the spare wheel out, you don't have to hold the spare wheel top cover with your hand. (Very good, I saw this in Volkswagen Jetta. Interior could have been done better in terms of quality of plastic. This is only when, you compare this car to Honda City, Corolla Altis and Skoda. All others in that segment, such as Fiesta, SX4, Verna etc. are either similar in interior quality of inferior to Linea. I have compared the interior quality of the car with that of 100% imported Fiat 500, and found that, the quality of almost same. Interior space is generous. The dash board, door trims are very well done. Fiat has taken care to give chrome plated internal door handles as well. All 4 power windows are one touch down. Only the driver’s window is one touch up as well. A very significant feature such as impulse down is missing in Linea (This means, the window of the driver seat will go down automatically if there is any obstacle between the window and glass. There is a rear sun shade. The rear A/C vent is a great feature. Of course, we all know about the Blue&Me and Advanced My Car options anyways. The driver side arm rest is well placed and usable. (Unlike Honda City, where its of no use). Rear arm rest is not of very good quality, but solves the purpose. The music system is adequate, but not as good as the one in Honda City. The seating is OK, could have been better. The seat height adjustment lever and the sear back rest lever are of poor plastic quality. But they solve the purpose.

Now Let's come to the Heart , first the DIESEL : Well, the diesel engine is remarkably smooth and produces lesser noise that usual diesel. The cabin noise is also insignificant (At least in the car which I drive, that had done 10000 plus kms and very poorly maintinaed, as it was a test drive car). The diesel engine responds well, but responds like a horse after 1500 RPM. It pulls the car to a great extend. You tend to forget, you are drving the 86HP car which is close to 1300kgs. The handling is marvellous. The car's suspention is just like any other Fiat. Ride of the car is superb. It rides beyond 120kmph with ease. All those who need more power than this, must look elsewhere, because they must not be driving in city. I was convinced that, this car is more than adequate in city and will give decent power on the highway. The car's steering feels excellent but little heavy as its a hydraulic power steering. The car returns more than 13kmpl in city and close to 20kmpl on the highway. I strated the petrol engine as well as  the diesel engine to check the differential noise levels. But, remarkably the diesel, obvoiusly noisier than the petrol was much less noisier than usual diesel. I was quite impressed with the refinement of this engine.

...and Petrol : Frankly, I was not expecting much out of this engine. This car also had done about 9500 on the ODO. I drove the car. To my surprise, the car was responding decently. From 0 rpm level, the engine was taking few seconds to respond, but with a slightly heavy clutch, the 1st, 2nd gear was responding, quite well. 3rd gear onwards, the car was in control. Very good engine for adequte city drive. If you love drag race on the highway and get a kick leaving other cars behind from the moment you are on 1st gear, then this is not the car for you. But if you are practical, and think that, reaching 0-100kmph faster than anyone else in the world is not much of your life's priority, then this is a fairly placed engine. All those, who have written about this engine to be poor, have forgotten the 77BHP Honda City engine which was sluggish but pulled through by thousands in the country. Ditto for Skoda Octavia diesel, which produced 90BHP for a 1270kg car and many bought it and still buy without complaining about the engine. To conclulde, its VFM buy with loads of luxury

Looks, Features, VFMT-Jet 120BHP is not available for India so far