Written by: Martin Ward
Thursday, January 22, 2009 

The Qubo is aimed at families or those wanting a small car with plenty of space at a reasonable price. It is based on the Fiorino van which is a shortened Grande Punto platform so it has been tried and tested. We tested the Qubo on a variety of roads in the Southampton area and found it to be comfortable and fairly solid on the road; it is good for a car that has not been designed to be a sports car but a people carrier.

 

The interior has a reasonable feel of quality and the plastics though hard, are acceptable for this type of vehicle. The seat material seemed to be made from a hard wearing cloth which should be able to stand the test of much use and many spills.

 

The rear doors slide very easily and make it easy for passengers to get in and out. It is particularly good for parents with babies or small children who are able to lift them into child seats with little effort. In tight car park spaces the rear sliding doors mean it is much easier to get in and out of than a car with traditional opening doors. The luggage area is not huge but adequate and it will get the all important kiddies stuff in such as prams and the weekly shopping. With the rear seats down it is cavernous and has a van sized load area, as you would expect from a car built off a van platform.

 

The exterior design may put some people off, particularly those who want style above practicality. However, Fiat designers have added in some nice design cues to make it look less like a van and more like a people carrier. The sloping rear windows help to give it more style as does the chunky front end, all adding up to give it a cute look.

 

It is available to buy now and there is a choice of two engines: a 1.3 Multijet turbo diesel or a 1.4 litre petrol. Two trims are available in the form of Active and Dynamic with prices ranging from £9,750 to £12,350 on the road. The Qubo will appeal to those who want a car with supermini dimensions but with a bit more room, at a sensible price.

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