In-depth reviews

Fiat Multipla owner reviews

"The Fiat Multipla looks unconventional, yet it fulfils the MPV brief very well - carrying passengers in comfort and luggage with ease."

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by Richard Ingram

15 Jul 2013

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Carbuyer Rating

2.5 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.0 out of 5

Reviews

Owner Reviews

5 out of 5
4 out of 5
3 out of 5
2 out of 5
1 out of 5

53%of people would recommend this car to a friend

Common Problems

Suspension (1 case)
Electrics (2 cases)
Gearbox / clutch (1 case)
Brakes (3 cases)
Engine, Gearbox / clutch, Suspension (1 case)
Engine (1 case)
Electrics, Suspension (1 case)
Brakes, Suspension (1 case)
Brakes, Electrics (1 case)
Other (2 cases)
Gearbox / clutch, Suspension (1 case)
Electrics, Engine (1 case)

Review 1 of 30

Tell us what you think about your car?

This car is perfect for our family of 2 adults and 3 children, and two medium dogs. All seats are individual and full size, ideal for child safety seats. Legroom is generous, even in the back. The boot space is ample for holiday luggage for the whole family, and if not all 6 seats are needed, any of the three rear seats can be fully removed. With all three seats removed, the Multipla doubles as a capacious van. The car handles and rides really well, and the latest, uprated 120bhp diesel is pretty lively. This, combined with the high seating position, makes it an enjoyable car to drive. Having owned Volkswagen cars and vans over many years, the Fiat Multipla has proved no less reliable overall. Steering, engine, cooling system and gearbox have proved trouble-free. Suspension seems to be the exception, with rear and front wishbones needing replacement around 36,000 and 48,000 miles respectively. There have been a couple of minor electrical issues, resolved without hassle by our local family owned Fiat dealer. Services at 12,000-mile intervals have been surprisingly affordable, although a few non-routine replacements seem to have excessively high prices. The bodywork is very well protected against rust and at 5 years of age still looks stunning. All in all, we are extremely satisfied with our 3.5 year ownership of one of the last Multiplas to roll off the production line and expect to hang on to it for at least another couple of years.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great fun, great handling. Perfect family car.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

The best car for a family, it just would be better with a bit extra length wise for a bigger boot.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Lovely quirky car but reliablity is a down fall. Mega practical and has so much space in the cabin.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great to drive and spacious but with six people the boot is not big enough for six suitcases we take a baggage trailer on holiday. The seats are large and comfortable and the driving position is very comfortable with geat stick high up on dashboard. This car has great all round vision. I would buy another with a smaller more economic 1.5 diesel engine if they made one. It has good fuel economy 44 per gallon for suv but the doblo is now made with a 1.3 diesel engine and has a bigger boot so that may well be my next choice.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Superbly practical - reliable, but not economical. Build quality aveage (but it is almost 10 yrs old). I do like italian cars though.....

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Appalling fuel economy,savage depreciation and takes ages to warm up on cold mornings.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

It's been the best family car we have ever had.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Brilliant concept let down by rubbish dealership knowledge/customer service/application of diagnostics that don't require a computer. The multipla has space and versatility in bucketloads, visibility is excellent, it's a hoot to drive, and stands out from the crowd. Unfortunately, other road users assume that because it looks odd, it's going slowly - i've never owned a car which other cars pull out in front of so much. Reliability has been hampered by dealers/mechanics incapable of diagnosing problems without computers. It's taken two complete breakdowns for running problems to be sourced and fixed, partly by myself. Would i buy another one? In a heartbeat, if i knew it was going to be reliable.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent overall

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Never broken down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Although not the best looking, i love my car as it fits all the family, all our gear, extra friends and more. It also easily manages journeys up and down motorways from england to scotland in a comfortable way.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Most practical 6 seater around--nippy for a big car and a joy to drive. Quite unexpected i-- thought such a practical car would be a plodder--this really isnt

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

The car is practical in its design. Ride is comfortable. it feels safe to be in. However dealer sold me a car that was rejected by fiat. It was sold new to me but the diesel particular filter failed again after 18 months of being replaced under waranty, i found out the truth from fiat. The dealer who sold me the car did not even inform me that they were no more a fiat dealer and i still brought the car for servicing with them and they produced a fiat headed invoice. I reported them to standards trading and they were given a warning for miss using the fiat invoice whilst not being a fiat authorised dealer anymore. I complained to smmt but they told smmt that they replaced the particular filter, when i ask for proof, they simply ignored me. As for fiat they would not respond to correspondence from trading standards who were investigating the more serious allegation of misselling. For these reasons stated i will never buy a fiat or alfa as the customer service and corporate responsibility to the customer is zero.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Good cars if well serviced.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Good design but poor build quality and reliability. Put me off fiats. Seats are heavy and awkward to take out. Roomy for all 6 passengers and luggage. Interior plastic marks very easily. Very poor suspension life!!!! Random engine management problems.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Not broken down in the time I've owned it expect needing a new battery

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

generally reliable although clunky

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

134k miles and no major mechanical issues.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Poor trim & ancilliaries

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I love my car it is a six seater plenty of room in car and in boot .Mygrandkids Love it because they can all see out windows.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Does what it says on the tin

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I like it

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Very practical. Different!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Different, cheap, cheerful and so far reliable

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Versitile, generally reliable, people want to own it once they have ridden in it and become familiar with it's numerous virtues. I have had it from new and am loath to consider being without it. I may well keep it alongside another vehicle. Infact a bought a little sports car to enjoy but find that i still spend more time in the multipla.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I run the uk owners club, do the website and manage the forum so i suppose you would think i like it. However! I have now grown tired of the fiat multipla due to its poor reliability track record. There are countless instances of the same problems cropping up both when i had my old 2001 model and my new 2008 model. Egr valves failing, thermostats on the jtd's failing, ecu's failing, mass air flow sensors failing, drop links on the arb failing, arb rubbers failing, cd radio systems, failing/skipping and unrepairable! Six/seven replacements later they cannot sort it out and fiat will not answer emails via there website. Customer service from my dealer is excellent until it requires fiats intervention! Price of keys, exhorbitant! Trim quality on plastics...very poor! I can go on and on... What is a truly excellent practical car is blighted by being made and supported by fiat. I cannot believe it would have all these problems if it had been made in japan or korea. Remember, or even britain! This is not a few isolated instances this is commonplace... Moriarty the mundane

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

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