Fiat Linea Dynamic Diesel - Upgrade from Esteem. Review on Fiat Linea

I just upgraded myself from my good faithful maruti Esteem to the Grand Looking FIAT LINEA Diesel. I gifted myself with at LINEA Diesel Dynamic model, Flamenco Red Color.

Well a frank feedback, I have completed about 400km of driving and the car is quite clean and comfy. The interiors are very roomy with oodles of space all over and the car has a boot of 500lts, which allows you to throw in anything for a long family drive. The seats are ergo designed for long drives and can seat three BIG adults very comfortably. The leg space in the rear seating is damn good (better than the Indigo XL).

The Dynamic is the Mid variant with just basic interiors (no ABS and Airbags or the Blue n Me) but it has good enough to keep you happy. It has a full feature My CAR feature that give you warning for doors, seatbelts, mileage, distance to empty, distance covered, service due etc; which is very very neat.

What also added to my decision was the pleasant treatment at ConCorde Motors by the sales execsutives. Believe me TATA-FIAT is learning if not there yet. I was (and am) concerned still on the service part but I went for this car as I have seens these (Lineas and Puntos) running by the scores in all of Europe. I also pacified and gathered courage from the fact that FIAT can never get out of inda market simply because their revenues from the diesel engines itself is more than the revenues of some car manufacturers in India.

The Linea is well designed from the Inside and outside would be a subjective choice, I felt its lamborghini looks are killing. The MJD engine has been refined slightly better to deliver a higher torque and power while allowing for a decent mileage. The Difference from the Dzire and Swift starts from here. While all other FIAT engines run on a FGT (fixed Geometric Turbo), the LINEA (unlike the punto) is fired by a VGT which kicks in quite early in the rpm so that drive in the city is quite lively. Where the linea drags is on the highway as the 1.2 ton giant will take good 2-3 secs more than any other counterpart (Fiesta, City, SX4 or Optra) to gather upto 100-140KMPH. But I didnt feel I needed that much of performance. Okay, another point the VGT of LINEA delivers 95bhp at 4000rpm, which by no means is performance but it is also not bad either (the fiesta offers just 68bhp or the Dzire give 76bhp) so you still have the power at your feet and yes the lower end torque help it to beat off the biggies like the Verna and Optra, as long as we dont want to compete on the highway at 170 MPH, well honestly I dont.

The car is longer than the Skoda octavia or the VW Jetta, so lots for space and comfort for the price of a C segment car and more even with the luxury segment cars :) The linea also features a 15 inch tyre (punto runs on 14 inch) which is damn good for comfy drive. The suspensions are an absolute pleasure and takes in most potholes with a soft thud. I felt the Dzire should have better tyres for sure.

Btw, I did crack up my bumper grills a day back and I did also get the taste of spare part cost for the Linea. Can I not say that its definitely 'Expensive' the lower bumper grill alone cost 8000/-, oh my god was my first take when I heard it. But that apart there is some good news too, the LINEA unlike its counterparts is schedule to service only after 15000/ kms (yes, I said fifteen thousand kilometers) which is damn good for cityr driver and will bring down TCO (Total cost of Ownership).

What I did not like is the quality of fixture of the platfic panels could be much better for a car that you end up paying 8.75 lakhs. The seats are designed for large frams of 6 Fts and I am a little below that so some dissatisfcation there but that alright.

I have to still try out the milelage factor but during the run I am sure its delivered about 11-12kmpl of deisel which for a big car is decent, but my fellow owners tell me they get over 13-14 in city (interesting :) I need to wait and check this fact out).

So my advise if you are looking for a MultiJetDiesel C Segment car, buy it from the guys who made that technology rather than somebody who is leasing it :) ( just kidding). LINEA is a car for anybody who likes european appeal and thats low on maintenance. You dont have to think LINEA is a pack of mileage, low maintenance and high comfort.

For the people who are more reports oriented, the FIAT LINEA has also been the best selling car in the Segment (Fiesta, SX4, Verna, Optra and Honda City). LINEA has sold over 5000 cars since launch in Feb09 and has also won some very good awards from Autocar and Overdrive. Guess, FIAT has hit the bulls eye with LINEA and PUNTO which I think would be a comeback for the italian giant in India. I do wish them luck here.

UPDATING @ 740 KMS (14 July 2009)

I completed ~700 Kms in about 2 weeks of owning the car. The vehicle is delivering me pre-service about 12-14 kmpl deisel in bangalore city with AC on, with 5 passengers. I did do about max speed of ~120 enroute to Ghatti Subramanya temple on the devnahalli road, car is pretty stable and soaks up the ride comfortably.

TATA-FIAT Service Experience

Guys I have another cheer point for Concorde Motors, Dairy Circle, Bangalore. I have been offered decently good service on my two pre-service visits. One, I had a faulty wiper blade which needed replacement, they did it without any frowns. Two, Music system fitment which was done withing 1 hour of waiting at the lounge.

Honestly, I should say these guys are learning (I did find on senior supervisor at the service floor is an ex-maruti personnel) from the maruti team. Service seems to be getting better. The service guys greet you and genuinely hear out your problem before opening the job card. Option of quick service bay for short responses, which is good.

Though they service the Linea at mysore road and chikkabegur shop floors, they have arranged for a service on appointement at the dairy circle shop floor, which is easier now.

UPDATING @ 15000KMS (2 Dec 2010)

Ok I just peeped in and thought to top up my comment, I have completed about 18000 kilometers on the linea. So to put to rest people who are worried but cant resist this car. Once again guys just go for the car. The car has been doing well and my first service at 15000 kms costed me about 9k which is reasonable as you spend this only once a year. Absolutely makhan to drive, I did trips to Jaipur , ajmer, chandigarh and ropar to test the endurance. if you want to ask questions on something that I may not have put in the blog u cn write to me at cnsuresh76@yahoo.com