My colleague Ivanov and I spent three hours trying to figure out what the Fiat Croma really is — a station wagon or a hatchback. In the end, my colleague couldn't take it anymore and called a Fiat dealer, saying he was shopping around. "Tell me, what kind of car is this?" he asked, and after the call he gleefully reported that the woman on the other end had called it a sedan.
Well, from this angle it really does look like a sedan.
I just chuckled: "And what else did you ask her? About the elastokinematics of the suspension or the cones in the first-gear synchronizers? Let's better write to the official representative office." The answer came quickly, and Kirill was beaming with pride, like Napoleon who had conquered half the world: "See — it's a station wagon! I told you!"
But I wasn't about to give up so easily: "We've already argued ourselves hoarse. Let's take the car for a test and see for ourselves. Especially since the Fiat website says it's something between a station wagon and a compact MPV." The idea appealed to us — we called the representative office and arranged a test drive. That's where we'll find out what kind of beast this is.
Admittedly, the Croma's body really is confusing. The car is quite long, and its glass area is almost like a station wagon's — Kirill wasn't lying there. But it's also tall, though it doesn't look like a compact MPV at all. In a word — it's unclear what it is. And these strange proportions are combined with a deliberately plain appearance. From any angle, even from the rear, where it resembles a chubby Alfa Romeo, the car doesn't evoke strong emotions — neither delight nor disgust. It's nice, but nothing more.
Our argument was purely theoretical — we hadn't seen the Croma in person before, as it's rare in Russia. And that's no surprise: the base version with a 1.8-liter engine and manual starts at $31,600. But the one we were about to test, with a 2.2-liter engine producing 147 horsepower, an automatic, leather interior, and a glass roof, was already priced at $42,100. Where have you seen such expensive "wagons" from Fiat, Kirill?
When we arrived at the showroom, I immediately declared: "See, I told you — it's a hatchback!" Kirill tried to object, but seeing the car in person, even he quieted down. The Lexus RX 300 parked nearby was only a couple of centimeters taller. "Yeah, it really doesn't look like..." Ivanov admitted. However, he quickly recovered: "This only confirms that Italians take a creative approach to design and create such unusual station wagons!" To which I just snorted: such excuses wouldn't even work for a schoolkid skipping classes.
The Croma has simple shapes but interesting details.
We climb inside — and here's a surprise. Inside, the Croma resembles... no, not a station wagon or even a hatchback. But a compact MPV! The seating position is high, visibility is excellent, and there's so much headroom you could set up a rack. But there are no "double" front pillars here, and the steering wheel isn't from a trolleybus. The trim is generally decent and matches the price, though the "wood" plastic in the Italian looks a bit cheap. The center console, with its blandness, could adorn the interior of some German car. However, it doesn't evoke much melancholy — the light beige interior, large sunroofs, and interesting details like the door handles compensate for it.
For those who like to nitpick, the Croma's creators have clearly made life easier — you won't have to search long for flaws. The gas and brake pedals are too close together, the lower steering wheel spoke protrudes noticeably and sometimes gets in the way when steering, and turning the "knob" to adjust the seatback angle is downright inconvenient. Otherwise, everything is quite decent: both the seating position and visibility are top-notch. And the sound insulation is simply excellent. If someone cuts you off, it will reliably hide your ears from a stream of colorful language.
The interior is quite calm — only small details, like the ignition switch on the center tunnel and unusual door lock handles (one of which, by the way, has already managed to tear the leather on the door) create the mood. The front seats clearly lack lateral support, but the Croma isn't a race car.
Well, let's go. I must say, the car really pleased us in motion. The usual Fiat "super-empty" steering wheel isn't here — on the contrary, some might even find it a bit heavy. But I found the electro-hydraulic power steering settings ideal. Handling is also good — thanks to the independent rear suspension and low-profile tires. Honestly, I didn't expect more from a car of this class. It holds a straight line well, doesn't wander much in ruts, dives into corners willingly, without excessive body roll or delays. The impression is a very composed car. At the same time, the Croma is quite comfortable: the suspension isn't stiff, but it's resilient. The main thing is that you don't want anything more from the car: its behavior is completely satisfying. The engine and five-speed automatic work as a single unit. The dynamics aren't explosive, but they're sufficient in any situation. And you don't want a bigger engine or a heavier steering wheel — everything is enough, everything pleases.
"Damn, this is no hatchback," I thought by the end of the drive, but I decided not to tell Kirill yet. Meanwhile, he insists: "Now I'll open the trunk, and you'll understand how wrong you were when you got into this argument. By the way, bets are already being placed in the editorial office, and not in your favor." Kirill pulls on the trunk lid... and nothing. "What's wrong? Klepach, don't interfere, unlock the locks and don't delay my moment of triumph!" — "It's all open, pull harder!" Again, no reaction. After a minute of investigation, it turned out the button was simply broken — we had to open it with the key. And so, drumroll, the fifth door smoothly rises...
"Well, there, what did I tell you," Kirill says somewhat uncertainly, "look what a trunk! The king of trunks!" I just smirked: "Tell that to someone else. My 'wagon' has more space. And what's this deep niche? Now let's fold the seats. A flat floor like a real station wagon? No way! This isn't a 'step' — it's a whole Grand Canyon! A dresser won't fit, a fridge won't fit either, and I won't even mention an elephant. A car with such a wrong trunk can't be a station wagon."
Judging by Kirill's face, he was ready to give up. "Okay, don't be upset," I say. "I was wrong too — it's not a hatchback." "But what is it then?" my former opponent wonders. "I don't know. Something that defies identification... Something inexplicable and unidentified." And then it hit me: "We need to go to..." — Kirill pauses and with a serious face continues: "...our family car expert!"
After all, Kirill and I certainly agreed on one thing: the Croma is a family car. There's enough space both front and rear, sound insulation is excellent, and even the trunk, despite its strange shape, isn't that small. You can take the kids to school, go shopping, or head to the dacha. So our expert should definitely know the answer.
"Let's hurry, we need to find out the truth!" Kirill urges. "But where do we go? Where does this expert live?" — "They say seven versts north, near the big citadel." — "You mean 'Triumph Palace'?" — "Yeah, not far from it." Let's go!
We got there in a few minutes — the roads were clear, and it wasn't far. "Alright, I'll reveal the secret to you," said our family car expert. "But it will cost you a terrible price... Three chocolate bars!" After haggling and settling on two, we went to inspect the car.
"Well, of course!" Kirill suddenly realized. "The Croma's exterior was designed at Italdesign. And the fact that the car turned out so unusual doesn't mean its creators invented some new body type. They just managed to look at the car-making process with fresh eyes!"
"Agreed, because a station wagon is called that not because of its body shape, but due to its practicality. What difference does it make how it looks — the main thing is that it's comfortable," I reply.
"Vlad, you said the Croma's trunk is wrong, didn't you?" Ivanov doesn't let up. "But no one plans to haul refrigerators in it from morning to night. A station wagon isn't a truck. And if such a need arises once a year, it's easier to hire a 'Gazelle'."
«But things that have to be carried much more often — for example, a stroller or a bicycle — will fit in the Croma without any problems, — I continue my thought. — There is enough space in the cabin for all passengers, and the engine is economical enough for the city and at the same time powerful enough for the highway. Yes, Kirill, I admit my defeat. The Croma is a true station wagon. But not in form — but in its essence».
Specifications
| Characteristics | $42100 |
|---|---|
| Body | |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2700 |
| Track front / rear, mm | 1513 / 1496 |
| Length, mm | 4756 |
| Width, mm | 1775 |
| Height, mm | 1597 — 1618 with roof rails |
| Trunk volume, l min / max (with rear seats folded) | 500 / 1610 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1530 |
| Trailer weight — with brakes / without brakes, kg | 1500 / 700 |
| Engine and transmission | |
| Number of cylinders, arrangement | 4, in-line |
| Bore x stroke, mm | 86.0?94.6 |
| Engine displacement, cm3 | 2198 |
| Emission standard | Euro 4 |
| Compression ratio | 10.0: 1 |
| Maximum power, kW (hp) at rpm | 108 (147) 5800 |
| Maximum torque, N*m (kg*m) at rpm | 204 (20.7) 4000 |
| Valve train | 2 camshafts in cylinder head (DOHC) |
| Fuel system | multi-point injection |
| Drive | front |
| Gearbox, number of gears | automatic, 5-speed, with manual shift capability |
| Chassis | |
| Steering type | rack and pinion, with electro-hydraulic power steering |
| Turning radius, m | 10.9 |
| Brakes | |
| front, mm | 285 (disc, ventilated) |
| rear, mm | 278 (disc) |
| Suspension | |
| front | independent, MacPherson |
| rear | independent, multi-link |
| Performance characteristics | |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 205 |
| Acceleration time, s 0–100 km/h | 10.7 |
| Fuel consumption in the city, l/100 km | 13 |
| Fuel consumption on the highway, l/100 km | 7.8 |
| Fuel consumption, combined cycle, l/100 km | 9.7 |
| Fuel tank capacity, l | 62 |
| CO2 emissions, g/km | 229 |
Equipment of the tested vehicle
- ABS with EBD (electronic brake-force distribution)
- VDC (vehicle dynamics control)
- Driver and front passenger airbags
- Side and window airbags
- Driver knee airbag
- Active front seat headrests
- Fog lights integrated into the bumper
- Audio system with CD player
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Dual-zone climate control
- On-board computer
- Heated front seats
- Height-adjustable driver and front passenger seats
- Lumbar adjustment for driver and front passenger seats
- Rear seat folding in 40/60 ratio
- Electro-hydraulic power steering
- Steering wheel adjustable for height and reach
- Front and rear power windows
- Central locking with remote control
- Power-adjustable and heated rearview mirrors
- Immobilizer (Fiat CODE)
- «Follow me home» device
- Roof rails
- 17’’ alloy wheels, tires 215/50 R17
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift lever
- Air ducts for rear passengers
- Cabin charcoal filter
- Cooled drink box
- Cruise control
- Automatic light control system
- Xenon headlights
- Headlight washer with heated nozzles
- Rain sensor
- Parking sensors
- Cargo net in the trunk
The test vehicle was provided by
OJSC «Severstal-avto».