Fiat Auto South Africa’s Strada pick-up is here. Will it emulate the Brazilian version’s success by making an impact on the local sub-tonner market, which is currently dominated by Opel’s Corsa Utility?
Fiat Auto South Africa’s Strada pick-up is here. Will it emulate the Brazilian version’s success by making an impact on the local sub-tonner market, which is currently dominated by Opel’s Corsa Utility?
With “bakkie” sales on a serious boom (as an extreme example, 3 500 new Hi-Luxes were sold in June alone!), Fiat Auto SA have jumped into the loadbay just in time with their Palio/Siena derived Strada, and it sure looks good. It inherits the classy new appearance of the Palio and is “macho’d up” by fitment of a multi-faceted moulded front and rear bumpers as well as screw-on wheel arch mouldings.
The rear bumper incorporates a built-in step for easy access to the load compartment. The side design, with generously sized doors, makes the cabin and box look well proportioned.
The load box is 1,685 m long and 1,350 m wide (1,090 m between the wheelarches) with a payload of 715 kg. Access to the load compartment is made easier by the low box ground clearance and a tailgate that opens to 90 degrees. Coated with a non-slip covering, the gate can support a weight of up to 300 kg.
Suspension is via MacPherson struts with lower wishbones and an anti-roll bar at the front, and we noticed that a single leaf spring was used at the back and wondered if it was up to some serious punishment.
Fortunately, Fiat’s MD, Georgio Gorelli insisted that his team load some of the 1,2-litre and turbodiesel models with 500 kg of cement bags and made us drive over gravel roads for over 40 km. The rear end squatted down, but there was definitely more to go and the ride was fully acceptable with only more revs needed to climb hills at Gauteng altitudes.
So it looks like the Strada is up to carrying loads, but what else does it offer?
To read more about the Strada range, including specifications and pricing, and view the gallery click here.
