I was reading a luke-warm review of the Tipo today (in the Guardian) which seemed as though the reviewer was approaching the car determined to find fault. You may argue that's what a good reviewer does - but have a look for yourself https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/25/fiat-tipo-car-review-zoe-williams - in the end she grudgingly accepts there were some likeable things about the car - but it's almost as though she's determined to dislike it over all. So many reviews of Fiats (and Alfas) seem to be approached in this way - it seems prejudice is a default mode for many of the motoring press. Like partisan football fans, they know what they like I guess... (Or support).

Hi JCarp16.Can't imagine Chris Evans reviewing "ordinary" cars like the Tipo in the Mail on Sunday.Today it's a £230K Ferrari. It's another world !!!

ArthurM said:

Hi JCarp16.Can't imagine Chris Evans reviewing "ordinary" cars like the Tipo in the Mail on Sunday.Today it's a £230K Ferrari. It's another world !!!

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In Chris Evans' case I would imagine he would struggle to say many negative things about his favourite marque.

I might be wrong but I think the Tipo wasn't even destined for the UK. And as such was aimed at a different market which is bound to colour a reviewers judgement. It has mine. I can't imagine it's anywhere close to a Focus etc. Even Kia and such have upped their game these days so I don't know why Fiat bothered as they don't have a good name in this country.

The Bravo was a great looking car and that didn't sell. I don't know what they hope to achieve with the Tipo. Maybe there is another RHD market where they sell lots!

I think the approach is this case is the name it's self is enough to confuse and put you off, she state is has some good points and seems it should be a good car but there is something underlying it which is off putting and seemingly uncool.

It seems more that she doesn't like like it but wants to, but then can't put her finger exactly on the problem.

The motoring press will never accept a fiat to be good. It's been happening for years. It's something they can't deal with. They could be engineered by Mercedes but it still wouldn't be good enough. I watched top gear the other week pick away at the spider in typical fashion then go on to praise the new twingo despite all the odds stacked against it! Despite the low price, generous equipment and bigger interior space the tipo will fail because it doesn't wear a ford badge. They (or even we) can argue until the cows come home whether the tipo is more or less comfortable than a VW or a Honda and people have different views on quality in the end it's just an opinion and no journalist can tell me that a tipo is more comfortable than a focus because I've never driven either of them. The britsh public have never taken to fiat since the bad old days of the 1970's and the journalist are right there to never let us forget it.