2001 Fiat Stilo 3 Doors 1.9L JTD 6MT FWD (150 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Fiat replaced the Bravo/Brava lineup after just six years on the market with the Stilo, changing the pace for the Italian automaker in the compact segment, even though the new model wasn’t very successful.

The Italian automaker noticed the change of pace in the design trends and quickly adapted. It ditched the rounded, organic shapes of the biodesign era and went to the straight lines and clear cuts that characterized the Stilo. Unlike the Bravo/Brava, a compact-sized vehicle that used different nameplates for the three- and five-door versions, the Stilo was used for the entire range. That dual-name system didn’t work for Fiat, and it tried to go back to a naming system known by customers. In the three-door version, the Stilo looked more closely to a hot hatch, albeit most of the engines failed to provide the needed punchy feeling. But the car looked good and was available with unique features for those times, including keyless entry and start and standard air conditioning on the entire range. Furthermore, customers could have it with automatic headlights and a panoramic roof with lamellar pieces of glass that could be retracted rearward to create an open-top cabriolet feeling.

At the front, the angular-shaped headlights flanked a black grille that supported the carmaker’s badge. Lower, on the bumper, Fiat installed a broad and rectangular air intake flanked by similarly shaped scoops. Surprisingly, the automaker didn’t offer the Stilo with fog lamps. To protect the bodywork from minor scratches and shopping carts, the automaker added black rubber moldings on the bumper.

With a sporty-looking profile, the Stilo surprised its customers. It looked like a hot hatch, even though, besides the Abarth version, it wasn’t. Its black rubber protections on the doors and rear quarter panels continued to protect the vehicle from side bumps in the parking lot. Fiat also created wider rear fenders, giving the car a muscular look. In addition, it placed body-colored door mirrors and handles, something that even some premium automakers failed to do with their cars. Out back, the raked-forward tailgate was slightly recessed on the lower side compared to the quarter panels and the exposed clear-lenses taillights.

Inside, the three-door Stilo was available in a few trims and provided customers with various features, including a DVD-based navigation system. That was rare in the budget-friendly vehicle segment. But still, Stillo had it. Furthermore, it even provided standard AC with an option for dual-zone climate control and an LCD that showed the airflow and the temperature on the center stack. The instrument cluster was filled with large dials for the tachometer and speedometer, while a monochrome LCD placed on the lower side completed information with data gathered from the onboard computer. Fiat installed comfortable bucket seats at the front, but with little side bolstering. Accessing the rear seats was more challenging due to the car’s low height and the narrow bench seat. On paper, it was a five-seat vehicle, but in real life, it was more of a four-people affair.

Under the hood, sales started with a choice of six engines, four with gasoline and two turbodiesels, ranging between 80 PS (79 hp) and 170 PS (168 hp). Later, the automaker improved the lineup with other powerplants. The entry-level version was a 1.2-liter unit, which was too much underpowered.