The Fiat Qubo is a small minivan. However, it is larger than a hatchback but smaller than an SUV. So, it is very ideal for people who desire a practical car that is also efficient and spacious. However, is the Fiat Qubo a good car?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a spacious, practical, efficient, reliable, and affordable minivan, the Fiat Qubo is an ideal car for you. But if you’re in the market for a luxurious, comfortable, advanced, safe, and high-performance car, this is not the car for you.
History of the Fiat Qubo
The Fiat Qubo has been in the market since 2008. It has a similar passenger body style as the Fiat Fiorino, which has been on the market since 1977. This car was first presented at the Geneva Motor Show before it hit the market in 2008. Besides, it is a five-door, front-wheel minivan.
Since the shape of the Fiat Qubo resembles a cube, Fiat didn’t take long to come up with the name ‘Qubo’. Fiat designers managed to come up with an interesting image of the car, which is also interesting, distinguishable, and original.
Features of Fiat Qubo
Appearance
The Fiat Qubo has a bland exterior. So, if you’re looking for a stylish and modern minivan, this is not a good option. The Fiat Qubo comes with a robust design, sliding doors, tinted windows, a refreshed bumper, and a refreshed rear bumper.
It comes with a wheelbase of 2520 mm, a length of 3960 mm, a width of 1720 mm, and a height of 1740 mm. Furthermore, it has a comfortable and spacious interior, but the materials used are cheap and unimpressive. The interior is dominated by plastics and appealing circular design motifs.
Performance
The Fiat Qubo is not a well-performing car. Nonetheless, it performs decently as it comes with two engine options; a 1.3-liter Multijet diesel engine or a 1.4-liter petrol engine. If you want the best-performing engine, consider selecting the diesel option.
Additionally, the Fiat Qubo comes with two transmission options; a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. The different engine options produce different horsepower, including 73 hp, 75 hp, 95 hp, and 119 hp.
Comfort and cargo space
The Fiat Qubo is a comfortable car as it’s larger than a hatchback but smaller than an SUV. It has a seating capacity of up to five and a large trunk space. While the cabin is spacious, the interior quality is lacking. On the contrary, it has a large trunk space of up to 330 liters. However, this can be increased by folding the rear seats up to 650 liters.
Safety
Fiat Qubo is not a very safe car as it’s based on the Fiat Fiorino minivan. As a result, it lacks many safety equipments. For instance, front and rear airbags are standard, while electronic stability control is optional. Despite not being very safe, this car is very reliable.
Fuel-efficiency
This is one of the strong selling points of the Fiat Qubo. This is because it comes with a combined fuel-efficiency rating of 30.2 mpg. On top of that, it has a fuel-efficiency rating of 24.2 mpg in the city and 35.6 mpg on the highway. With such a rating, this car allows users to save a lot of money on fuel expenditure.
Price
The Fiat Qubo is an affordable car than most of its rivals. The base trim goes for about $14,000, while the highest trim goes for about $$21,100. However, used models are considerably cheaper. Before buying a used Fiat Qubo, perform a thorough inspection.
FAQ
Is Fiat Qubo a good daily driver?
Yes, Fiat Qubo is a good daily driver. This is because it is fuel-efficient, compact, easy to maintain, and affordable. And since it can carry up to five people with a huge trunk space, this is a very practical car that will allow the user to move around the city with a lot of ease.
What are the common problems with Fiat Qubo?
If you’re planning to acquire a used Fiat Qubo, it is important to know some of the issues you will face along the way before investing in this MPV. Common problems that you may encounter with this car are airbag problems, reduced braking efficiency, DPF malfunction, starting problems, and front wiper issues.
How fast is the Fiat Qubo?
The Fiat Qubo is one of the least-performing cars in its class. As a result, it is not very fast as it comes with a top speed of 96 mph and it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 15 seconds. On the contrary, it takes 14.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph.
Is Fiat Qubo the same as Fiat Fiorino?
The Fiat Qubo and Fiat Fiorino may be based on the same platform, but they are totally different. The Fiat Qubo comes with 5 seats, while the Fiat Fiorino comes with 2 seats. Besides, the Fiorino is more fuel-efficient and provides huge trunk space than the Fiat Qubo. The Fiat Qubo has 98.9 cubic feet of space, while the Fiat Fiorino has 84.8 cubic feet of space.
What is the high mileage for Fiat Qubo?
Since the Fiat Qubo was discontinued, finding a new Fiat Qubo can be a daunting task. Nonetheless, there are several used Fiat Qubo models on the market. So, if you’re looking for a quality used Fiat Qubo, look for one with less than 150k miles. This is because most Fiat Qubo starts experiencing serious issues after they hit more than 150k miles.
Bottom line
The Fiat Qubo is one of the best cars for large families. Thanks to the spacious cabin, huge cargo area, and compact design. It is also fuel-efficient and easy to maintain, making it a wonderful city car. Nonetheless, this car‘s design isn’t very appealing and it comes with low-quality materials in the interior.
All in all, it’s still an exceptional car with lots of fascinating features. With proper care and maintenance, the Fiat Qubo can last for several years.
