Fiat Sedici (06-11) - Review

The Sedici rides fairly well, although at higher speeds there is considerable road noise, while the petrol engine is pretty vocal on the motorway. On the plus side the seats are fairly comfortable (even if they do lack support) and there's plenty of space too - those in the back get good headroom thanks to the high roofline. Air conditioning is standard across the range as well as electric front windows (Eleganza models also have electric rear windows).

With the rear seats in place the Sedici offers decent boot space with 270 litres on offer - similar to the Grande Punto, but smaller than cars like the Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Fiesta. However, the rear seats fold forward easily, leaving a large load area which measures 670 litres. In the front there's a twin cupholder in front of the gearstick but the door pockets are narrow making it tricky to retrieve items.

The Sedici shares the same interior as the Suzuki SX4 but it is more Suzuki than Fiat. That's a plus though - it is well built and finished with a neat layout. The easy to use stereo at the top of the centre console looks good and the air conditioning dials are straightforward to use. Quality is good with decent materials used throughout and although it does look a little drab, the sporty three-spoke steering wheel lifts things. Visibility is good from the driver's seat, and the extra glass area around the windscreen pillar aids vision at a time when cars seem to come with ever thicker pillars to improve safety. The instruments and controls will be familiar to anyone who has driven a modern Suzuki, such as the latest Swift or Grand Vitara, and are neatly arranged. Dashboard materials look good quality but are unyielding to the touch. Steering wheel adjusts only for height.