The basic plot stays – but with fresh styling and a new engine, does the Fiat Palio Stile finally have what it takes, asks Harmaan R. A .J. Madon
IS IT A STEAL? Double-barrelled headlights add value to the Palio’s looks, but the rear is now a big yawn, as are the interiors. The new engine is frugal, but the car is slow off the blocks
This ’new’ Palio made its debut abroad in 2003 but didn’t come to India until now, thanks mainly to Fiat’s financial struggles. But the Palio Stile is finally here and is Fiat’s first model out of the spanking-new plant
at Ranjangaon. The face-lifted Palio gets bigger, double-barrel headlamps, a new honeycomb grille, new bumpers, a slightly reshaped bonnet and tailgate and new tail-lamps. These new embellishments serve to improve the already-handsome proportions of the Palio.
Under the hood
The Stile casts the same silhouette as the outgoing model and is shorter than the 4-metre cut-off length to help it qualify for the small car excise sop. The biggest difference however, is the new engine. To qualify for the excise benefit, small petrol cars should have an engine that displaces less than 1.2 litres. So the old 1242cc engine has been axed and in its place debuts the 1108cc engine borrowed from the Fiat Panda - the car that helped put Fiat back on
the road to financial recovery in Europe.
The 1.2 Palio will never be remembered for its performance and neither will this iteration. This 1108cc four-cylinder motor is relatively low-tech, with a single overhead camshaft and two valves per cylinder. At 990 kg, this car is simply too heavy for the engine. With just 57 bhp on tap, the car’s power-to-weight ratio of 57.57 bhp per tonne is very much on the ’underpowered’ section of the scale. The low-end response is acceptable and the mid-range power is decent but past 4500 rpm, the engine labours to its redline. However, you won’t notice this power deficit much when driving in traffic and it will easily maintain speed.
Getting a measure
But it’s when you demand some overtaking power that you feel this engine’s dire shortage of horses. Drop down a gear and there’s not much improvement in forward movement. Drop down one more and the engine starts screaming but again, there is no serious grunt. 100 kph comes up in an excruciatingly slow 20.45 seconds — that’s close to four seconds slower than the 1.2 Palio. It also performs poorly in the in-gear slogs. 20-80 kph in third gear takes 19.98 sec and 40-100 kph in fourth gear comes up in 34.19sec! The good thing is that it doesn’t feel as slow as it sounds. Make good use of the slick-shifting gearbox, keep the engine between 1500-3000rpm and you will motor about briskly. Strangely, with the air con on, the car has a very disturbing vibration at idle. It sounds like it is about to stall. The cabin shakes too, which is irritating. The five-speed manual gearbox and the gear ratios are unchanged save for a slightly shorter first gear.
Stepping aboard
Abroad, the new Palio got a redesigned dashboard, but for India, Fiat has stuck with the old design simply because re-engineering the new one for right-hand-drive would have sent costs soaring. So what you get looks the same, but the dark grey interiors have been replaced by a dual-tone colour scheme; beige on the lower half and brown on top. The centre console and instrument console surround look far better with a brushed silver finish. Although four colours lead to a bit of a mismatch, it’s an improvement on the coal-bin interiors of the earlier car. The seats are supportive and the cushioning provides just the right amount of support. The driving position is good and Fiat has re-introduced the rotary seat-back angle adjuster, so it’s easier to find a good position. Visibility from the driver’s seat is compromised due to the low seats and thick pillars but Fiat has fitted wider wing mirrors, which really help when manoeuvring in tight places.
Drinking habits
Fuel efficiency is marginally up on the old Palio. The Palio 1.1 went 10.2km to a litre of petrol in the city and 15.04 kilometres on the highway, similar to other cars in its class. The top-of-the line SLX costs about Rs 3.99 lakh and has a little more than all the basic creature comforts. At this price, only the Indica Xeta beats it on value.
The things we love about the Palio have thankfully been left untouched. The tank-like build quality, the superb handling and steering and the Palio’s on road poise. The low-speed ride is a little stiff but as speeds increase, the suspension irons out irregularities beautifully. Despite the low-powered motor, it is quite driveable in city traffic but importantly, is more fuel efficient. Its combination of looks, economy and value do appeal but frankly, the Palio’s not the champ it used to be.
Printer friendly
page Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
