Admiration assured - Fiat Linea Emotion Pk 1.4 Petrol .

Dear Readers.

 

I picked up my Fiat LINEA Emotion Pack 1.4 Petrol on 23 Oct 09 from Metro Motors Ambala. I have visited Mata Vaishnodevi post the purchase. The drive to and fro offered me a good chance of having a feel of the vehicle.

 

Firstly, the maximum concern everyone has, the mileage. Trip meter was extensively used on various sections of the road and I got a mileage of 13.2km/litre on stretch Dasua-Jammu-Katra-Jammu-Dasua (a two lane highway) at an average speed of 52kmph (one couldn’t achieve more than that due to traffic) and a mileage of 14.8km/litre on four lane highway from Dasua-Jalandhar-Ambala-Delhi-Mathura at an average speed of 84kmph (the passage through Delhi was omitted). AC fully functional at all times. I am impressed.

 

Now the handling. I own a Santro Xing XO. I am used to zip start and a feeling of available extra power at all times during drive. I did not find much difference. When slowed down beyond a limit in third gear the vehicle had to be shifted to first as second was unable to react. The performance in second /third gear at slow moving traffic in city is tremendous. It instills lot of confidence in city driving. When traveling at high speeds in top gear you do feel that there could have been an additional overdrive gear. The front design makes handling of the car through city traffic comparatively easy. Judgment of extreme corners of the car is surprisingly easy compared to SX4 or Honda City. Max speed I touched on four lane highway was 160 kmph while overtaking a Verna. The car was superbly stable and found the grip on road even better. The suspension is superb and potholes go unnoticed. My son who is 6 feet did not face overhead room problem in rear seats. On a bumpy road the situation may however change.

 

I would recommend parking sensors as accessory for everyone for sensible reverse gear movements. I installed Autocop Parkpro from fiat dealership in Ludhiana.

 

There can be no complaints on the interiors. The luxurious feeling is par excellence comparable with Honda Accord.

 

Features not so much advertised are intelligently done up such as ‘auto cabin lights on’ on removal of key and ‘auto off’ of cabin lights on locking the car, ‘Follow me headlights’ function is extremely useful  while parking in dark places, ‘Blue and Me’ is amazingly relaxing facility to connect to the world without loss in driving efficiency, ‘Remote opening of boot lid’ via remote key is impressive, ‘Auto locking of all doors’ on crossing 20kmph, ‘Seat belt warning’ and ‘auto unlocking of all doors’ during accident, ‘Auto stoppage of fuel to engine’ during accident, Dual SRS Airbags, ABS with EBD all inclusive make the car a completely done up package, needless to mention here that Alloy wheels and tubeless tyres come as additional benefits. Fiat would have done better to provide alloy wheel on spare wheel as well.

 

I would fail in my review if I do not mention a word about the dealerships I came across. Metro Motors at Ambala where I picked up my car were extremely courteous and helpful. The receptionist came out of her desk and escorted me to the concerned desk of Fiat in the showroom. The balance procedures were as if well rehearsed and worked out to the need of the customer. Tata Fiat have done well to treat customers in a privileged manner. On the way when I visited Garyson Motors Ludhiana, I was treated as if I was there customer who had purchased the car from them. I had 3 staff attending to me and ensured my full satisfaction. If this continues I am sure Fiat is set to give its parallels a tough fight to survive.

My email psj12765@rediffmail.com

It wins everybody's heart. Excellent looks, Posh interiors, Fully LoadedYou will have tough time to find one