Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD

Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD

The Fiat Multipla, launched in 1998, is one of those rare automobiles that transcends mere transportation to become a cultural phenomenon. Designed by Roberto Giolito, it provoked reactions ranging from adoration to horror — and continues to do so decades after its introduction. Whatever your aesthetic opinion, the Multipla was a masterpiece of packaging and a genuinely innovative piece of automotive design.

The most controversial aspect was the front end, with its distinctive double-decker arrangement of headlights — small units at the conventional position and larger lamps mounted higher, at the base of the windshield. This configuration, combined with the bulbous, insect-like profile, gave the Multipla a face that was impossible to ignore or to mistake for anything else.

But the real genius lay in the interior. The Multipla sat six adults in genuine comfort across two rows of three seats, within a footprint barely longer than a Fiat Punto. This was achieved through a wide body (nearly 1.9 meters) and the use of a flat floor made possible by mounting the engine at an angle and routing the exhaust beneath the floor pan. All six seats were individual, adjustable, and removable, creating extraordinary versatility in a compact package.

The 1.9 JTD turbodiesel was the most popular engine choice, and it suited the Multipla's character perfectly. With 105 horsepower and a strong 255 Nm of torque, the common-rail diesel provided effortless performance for a family car. The five-speed manual gearbox was adequate, and fuel economy was excellent by the standards of a six-seater.

Driving the Multipla was a pleasant surprise. The wide body and relatively low center of gravity gave it unexpectedly competent handling, while the visibility from the high-set driving position was superb. The ride was comfortable, and road noise levels were reasonable for the class.

The Multipla won numerous design awards, including the prestigious Compasso d'Oro, and was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Simultaneously, it topped various 'ugliest car' polls conducted by newspapers and websites. This paradox — a design simultaneously lauded by experts and ridiculed by the public — made the Multipla a talking point far beyond the automotive world.

A controversial facelift in 2004 gave the Multipla a more conventional front end, which pleased some and disappointed others. The original pre-facelift design is now the more sought-after version among collectors and design enthusiasts who appreciate its uncompromising vision.