A common adage goes “there’s beauty in diversity” and that’s exactly what you get from the Fiat Fullback. Just because the mid-sized bakkie is a Fiat vehicle, does not mean its design and manufacture is restricted to Italian ways of making cars. The design is Italianall right, but it borrows from American heavy duty pick up trucks, as the Yankees call their beloved pumped up bakkies. Structurally, the Fullback is a held together by a mechanically reliable Japanese chassis, engine and gearbox while the actual manufacturing of the double cab 4×4 is done in Thailand.
The Fullback is actually a Mitsubishi Triton with some revamped styling, with veryneat lines, back to front. From the South African point of view, this 4×4 should endear itself to the already massive bakkie loving market. Moreover, the name Fullback is a rugby term for player No.15, usually a firm, strong multi-skilled guy who is actually the last line of defence for his team. With a name like that, the Fullback should already be a winner with a rugby-mad nation.
So what has it got?
Reliability, that’s the keyword for the Fiat Fullback 4×4 model. While the 4×2 are powerful enough with 100kW out from the 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine, the 4×4 is far more aggressive with 131 kW output. From a five-speed manual gearbox, the bakkie comes with decent features such as electrically adjusted driver’s seat, electric windows and side-mirrors, leather upholstery, a USB port, a touch-screen for audio, and steering wheel controls with cruise control. A full-function fuel and trip computer is standard. And overhead grab handles are supplied for all doors except the driver’s.
While all the above are standard for the Fullback 4×2 SX derivative, including 17-inch alloy wheels, tow bar, rubberised load bin, two airbags and ABS with EBD, the range-topping 2.5-litre turbodiesel 4×4 LX has more. These additional specs are bi-Xenon headlights, Bluetooth and USB capability, automatic conditioning and a reverse-view camera.
Price
Fiat Fullback 4×4 DC R468 900
With a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km service plan.
Fiat Fullback 4×4 is ready and keen to play
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