Fiat Linea Overview
Apart from the Fiat competizione, the Abarth Punto and the Urban Cross there was one more car which caught lots of attention at Fiat pavilion of the 2016 Auto expo and this was the new Linea 125s. Now the Linea 125s is based on the same Linea sedan which was actually launched way back in the year 2009 in India and honestly this car has started aging now. Perhaps Fiat wants to give this car a new lease of life until they launch a replacement for the Linea sedan.
Coming to the 125s, this variant of the Linea actually does not get a lot of cosmetic upgrades but what it gets instead is this interesting 1.4 litre T-Jet petrol unit under the hood of the sedan. Now you must be wondering what is so special about this new 1.4 litre T-Jet petrol motor, so for your information this is actually the same engine which powers the newly launched more aggressive and sportier Punto Abarth and the 595 Competizione.
Fiat Linea Design & Style
The Fiat Linea 125S is based on the current generation Linea. t has got some cosmetic changes too. The Fiat Linea 125S looks premium no doubt and is also a desirable car. It was always a beautiful looking car and still is. The Linea can still give a run for their money to many a competition, even after so many years.
The Fiat Linea 125S has a black coloured front grille with the outside ring plated in chrome. The headlamps remain the same as on other Lineas. The front bumper is also the same but it gets a black centre part. The fog lamp bezels are also black in colour and this gives it an urban car appeal. The rear portion is the same, the only difference being new 125S badge on the boot lid. There is also a chrome plated exhaust tip present, which adds to the sporty appeal in the car. Fiat hasn’t made any changes on the Linea as it was showcased at the Auto Expo.
Fiat Linea Cabin & Comfort
The cabin of the Fiat Linea 125 S though is a tad different than what you are used to seeing so far. While the general layout is the same, the age-old music system has been replaced with a fantastic 5-inch touchscreen system that supports navigation as well. Our top-end trim had leather seats, climate control, auto headlamps and wipers, a rear sun blind, all four auto down power windows with auto up for the driver, a rear AC vent and cruise control. The auto wipers though were a tad glitchy. It worked for the first day I had the car with me. For the next two days, even if it was pouring, the wipers didn’t work unless manually activated. Once you do this and revert to the auto setting, they will work just fine. Strange.
But what is worthy of mentioning is the music system. Ignore the ‘small screen’ for this segment and you will notice a crisp unit and good speakers. In many cars, the Bluetooth calling experience requires you to turn up the volume. The Fiat, however, was loud and crisp and sometime even required me to turn down the volume when not surrounded by honking traffic. It really is a good effort from Fiat’s end.
The front seats are supportive and kept me comfortable during the entire course of the test. The rear seat with a centre armrest in place is a tad cramped, especially for someone taller like me on the headroom front. Anis, who is 5’6″, could sit comfortably though (as evident from the photos). The 500-litre boot space is big enough. Speaking of which, Fiat could have added more useable storage spaces. In this digital age, there wasn’t any place to keep my smartphone and wallet. The glovebox is also small and can barely hold a few papers. The slim door pockets too can’t hold one-litre water bottles. Build quality is decent, but the glovebox closing action feels flimsy.
Fiat Linea Engine & Gearbox
Fiat offers Linea with two engine options a 1.4-litre FIRE petrol power mill and a 1.3-litre multijet diesel power mill. Both engines have been placed transversely under the hood and use a 5-speed manual transmission to deliver power to front wheels. The petrol versions of the car are powered by a 1.4-litre FIRE petrol engine that displaces 1368cc to deliver power worth 91PS against a peak torque of 115Nm. A lag may be felt at higher speed as the engine can manage to pull the 1240kgs kerb weight of the car at lower speeds only. But that doesn’t mean it is slow, the car speedily accelerates from 0-100kmph speed in just 16 seconds and attains a top speed of 165kmph. The diesel version of the car, on the contrary, is powered by a 1.3-litre 16 valve engine whose power and performance is enhanced by Multijet and Dual OverHead Camshafts (DOHC). The DOHC and Multijet not only enhances the efficiency of this engine but also help in improving its performance. The engine smoothly manages to delivers power worth 86PS along a maximum torque of 203Nm. The Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) supports the engine’s performance and helps it in gliding from rest to 100kmph speed within 15 seconds. The diesel version of Fiat Linea carries ability to attain a maximum speed of 170kmph.
Out of the two fuel options offered with this sedan it is its diesel version that makes it especially proud in terms of mileage. Fiat Linea delivers an ARAI rated fuel efficiency of 20kmpl with its diesel engine. The fuel tank of the car bears a capacity to store 45-litres of fuel in one go which means with the diesel version you can easily travel a distance of 900kms in one go. The petrol version on the other hand delivers mileage of 15kmpl as certified by ARAI. The range of distance that can be covered via this version with a full tank is 675kms, not bad considering its cost end
Fiat Linea Driving Dynamics
This is a firmly set-up car but has a pliant and supple feel over potholes. Ride comfort or ground clearance are both non issues, and the handling is quite engaging. The Apollo Alnac tyres, which earned quite a bit of flak in the more powerful Abarths, feel just about up to the job here. They have good traction, even in the wet, and only tend to spin up easily in first gear.The hydraulically assisted steering wheel is a bit on the heavier side in the city, and the large turning radius can be tedious in the city. Fiat recommends a cold tyre pressure of 36psi for the front and 33psi for the rear. Any lower and the heavier engine in the front will make you work extra hard to steer the car. I think it will really be a close call between the Vento TSI and the Linea when it comes to driving pleasure in this segment as both cars take different routes towards entertaining the driver.
Fiat Linea Safety & Security
The Linea 125s gets ABS and EBD as standard while you can also expect dual front airbags as well for the safety of the passengers inside. This car has value-for-money package featuring all the essentials that are required to be a perfect family car. It features an automatic climate control unit with rear knee level AC vents..Cruise control, ambient lighting on dashboard and other functional features make this sedan a tough competitor.
Fiat Linea Cost in Bangalore
Fiat Linea Ex-Showroom Price in Bangalore ranges from 7,59,778/- (Linea 1.4L Active Fire) to 10,67,046/- (Linea 1.4L Emotion). Get best offers for Fiat Linea from Fiat Dealers in Bangalore. Check for Linea price in Bangalore at Carzprice
Fiat Linea Conclusion
The Linea 125s definitely does not get lot of cosmetic upgrades but the subtle changes have actually made the car look more sophisticated. What will appeal to the customers though is the new powerful 1.4 Litre T-Jet petrol engine and all that power and torque that it actually generates from the engine. Hopefully Fiat has also worked on the gearbox as well just like we mentioned little earlier in this article to actually do some justice to the engine and all that power and torque that it generates.