Fiat Avventura review, test drive

The car you see here is Fiat’s ticket to cash in on the popular compact SUV segment, although this Fiat is more of a crossover. The Avventura, as it is called, may look like just a Punto Evo in a strongman suit, but the changes are more than just skin-deep. Read on to find out why the Avventura promises to be a more potent package than the likes of Toyota’s Etios Cross or VW’s Cross Polo. 

First, let’s look at the exterior design. The big spare wheel cover that will be offered on all trims is tastefully styled, and I think, is the defining design element of the Avventura. What’s interesting though is how the spare wheel is mounted on the tailgate. Although it appears to be attached onto the bootlid, it actually sits on an arm that is hinged on the bumper. While it looks simple, the entire mechanism required some really clever engineering. The aggressive styling carries over to the front, with an all-new bumper that has the tough-looking cladding integrated into it, and a pseudo skid-plate that completes the crossover motif. In fact, there are aggressive design bits everywhere you look.

And it’s not just aesthetics. The roof rails are made from aluminium, serving two purposes. One, it keeps weight at the top at a minimum (hence not raising the centre of gravity by much) and secondly, the strong metallic construction makes them suitably functional. The Fiat Avventura also wears bespoke16-inch alloy wheels and larger wheel arches to facilitate chunkier rubber (both will be standard across trims). However, what fundamentally sets this crossover apart from the likes of the Volkswagen Cross Polo and Toyota Etios Cross is that the Fiat has been raised by 20mm over the already high-riding Punto Evo. The results? The Avventura’s belly rides a good 205mm over the ground; same as the Renault Duster.