Fiat Palio Stile 1.1

Fiat has stuck with the old dash design simply because re-engineering the new one would have sent costs soaring. It looks the same, but the dark grey interiors have been replaced by a far more welcoming dual-tone dashboard that is beige on the lower half of the dashboard and brown on the top half. The centre console and the instrument console surround look far better with their brushed silver finish. Four colours on the dashboard lead to a bit of a mismatch, but it looks better than the coal bin interiors of the earlier car. The seats are supportive and the cushion provides just the right amount of support. The driving position is good, and Fiat has re-introduced the rotary seat-back angle adjustment, so it’s far easier to find a good position. Visibility from the driver’s seat is not great, thanks to the lowish seats and thick pillars, but Fiat has fitted a pair of wider mirrors, which really help when manoeuvering in tight places.