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Fiat Sedici road tests and consumer car reviews

Fiat Sedici

3.5 stars - average customer rating
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It is tempting to describe the Fiat Sedici as the best of both worlds as it combines the manufacturing expertise of both Fiat and Suzuki. This mini-crossover SUV is noted for its performance and is considered a 4x4, hence the name – Sedici means ‘sixteen’ in Italian. The Fiat Sedici was first introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2006 and was produced at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary. It is also sold as the Suzuki SX4 and the Lancia Pangea and is seen as an alternative to most mini MPVs which have a box-like appearance. In 2006, the Fiat Sedici was the official car of the Winter Olympics.

Fiat Sedici consumer reviews by year of make:   2006  2007  2008  2010 

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Fiat Sedici consumer car reviews

Chris Morris, Ireland

Fiat Sedici 2007

4 star review

I’m not a car expert or fanatic by any means. I drive only to get from A to B and I’m interested only in safe economical driving everywhere - cities, villages, countryside, everywhere short of severe off-road conditions (which I have never tried so I can’t say it would not cope even there). I have driven my Sedici over 55,000 km, of which about 99.8% have been in 2-wheel drive, but the two optional levels of 4-wheel drive have been absolutely essential in the other 0.2%, e.g. winter 2010 in Ireland and a serious slope upto a holiday cottage at all times. I have been driving for over 65 years, everything from a Chevrolet car, a small Ford lorry, a bread delivery van, a Renault 4, a Volvo, a Fiat Punto, a Suzuki 4wd; some second hand, most new - including the Sedici TD, bought in 2007. I do not recall a more satisfying vehicle than the Sedici; I have had no mechanical or other trouble, its powerful acceleration gets me out of any potential trouble spot. On the very rare occasions when I meet another Sedici driver, they"re always as enthusiastic about it. It seems to me to be the most overlooked all-purpose car on the road. It’s also possibly the most poorly marketed; I wrote to Fiat Ireland a few years ago pointing out that their sales stuff still described it as a permanent 4-wheel drive and a year later the description remained unchanged. The rarity gives the Sedici a certain eminence, of course..

Submitted: 21/11/2011 09:45:31 | ID: 8594

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Joe Wainford, Yorkshire

Fiat Sedici diesel multijet 2010

5 star review

A very good car overall. The 2nd gear is a little bit notchy when cold, but ok when warm. The engine is that good you need not use 2nd gear at all. The suspension is a little bit firm, but you can live with it. Going around corners is more sportcar than 4x4. Very good driving position as well. A hard car to fault.

Submitted: 03/07/2011 20:03:28 | ID: 7935

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Nick Meachin, Greece

Fiat Sedici 2007

5 star review

Living in Crete I wanted something that would get us up the mountain roads/tracks in the winter and yet still provide us with a comfortable mode of transport in the hot summers. The Sedici filled the bill from square one with its 4WD we have negotiated some pretty awful muddy mountain tracks without difficulty and still managed to collect the family members from the airport in comfort in the summer. Just for once I got it right from square one by deciding to buy the Sedici and the bonus is a return of 40mpg overall, as petrol in Crete is currently (04/2011) £1.55/litre and cheaper road tax.. Well done Fiat/Suzuki.

Submitted: 25/04/2011 11:19:45 | ID: 7606

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Ulster, County Antrim

Fiat Sedici Van 2008

3 star review

This FIAT Sedici business has been an adventure. Similar to the review above I’ve had enormous trouble with the gearbox and the transfer box resulting in many tows/lifts from many different places. AA calling out, etc. etc. Mucho trouble with the running gear. Odd, considering Suzuki are meant to be the experts at 4x4s. I get this amazing noise from the differential on full lock. My mechanic (not FIAT’s) informed me when he was servicing the Sedici last year that there was no oil in the differential. This is peculiar because the first year of it’s life on the road spent at least four months in a FIAT main dealer garage. This eventually got so bad with the drive-shaft or gearbox thrashing itself so regularly that an ’expert’ from FIAT England had to come over to investigate. Needless to say the only one to benefit from all this was the FIAT main dealer because it was all warranty work that they got paid for. First the transfer box could not be ordered without the gearbox so it was repaired and then the gearbox was repaired when it went again and all I got were reports and a Sedici that clapped out soon after. Having had my fill of in and outness from the garage; e-mails back and forth from FIAT Assistance I decided to threaten legal action in a very long nasty sounding e-mail in Italian and Irish and since your man came over from England the problem hasn’t re-occurred . . . . Although there’s a new oil leak under the gearbox now where it parks. As mentioned above the engine is a rocket! Good for 220kmh. It will get you out of any bother if you need to whisk out of someone’s way in a hurry. Problems with it cutting out at the traffic lights were solved by not actually trying to accelerate away but rather letting the engine move the car the first few inches and then apply the throttle. There was always a problem with immediate acceleration from start-up, unlike normally aspirated diesels where the power is there for the asking. When the engine is started you need to check for a tiny waver on the rev counter during tick-over which (to me) indicated that the computer had caught up (woken up more like) with the agenda of the moment and ’allowed’ you to accelerate to your heart’s content. Failure to observe this resulted in two of the most annoying habits the Sedici has. Number 1. The vehicle sits there and does nothing. I can floor the throttle in 1st gear and there is no response. I can’t release the clutch because I know it’ll cut out, so I up and down on the pedal like a nut seeking a hint of a rev . . . not happening. So, off with the engine and start again. The lights turn red and we all just wasted half a mile or a minute’s time. I don’t know how many hundreds of times this happened but I eventually sussed the rev counter needle flicker after starting and no throttle yet. Now I’m an ace at ’start n go’ in the Sedici. Number 2. is when the acceleration and the clutch don’t match up as you would normally expect and the engine just clunks to a stop. Numerous times this has happened at traffic lights, gates, side roads, and furious acceleration just to get going is not the most eco of solutions. It’s a car you have to learn! Now with nearly 99km on the clock the whole thing is loosening up and getting more economical. I’m currently at 6.3L/100km. The most I got out of a tankful (small tank at 50L) was 835km for 46 liters a few months after buying it - never to be repeated because I lowered the tyre profile by 5. But I reckon it’s as economical as the rest. I will say, though, FIAT were very helpful and on the ball during the first year of troubled motoring. Since I started using my own mechanic (complete with out of date dongles) I’ve had none of it. I had great fun in the snow and ice with the four wheel drive but I couldn’t throw the car around like the old Mirafirori or the 306s. One more thing, again repeating what written above - the seats need rethinking and the fabric is woeful! Within a year I need to re-upholster two front seats, it’s that bad . . If you’re going to buy one, make sure it’s had all it’s gearbox problems already. By the way. 2nd gear is impossible to select until it’s warm so be patient

Submitted: 25/04/2011 10:53:54 | ID: 7601

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Finbarr Ryan, Ireland

Fiat Sedici Diesel 2008

4 star review

They are a great litte 4x4, I had it for 3 year, very reliable and good road holding. engine is a rocket but noisy . ok at speed though. Only changed it a week ago and miss it already. Big gap between oil change. Full diff lock is good for dragging a trailer out of the mud. I bought this as it was the only small diesel 4x4 on the market and its exceptional at towing, its small turning circle makes backing a box trailer a doddle The only reason I would not give it 5 stars is the seats have no height adjustment and are impossible to keep clean.

Submitted: 02/04/2011 18:51:45 | ID: 7492

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Andy Ferg, Gwynedd

Fiat Sedici Eleganza 16V 2006

4 star review

Bought this vehicle with 20k miles on, now up to 45k and proving to be a good reliable car - was very pleased with the 4x4 capability in the last winter, good size, easy to drive in town and out, comfortable and not too bad on economy for a petrol 4x4 at just under 40mpg (mostly out of town). Downsides are bit noisy and not a lot of grunt up hills - but would buy again.

Submitted: 07/08/2010 20:42:37 | ID: 5855

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Urim Hysa, England

Fiat Sedici 1.9 multijet eleganza 2008

1 star review

I bought my Fiat Sedici 1.9 multijet eleganza reg 2008 and the first 2 months I was very happy as it is good looking car and economical, but after 2 months the gear box has given me too many problems. For starters it was very hard to change the gears and was getting very stiff. I took my car back to the dealer but they say is the character of the car and they can’t do anything about this. After a few months the gear got stuck, I could not drive the car. The dealer fixed this but after 2 weeks it is broken again. I have use this car for nearly 2 years and finally I made a complaint to Fiat head office and after they inspect the car they decide to change most of the parts on the gear box. No disrespect to Fiat but my advice is do not go for a Fiat as I have bought from them a Fiat Grande Punto, a Fiat Sedici and a Fiat Fiorino van and except for my van I have had so many problems with my cars. They are absolutely rubbish.

Submitted: 25/04/2010 16:54:22 | ID: 5098

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Marc Conroy, Ireland

Fiat Sedici 1.6 emotion 4x4 2008

4 star review

I have owned my Sedici for just over a month and I have to say I’m falling in love with it! I bought a brand new pre registered (in 2008) model with zero milage and I do believe I got myself a bargain! The ’emotion’ or ’eleganza’ as its called in the UK is the top spec model which originaly sold here in Ireland for close to €23,000 (I know we get ripped off big time over here.) Well at that price the car never really sold over here so Fiat decided to slash the price in half to clear their stock as there is now a newer ’facelifted’ model.. so happy days for bargain hunters!! So I have myself a brand new 4x4 for €12 grand!! Well I better review the car... I love the driving position, it gives you great confidence on the road, the interior is not as plush as I would have expected from a top end Fiat, but then again I think that it is a Suzuki interior!! So to echo a previous reviewer there’s no point banging on at Fiat when it’s mostly a Suzuki. The engine noise is a little on the loud side as most reviewers have stated! A couple of niggles: The drivers door controls don’t illuminate at night so you have no clue what you’re pressing when it’s dark!! I find this a major irritant, especially as the 2002 Skoda Fabia I traded in for the Sedici had! Other little details like not being able to close windows once you have turned off the ignition or taken out the key can also drive you mad!! Also, the headlights stay on even after you have turned off the engine which can catch you out!! But that said these are minor details considering the bargain I have got! I bought the car just after the big snow in January and i have to admit I’m secretly hoping for another blanket of snow to put this little 4x4 to the test!!

Submitted: 21/02/2010 21:10:07 | ID: 4664

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Andy Thompson, England

Fiat Sedici 1.6 Eleganza 2006

4 star review

I bought my Sedici used one year old. I love the looks and the fact it offers something different to endless Golfs, Vauxhall’s and Fords out there. To be honest, it does not have the chunky quality build as "proper" Fiats. Some of the other reviews are unfair to Fiat as the car is built by Suzuki at a Suzuki factory, so there is no point saying you wont consider another Fiat product because of problems with the Sedici build. I will keep mine for a while yet and get the most out of it. Somehow the noisy 1.6 engine seems to be getting better the more run in it is. I have also had no problems with the gear change.

Submitted: 27/04/2009 08:53:51 | ID: 2860

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Brian Jessop, Northumberland

Fiat Sedici SX4 1.6 GLX 5dr 2007

3 star review

A decent enough car for the price but there are some downsides such as engine noise, which I do find a little irritating on long journeys. However, it is well built and comfortable and does offer a lot of interior space. The fuel economy isn’t as good as I expected and general running costs have taken the shine off owning a new car.

Submitted: 17/03/2008 12:24:46 | ID: 1163

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Andy Tran, Aberdeenshire

Fiat Sedici 1.9 JTD Eleganza 2007

3 star review

I had this car for less than 1 year. I loved it initially, but after a few months, I was very concerned about depreciation and build quality. The thing tumbled in value enough to make me sell after 9 months. I had to cut my losses before the thing was worthless! Its nice to drive if noisy and not too bad off road. However, while it was well screwed together, after a few months problems began to appear - very stiff 6 speed box ( 2nd gear impossible to use when cold), the engine ran very rough when hot in traffic jams, and the dash/seats were getting very rattly. I won’t buy another Fiat.

Submitted: 11/03/2008 09:58:21 | ID: 1121

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Thea Boyd, Norfolk

Fiat Sedici 1.6 Eleganza 5dr

4 star review

I wanted a 4x4 but not a great big hulking thing so the Sedici is absolutely perfect for me and is genuinely a good off roader. The interior is simple but comfortable and my son and dog love travelling in it. The price was excellent too. The one compromise I’ve had to make for all of this is the engine noise, bit louder than I’d like to be honest but it’s not deafening and you do get used to it.

Submitted: 15/10/2007 18:01:04 | ID: 297

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