The Fiat Tipo is the latest in a long line of Italian alternatives to the Volkswagen Golf – which amusingly, started life as a German rival to the Fiat 128 and emulated much of Fiat’s innovative touches at the time. It’s a rivalry that’s been going on for half a century, so you’d expect that by now Fiat would be bringing its A-game to the showroom showdown.

At first glance, it’s promising – the Fiat Tipo is a chunky, wide, family hatchback with a substantial presence. There’s even an off-road styled version, the Tipo Cross, which has more suspension travel and rugged details. But it soon becomes apparent that this is no rival for VW’s hatchback – the Tipo is actually quite a poor example of the breed, suffering from being too expensive to be a true rival to the Dacia Sandero Stepway or MG ZS but without the prestige, performance or enjoyable dynamics to go up against a Peugeot 308 or Volkswagen Golf.

There are two models of Fiat Tipo hatchback offered, with a distinct split (you can also get a Tipo estate). The Tipo Cross is aimed at the buyer who might otherwise have bought an SUV, but doesn’t want the weight, running costs or size. It’s a good looking car that naturally follows the trend set by the Panda Cross, albeit without four-wheel drive. The other option is the regular Top hatch.

Even though the Tipo Cross is very well placed to counter the growth of small SUVs, the lack of a Tipo Cross Estate seems odd – the hatchback is your only choice. There are also just two engine options consisting of a basic 1.0-litre petrol paired to a five-speed manual gearbox, or the Tipo Hybrid. More on that later.

Despite strong sales in Europe, the mixed message of Golf-rival and ‘budget brand’ means the Tipo struggles to find an identity in the UK. It’s best thought of as a step up from Dacia, taking the sales that might once have gone to a small-engine, basic Renault Megane.

It fulfils that role to the letter, which is why the slightly more interesting Tipo Cross will probably have your attention. Does it deserve that attention? Read the next few pages to find out if the interior, practicality and running costs meet your needs.