The Tipo rises from the ground and wears a crossover look to face even light dirt roads without hesitation.
Aesthetically, the protections in the lower part of the bodywork stand out, contrasting with the red livery of the car body of the car being tested, giving the whole a robust image.
The look of the Full LED light clusters, which represent an ideal extension of the new grille, is gritty, while the alloy wheels give character to the side view. With a 4 cm higher ground clearance than the standard version, the Tipo Cross can be a real alternative to the C-segment crossovers. The passenger compartment is concrete, but there are elements that make life on board more practical, such as the plate for wireless smartphone charging, a 7-inch TFT display that integrates information from the instrument cluster, the keyless system, to open the door without using the key, and the 10.25-inch screen dedicated to the UConnect 5 multimedia system. The latter is responsive and immediate to use, is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connects to the smartphone without the aid of the USB cable.
The choice of proposing large buttons on the steering wheel and separate commands to manage the climate control is acceptable. The 440 liter trunk, with 5 seats in use, satisfies the needs of a family, with the only flaw represented by the high load sill.
The hybrid power unit is made up of a 1.5 liter 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine which works in synergy with two electric propulsion units. One of these plays the role of starter, while the other offers the support of 20 HP and 55 Nm. The lithium-ion battery is placed in the central tunnel. All of this is complemented by a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Tipo Cross Hybrid delivers 130 HP and 240 Nm of maximum torque, with no delivery gaps, thanks to the support of the electric compartment, which powers the car exclusively when restarting, when starting the car, and when parking .
With a raised driving position, there is a feeling of dominion over the road, while the higher position helps to digest bumps better. Keeping an eye on the displays, moreover, you can drive in a more sustainable way by reducing consumption which, on average, is over 18 km/l, but can also allow you to exceed the fateful threshold of 20 km/l in extra-urban sections approached with a light foot.
Among the standard accessories, the Red trim level includes Full LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, rear view camera, as well as instrumentation with 7-inch TFT screen, and Uconnect DAB radio with display by 10 inches. The induction charging for the smartphone is included in the full comfort pack, while the rear view mirror blind spot monitoring system is part of the Tech package, both present on the sample tested, also equipped with the passion red livery, for a cost total of 33,250 euros, instead of the initial 31,200 euros, incentives and promotions excluded.
