It's not surprising to note that Fiat has upgraded its entry-level engine for its Stilo range to 1.4 from a 1.2. The 1.2, after all, is not really up to showing the Stilo off to its best advantage as a contender in the VW Golf, Opel Astra and Ford Focus class, and with all three of these models now either replaced or in the process of being replaced, the challenge is all the greater.
Unfortunately for Fiat, the Stilo had not made the impact it should have in the right-hand drive market. One commentator has neatly summed up the problem by saying that Fiat is associated with cheap and cheerful cars and people's lack of enthusiasm for the Stilo may be down to the fact that they don't understand "a high-tech, ultra-modern, family-sized supermini from Italy".
Irish buyers seem to have avoided the Stilo in large numbers, perhaps because of a residual suspicion about Fiat's historic reliability problems or, more likely, a suspicion that the car was over-priced. This was not really true, especially when one considers the equipment levels of even the standard Stilo. There are at least six airbags as standard - something that puts some competitors to shame - as are disc brakes, ABS and stability programmes and electronic brake force distribution.
Like the new Panda, the Stilo represents a genuinely new departure for Fiat. Although only two years old, however, the car is already beginning to show its age slightly, mostly because of the aforementioned lifecycle advantages of its competitors.
The performance of the 1.2 engine apart, the Stilo drives well and the three- and five-door versions are almost completely different animals - the former exuding a more graceful vibe than the more practical and family-oriented five-door. Even the 1.4 may not quite carry off the five-door with a full load but it will certainly do for average driving. Both cars are spacious and comfortable, and both feel particularly strong and well-built.
There are no EuroNCAP crash test results for the Stilo and it is worth noting that these crash tests are nowhere near as comprehensive as people expect them to be. There have only been two recalls of some models - one for a faulty engine cooling fan, and another for possible unintentional deployment of the window airbags. There have also been some consumer complaints about leaks into the boot and faults with gearboxes.
Although only two years old there are quite a few Stilos available second-hand. One two-year-old car with 24,000 on the clock has an asking price of only 12,995, while another with 41,000 on the clock has an asking price of €10,999. The latter has a good list of specifications and also has air conditioning.