Fiat Fullback 2.4Di-D Double Cab 4x4 LX Auto

By Lawrence Minnie 

Since its release, the Fiat Fullback has sadly not done as well as its cousin the Mitsubishi Triton. This is truly a shame, since the Fullback is actually a very good vehicle.

It may have to do with the hand-me-down styling and available engine options, which perhaps drove potential customers into the willing hands of Mitsubishi.

That has since been remedied, as Fiat have introduced some new engine and drive train derivatives to the local lineup. We were very happy to receive the new 2.4Di-D 4x4 to put through its paces. However, although a new engine has been added, the top of the line LX derivative remains mostly unchanged on the inside and outside as we found out.

Interior

Although it would appear that nothing has changed inside the Fullback, I couldn’t help but imagine that Fiat had updated the interior fitment in some way over the previous double cab we’d tested. The interior trim seemed to be slightly more refined, and placement of switchgear seemed to be much better than before.

The overall feeling of the interior just seemed better than the first offering, losing that agricultural impression and replacing it with an SUV-like air of comfort and convenience.

It’s an all leather affair with a good quality touch and feel to everything. The audio system is also very good, and the incorporated reverse camera makes backing up a breeze - even though there is no PDC (park distance control) fitted.

But alas it wasn’t true: going back and checking our previous review , nothing has been changed. That is actually a good thing, as it shows the cabin has aged well over the last two years.

Engine and drive train

I believe this has a lot more to do with the new engine on offer, the 2.4-litre diesel from its Triton cousin. This engine is a welcome addition, and delivers 133kW and 433Nm to an easy to use, change on the fly, 4-wheel drive system through the new 6-speed automatic transmission. This is the same Super Select II 4WD system as is used in the Triton, and represents a definite upgrade on the 2.5-litre variant’s old-style 4WD operation.

The engine definitely feels more powerful than its older 2.5-litre diesel counterpart, there’s a noticeable lack of turbo lag and its quieter too.

Due to time and weather constraints, we were unable to test the new engine derivative off-road, but it did receive a comprehensive city test. This is actually more closely related to the real world, as many double cab purchases live almost exclusively in the city and suburbs.

This is where the Fullback showed that life in the city for a double cab is actually quite pleasant, and even a vehicle that is meant to scramble over dunes and hit the off-road trail can function very well around town.

Final Thoughts

The Fullback suffers somewhat due its being an almost carbon copy of the Triton, its unknown resale value and old engine technology derived from Mitsubishi. Consequently, sales haven’t reflected how good the Fiat actually is. Hopefully this new engine addition will inject some life into the sales, as people sit up and take notice of this very viable alternative to the big names currently dominating double cab sales.

Fiat Professional offers a very good range of vehicle options and trim levels, and they are priced very competitively. If you are looking at a double cab purchase, the Fiat Fullback should definitely be on your list.

Range and Price

Fiat Fullback 2.4Di-D double cab 4x4 LX auto                 -      R499 000

Fiat Fullback 2.5Di-D double cab SX                                    -      R402 900

Fiat Fullback 2.5Di-D double cab 4x4 LX                            -       R468 900

The Fiat Fullback range comes standard with a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km service plan.