General Advice - which Qubo motorization

[TataraQ]

Hi guys, I was thinking of getting a Qubo, but from my research, the petrol version only comes with the PSA engine and I haven't heard good things about it online. Is there any other variant? (until around 2014/15).
Optionally, should I get the diesel one instead or perhaps look for a Doblo? (I don't care about high consumption, I value reliability and prefer petrol, due to driving mainly in the city).
Thanks for all your advice.

 

[Peanut01]

There is also a 1.4 petrol/cng version . That one is a Fiat engine..

I have the Qubo with 1.4 psa engine.. so far so good...

 

[The Panda Nut]

I cant advise but the 1.6D 105 HP Fiat engine is a gem. I had 108K faultless miles from my Bravo 234lb/ft of torque makes it an easy drive if not fast. Innthe Bravo 108K at around 64mpg average. If you can find a deisel vehicle it would be my preferred choice every time.

 

[TataraQ]

There is also a 1.4 petrol/cng version . That one is a Fiat engine..

I have the Qubo with 1.4 psa engine.. so far so good...

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I won't be able to use CNG in underground parking.

 

[TataraQ]

I cant advise but the 1.6D 105 HP Fiat engine is a gem. I had 108K faultless miles from my Bravo 234lb/ft of torque makes it an easy drive if not fast. Innthe Bravo 108K at around 64mpg average. If you can find a deisel vehicle it would be my preferred choice every time.

I don't know if it comes with this engine at all.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I don't know if it comes with this engine at all.

I dont think so but the Doblo does. That is however tall and would not go in my garage for instance. I would look for diesel though.

 

[Mike1alike]

Hi and Welcome to the forum!
For the Qubo up to 2014–15 the main engine options are:
1.4 petrol — slightly underpowered but adequate for city work. Some of these are PSA-sourced but many Qubos also came with Fiat’s own 1.4 petrol or the 1.4 LPG/Natural Power version, which still use Fiat architecture not PSA.
“Other petrol variants?”
There isn’t a significantly different petrol engine beyond the 1.4 in that era — no larger petrol like a 1.6-plus in Qubo itself.
There was a petrol/CNG version but that’s impractical as you said.

Diesel option (1.3 Multijet):
Most common and generally regarded as more robust if you do frequent longer runs — better torque, lower vibration.
Diesel can be harder on short city trips (DPF regen issues) if you never get on the motorway, but if you do mix in longer runs it’s often the more reliable long-term choice.

Pros/Cons summary:
1.4 petrol: smoother, simpler, cheaper to maintain — best for city only
1.3 Multijet diesel: better torque & economy, stronger on longer drives — potentially more robust overall
Doblo vs Qubo: Doblo has bigger engine options and more space, but if your priority is purely petrol reliability and city usage then a Qubo petrol is fine.

Parts availability:
Qubo is common, so parts are fairly easy to find for both engines. Diesel parts might be slightly more common on the used market because it was the more popular choice.

 

[TataraQ]

Hi and Welcome to the forum!
For the Qubo up to 2014–15 the main engine options are:
1.4 petrol — slightly underpowered but adequate for city work. Some of these are PSA-sourced but many Qubos also came with Fiat’s own 1.4 petrol or the 1.4 LPG/Natural Power version, which still use Fiat architecture not PSA.
“Other petrol variants?”
There isn’t a significantly different petrol engine beyond the 1.4 in that era — no larger petrol like a 1.6-plus in Qubo itself.
There was a petrol/CNG version but that’s impractical as you said.

Diesel option (1.3 Multijet):
Most common and generally regarded as more robust if you do frequent longer runs — better torque, lower vibration.
Diesel can be harder on short city trips (DPF regen issues) if you never get on the motorway, but if you do mix in longer runs it’s often the more reliable long-term choice.

Pros/Cons summary:
1.4 petrol: smoother, simpler, cheaper to maintain — best for city only
1.3 Multijet diesel: better torque & economy, stronger on longer drives — potentially more robust overall
Doblo vs Qubo: Doblo has bigger engine options and more space, but if your priority is purely petrol reliability and city usage then a Qubo petrol is fine.

Parts availability:
Qubo is common, so parts are fairly easy to find for both engines. Diesel parts might be slightly more common on the used market because it was the more popular choice.

Hello, thanks for your reply.
Is there any disadvantage for long trips with the petrol engine besides consumption? Like for example a country side drive or a trip on a motorway (let's say 200+ km) how will the engine fare in these situations?

 

[Mike1alike]

Short answer: no real disadvantage, as long as expectations are realistic.
For the 1.4 petrol (FIRE) in the Qubo:
Long trips / motorway (200+ km):
Absolutely fine. These engines are mechanically simple and happy to sit at cruising speed for hours. In fact, long steady runs are easier on the engine than short stop-start trips.
What you’ll notice vs diesel:
Higher fuel consumption at motorway speeds
Higher engine revs (it’s geared shorter than the diesel)
Less torque, so more downshifting on hills or when overtaking.
What you won’t hurt:
Engine longevity
Cooling (provided the system is healthy)
Reliability.
Pros on long runs:
No DPF to clog
No EGR/DPF regeneration issues
Quieter and smoother than the diesel at light load
Cheaper maintenance overall.
Countryside driving:
Also fine. Just keep it in the right gear and don’t lug it at low revs. Petrols like to rev a bit.
Bottom line:
If you do occasional long trips and mostly normal daily driving, the petrol is a perfectly safe and reliable choice.
If you do frequent motorway trips at high speed with heavy loads, the diesel is more relaxed and economical,but also more complex.

 

[TataraQ]

Short answer: no real disadvantage, as long as expectations are realistic.
For the 1.4 petrol (FIRE) in the Qubo:
Long trips / motorway (200+ km):
Absolutely fine. These engines are mechanically simple and happy to sit at cruising speed for hours. In fact, long steady runs are easier on the engine than short stop-start trips.
What you’ll notice vs diesel:
Higher fuel consumption at motorway speeds
Higher engine revs (it’s geared shorter than the diesel)
Less torque, so more downshifting on hills or when overtaking.
What you won’t hurt:
Engine longevity
Cooling (provided the system is healthy)
Reliability.
Pros on long runs:
No DPF to clog
No EGR/DPF regeneration issues
Quieter and smoother than the diesel at light load
Cheaper maintenance overall.
Countryside driving:
Also fine. Just keep it in the right gear and don’t lug it at low revs. Petrols like to rev a bit.
Bottom line:
If you do occasional long trips and mostly normal daily driving, the petrol is a perfectly safe and reliable choice.
If you do frequent motorway trips at high speed with heavy loads, the diesel is more relaxed and economical,but also more complex.

Great post I appreciate your dedication. Do you have any experience with the PSA version of the engine? I don't know whether it has been fitted into any other fiat vehicles.

 

[Mike1alike]

Short answer: Yes, the PSA petrol engine in the Qubo has been fitted to other vehicles, and the experience with it is generally stable, but with some quirks.
What engine we’re talking about
In some markets the Qubo 1.4 petrol was actually a PSA engine, not Fiat’s own FIRE unit.
This happens because the Qubo (and its platform-mate the Citroën Nemo / Peugeot Bipper) were co-developed by FCA and PSA.
The PSA engine you’ll see in those is usually the TU series 1.4 petrol — the same block that was fitted in:
Peugeot 206
Citroën C3
Peugeot 307
Various Citroën/Peugeot small vans
So yes — the PSA petrol engine has been used in many vehicles across the Stellantis/PSA lineup.
How it behaves in real life
Owners generally report:
Pros
Simple design
Easy to work on
Reliable in everyday driving
Good for city use.
Cons
Not very powerful or torquey
Can feel underwhelming on fast motorway cruising
Slightly coarse compared to Fiat’s own FIRE units
Parts are widely available, but brand-specific parts (PSA tensioners, idlers) are different from Fiat.
In other words, it won’t blow you away, but it doesn’t inherently fail either. It’s no more “fragile” than many small-capacity petrol engines of the era.
Parts and availability
Because the same engine was used in many Peugeot/Citroën models, parts are:
Easy to find
Often cheaper than Fiat OEM equivalents
Available both aftermarket and used.
So there’s no disadvantage in terms of parts supply — probably the opposite.
Final take for the Qubo
If you end up with the PSA version of the petrol engine:
Don’t worry — it’s normal for the model
It’s just a different flavour of 1.4 petrol
It will behave much like you’d expect: smooth around town, just not a torque monster on the motorway
Reliability is typical for naturally aspirated petrol — not a deal-breaker.

 

[Danimurtgm]

Hi guys, I was thinking of getting a Qubo, but from my research, the petrol version only comes with the PSA engine and I haven't heard good things about it online. Is there any other variant? (until around 2014/15).
Optionally, should I get the diesel one instead or perhaps look for a Doblo? (I don't care about high consumption, I value reliability and prefer petrol, due to driving mainly in the city).
Thanks for all your advice.

If you buy a Fiat Qubo with petrol or Diesel engine take one with 90 HP or more because in my opinion the 73 HP petrol or 75 HP Diesel lacks power when is driven on a hill slope.