2014 Fiat Linea T-Jet Review
Car Tested: 2014 Fiat Linea T-Jet Emotion
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 10,52,120/-
The 2014 Fiat Linea T-Jet is without doubt among the best petrol cars in the C-segment.
Here at MotorBeam, the Fiat Linea is among our favourite cars and that’s the reason why you will find us reviewing a new variant of this C-segment sedan oh so often. Although we aren’t self confessed Fiat fans, we love Fiat cars as they have some sort of emotional connect with you the moment you take to the wheel. We have extensively reviewed the Linea T-Jet and the 2014 Linea diesel in the past few months and this time around, we drive the 2014 Fiat Linea T-Jet which now has the appeal to challenge established players in the segment. When Fiat gave the Linea a facelift, many complained that the 1.6-litre diesel engine hasn’t made its way to the car. We feel the T-Jet motor is ideal for those who want performance from the Linea and a quick drive in the car was enough to confirm our thoughts about this Italian beauty.
The Fiat Linea continues to attract attention and the update to the styling has worked well as it injects the much needed freshness in this vehicle. The first thing you notice is the length of the car, which is the longest in this segment. The chrome touches do add to the premium appeal and slowly but surely the design grows on you in such a way that you can spend hours just admiring this beast, after all Fiat has been quite confident yet vocal that the Linea is “Admiration Guaranteed”. The T-Jet version gets T-Jet badging above the front fenders and on the boot which is the only way you can make out if this car runs an engine which every petrol head would be proud to floor.
The cabin of the Fiat Linea is a nice place to be in and quality inside is much improved over the pre-facelift model
The interiors of the 2014 Fiat Linea are where the biggest changes lie. The vehicle now features an all new dashboard which really transforms the way you look at the car. While equipment level has always been generous (cruise control, ambient lighting, automatic wipers/headlights, Bluetooth, MID, etc.), quality inside has improved and the cabin feels rich with the dual-tone colours. The centre console gets piano black finish and the instrument cluster is all new but we like the classy console of the old model more. The rear seat has decent amount of space only hampered by the lack of headroom for tall passengers due to the sloping roofline. The Linea does feel like a vault and the doors shut with a similar level of feel like if this car was a battle tank.
The 2014 Fiat Linea T-Jet is propelled forward by an engine which will make you instantly fall in love with the car. The 1.4-litre force-fed motor thrusts out 114 Italian stallions at 5000 RPM with 207 Nm of torque reaching its peak at a mere 2200 RPM. If anything really comes close to the Linea T-Jet in terms of driving thrill, it’s the new Honda City, which employs a 1.5-litre i-VTEC mill, producing 119 PS at 6600 RPM and 145 Nm at 4600 RPM. However both the Linea and City are poles apart when it comes to the engine alone, the Honda’s is a high-revving unit, lacking mid-range punch while the Fiat is quite the opposite. Both engines sound good but the Linea’s turbo whistle is simply not matched.
The Linea T-Jet truly shines in day to day driving as there is so much amount of torque on tap that no other car in this segment even comes close (City included). Get a bit aggressive with the throttle and you will end up wheel spinning to glory. Once you whizz past the minor turbo lag below 1500 RPM, you are greeted by a gentle shove and the T-Jet powerplant simply comes into its own, gathering terrific pace till 5000 RPM, post which it loses steam and redlines at 6500 RPM. Our VBOX tests confirmed the Linea isn’t far off the City in the 0-100 km/hr dash, taking 10.67 seconds which is very good considering the Linea is much heavier and you do have to upshift to third to get to the ton (the City does 100 km/hr in second gear).
In fact performance from the T-Jet mill is so good that the Fiat Linea reaches 150 km/hr without any hesitation, post which progress is slow. The 5-speed gearbox has a positive shift action and although not the smoothest in shifting cogs, it is in no way notchy to operate. The clutch is right between light and heavy, thus being well weighed. The Linea T-Jet is rated at 15.7 km/l as per ARAI (real world mileage is 10-12 km/l) which is lower than quite a few cars in the segment and that’s largely because of the heavier weight of the car, which does aid in the ride quality as the vehicle glides over most roads without being ruffled one bit. Handling is good but the hydraulic steering isn’t as sharp at speed and the increased ground clearance is to blame.
Like we have always said, the Fiat Linea is a very capable car which deserves to sell way more than what it does currently. It does check the right boxes, offering everything a buyer in this segment wants. The Linea boasts of a stunning design both inside-out while the ride quality and interiors are excellent too. What really makes a strong case for the T-Jet engined Linea is the explosive performance it offers. If you are an enthusiast who loves driving, there is little to match the Linea T-Jet for outright fun. After all, Fiat isn’t wrong when it says “If You Still Like Driving, We’re Still Ahead”.
The 2014 Fiat Linea T-Jet brings turbocharged power to the masses. It’s a car which not only has the emotional appeal going for it but also has the performance to justify its Italian genes.
What’s Cool
* T-Jet motor is lip-smacking awesome
* Ride and build quality
What’s Not So Cool
* 190 mm ground clearance spoils dynamics
Further Reading –
2014 Fiat Linea Diesel Review
Fiat Linea T-Jet Review
