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City driveability gets affected due to turbo lag
Due to the massive turbo lag, you need to change gears very frequently in the city. The way the Urban Cross accelerates is just another thing. The style of power delivery makes the car feel quicker than what it actually is and the turbo lag is definitely the silence before the storm. However, the gear shifts are way too notchy and it feels as if someone has stuck a chewing gum in the mechanism. A slick shifting gearbox would have definitely added to the fun factor. The clutch isn’t too heavy and feels easy to use. Talking about fuel efficiency, we got anywhere between 9.7 to 14.8 km/l. The heavy weight of the car coupled with the fat tyres has its impact on the efficiency but the fun factor compensates for it.
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Handling is fun and the Urban Cross feels chuckable
Fiat cars always excel when it comes to dynamics and are fun to drive
The steering on the Urban Cross isn’t exactly light. In fact, it is well-weighted and feels very direct and full of feedback. Driving the car was a pleasant experience thanks to the steering and we cannot deny the fact that while the Urban Cross may not be as much fun to drive as the Punto, it still feels very engaging and is a lot of fun to throw around the corners too. The car performs really well on almost all road surfaces and body control is fantastic. The suspension is another area where the Urban Cross excels since the ride is very good and the suspension makes you believe that it can take up a lot of abuse. Braking power is good but when you stomp the pedal in emergency situations, the ABS kicks in a bit too early and the stopping power doesn’t instil confidence at times, even though the car does stop how you expect it to, without any drama.
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Masses might not like the Fiat but it does tug your heart strings
The Fiat Urban Cross is one car which won’t be liked by many, but the few people who will admire this car, they will definitely love it for the feel that it offers. It has some issues with the ergonomics and equipment list, but the driving dynamics and feel are unmatched and the car feels very involving to drive. However, this involvement comes at a cost and the diesel top variant comes at Rs. 9.80 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai) and paying a million bucks for a car that has poor ergonomics and no airbags is a big question. If you really want to buy a fun to drive crossover, we would totally recommend the petrol version of the Urban Cross, because it comes with the monstrous 1.4-litre turbocharged Abarth engine and also gets dual front airbags.
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A major negative is Fiat’s poor dealership network
Fiat Urban Cross Service Costs
1. Service Schedule – 15,000 kms and 1 year (whichever is earlier)
2. Cost of Spares –
* Engine Oil Per Service – Rs. 2264/- (D)
* Brake Oil – Rs. 675/- (D)
* Oil Filter – Rs. 464/- (D)
* Fuel Filter – Rs. 2123/- (D)
* Brake Pads (Front) – Rs. 3455/- (est.)
* Front Bumper (without painting) – Rs. 2800/- (est.)
* Rear Bumper (without painting) – Rs. 2600/- (est.)
* Headlamp Assembly (Each) – Rs. 3800/- (est.)
* Tail Lamp Assembly (Each) – Rs. 3300/- (est.)
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The heavy weight and fat tyres results in low fuel efficiency
What’s Cool
* Looks beautiful and tough at the same time
* The engine has good performance
* Handling is fun, the crossover feels planted always
* Ride quality is splendid, suspension feels durable
What’s Not So Cool
* Many features are missing despite the price
* Airbags should have been provided at least
* Not everyone will like the ergonomics
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The Fiat Urban Cross feels great to drive on the highways
Testers’ Note:
“The Fiat Urban Cross is a car which isn’t made to please everyone as it has many flaws like a heavy steering, lack of features, poor ergonomics, etc. But it has emotion and how. Drive any Fiat car and you fall in love with it because it connects with you with its fantastic driving feel and supreme handling. You feel safe inside the cabin thanks to the tank-like build and the bond we share with the Urban Cross is something we will miss a lot.” – Faisal Khan, Editor, MotorBeam.
“The Fiat Urban Cross carries good styling and it looks youthful. The interiors are far from best-in-class and many features are missing. The vehicle also feels a bit old. However, the driving dynamics are super and I had fun driving the car. I am not a fan of pseudo-crossovers though and I’d rather pick the Punto Evo over this.” – Aariz Rizvi, Assitant Editor, MotorBeam.
“I liked the Urban Cross for its looks and loved how it attracted attention from curious on-lookers, especially enthusiasts since most of them love Fiat cars. It took me a while to get used to the seats and other ergonomics but after that, I had a blast with the car. The engine has good performance in the mid-range and near the redline which was a boon for me and all in all, I had fun driving this car. However, I’m unsure whether I would plonk my money on such a vehicle, with so many options in the market now. ” – Parth Gohil, Senior Road Tester, MotorBeam.
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The Urban Cross slots itself as a lovely offering in its segment
Further Reading –
Fiat Urban Cross Long Term Review – First Report
Fiat Urban Cross Review
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