General Tipo - T-jet and Multiair 1.4 120hp - is there a difference?

Currently reading:
General Tipo - T-jet and Multiair 1.4 120hp - is there a difference?

AvidIrishReader

New member
Joined
Feb 7, 2017
Messages
3
Points
1
Hello, I just bought a Fiat Tipo. In December the dealer said: ''As we were saying the model to go for is the one with the 120hp MultiAir petrol engine.'

Last week when I took delivery of the car - which is very nice and lovely to drive - on the engine block, it clearly says T-Jet.

When I queried this with the dealer - that he sold me the T-jet version and NOT the multiair - his reply was: 'stop worrying, they are basically the same engine'.

So, is he lying or am I stupid? Does a Tipo 1.4 120hp multiair engine exist in the Irish market, or on the continent for that matter?

As you can imagine, I don't want to think I was sold a pup.
 
As far as I know, the Tipo is only available with the T-Jet 120 engine, not a MultiAir engine.

The MultiAir engines in Fiat's range are the 140bhp version found in the 500X & 124 Spider and the 170bhp found in the 500X. The Jeep Renegade, Alfa MiTo & Alfa Giulietta uses the same versions though the Giulietta drops the 140 version in favour of a 150bhp version.

I think the idea behind the Tipo was for it to be cheaper, more straightforward model, so it does without the extra trickery of the MultiAir engine. However, after seeing how many MultiAir units have failed, costing upwards of £800 to fix out of warranty, I view the lack of MultiAir engine in the Tipo as a bit of a blessing (y)
 
Thanks for that - it's kinda reassuring! However, am I correct in believing that they are totally different types of petrol engines?

I ask because my local Fiat dealer has said, I quote, 'the T-Jet and Multiair are basically the same thing'.
 
As far as I understand it, the MultiAir 140 engine is basically a T-Jet 120 with a different (MultiAir) head. The Alfa MiTo used to use the T-Jet 120 engine (badged TB 120), this was then upgraded to MultiAir, initially with 135bhp, then 140.

The old T-Jet 150 / TB 155 engine had the same treatment and became the MultiAir 170bhp.

So, they're right in that the basis of each engine is the same. However, the T-Jet is a lot more conventional than the MultiAir. T-Jet being a standard turbo petrol, MultiAir having electronic actuators in the head.
 
Doncha just love it when the people selling you one of the biggest purchases you'll ever make either lie through their teeth or don't know their ars* from their elbow?

(For the record, M'lud, let's assume your salesman falls into the latter category).
 
As long as you ordered it as 120hp, I would actually be very happy it's a T-Jet.
I have the same engine in my Doblo.

The MultiAir has actuators allowing much more extensive control over the valves than most valve timing technologies can, which is great for performance and fuel economy...
...but there is a lot less to go wrong with an old fashioned fixed timing DOHC setup, the T-Jet drives fantastic despite being ancient technology, plus they're a lot easier to tune.
 
That's why I bought my Doblo at a Fiat specialist instead of an official dealer: They make less money on selling new cars and are more in it to keep you as a happy customer long term, plus the guy selling the new cars is also the one who's doing maintenance and repairs, so he talks specs and reliability rather than selling nonsense.

The buying experience was a bit different as well: gave me a brochure with all the possible options, scribbled down what I wanted on a random piece of paper on his bench while draining the oil out of a car, e-mailed me the price, went to do the final negotiation and sign the deal at noon and got a bowl of soup. :D
Sure beats sitting for hours at a desk with one lukewarm coffee, listening to a bunch of nonsense, telling the guy 5 times you don't want the finance, insurance or extra warranty, begging to get a free first aid kit and life jacket, and getting screwed anyways!
 
Last edited:
And don't be too sad about the power difference between the 120hp t-jet and the 140hp multi-air. The t-jet has on average about 133hp, but is called 120hp for marketing reasons.
 
And don't be too sad about the power difference between the 120hp t-jet and the 140hp multi-air. The t-jet has on average about 133hp, but is called 120hp for marketing reasons.

Is that right..? :)

Trouble is, the only right hand drive saloon I can track down are the Oirish ones.. and they only come in 95bhp flavor, if you want a petrol and manual (as I do).. :(


Ralf S.
 
Is that right..? :)

Trouble is, the only right hand drive saloon I can track down are the Oirish ones.. and they only come in 95bhp flavor, if you want a petrol and manual (as I do).. :(


Ralf S.

I've definitely read somewhere before about the 120 T-Jet engine being dyno tested at 130+ bhp... Think it was probably on an Alfa forum with regard to the Giulietta but not 100% sure, sorry.

It does seem bizarre to me that they're bothering to send saloons to Ireland but not here, and even more so in just the basic 1.4 version. Fiat properly flummox me sometimes they really do! :confused:
 
It does seem bizarre to me that they're bothering to send saloons to Ireland but not here, and even more so in just the basic 1.4 version. Fiat properly flummox me sometimes they really do! :confused:

Saloons are ever popular here, I think amongst older buyers which would explain the choice of engine. Estates not as popular as Britain or the continent sadly, and caravans are beyond the pale for certain reasons (exception made for those with yellow plates on the back). ;)
 
Doncha just love it when the people selling you one of the biggest purchases you'll ever make either lie through their teeth or don't know their ars* from their elbow?

(For the record, M'lud, let's assume your salesman falls into the latter category).

I wouldn't be that polite to him. The engines are different. If he said multi-air it is and was a misrepresentation if a straight T-jet was delivered. At the very least an apology is called for and if not forthcoming with humble pie and a full explanation money back is ion order.

This is nearly as dishonest as the idiots who dishonestly state that the Panda has leather seats. There ain't no leather anywhere here and the ASA have been asked to investigate!
 
I see you're in Norfolk, England. Just don't buy a car in Ireland and you'll be okay!

I think if I had such mis-representation thrown my way I might take the law into my own hands and get Mr Baseball bat out... This seems to be the only thing that some of these people take note of. I do however agree that you are almost certainly better off with standard cam operated valves. Multi Air units may perform well when working, but they use a huge amount of fuel and MUST consequently emit a huge quantity of emissions. I hope you enjoy the car anyhow.
 
Back
Top