As pick-ups go, the Fiat Fullback drives and tows reasonably well. But don’t expect this commercial vehicle to drive with the polish of a really good conventional SUV.
Performance is steady. The Fiat took 13.6 seconds to go from 30-60mph. Once up to speed the Fullback is reasonably stable, but there’s noticeable movement when slowing down from high speeds.
The stopping distance of 12.5 metres from 30mph is a lot longer than the best heavyweight tow cars, but can be excused to some extent for being one of the few cars tested on in damp conditions.
In the lane-change test the Fiat leaned heavily and was pushed around by the caravan. We thought it prudent to end the test after the second of three runs at increasing speeds.
On the plus side, hill starts are very easy, and switching the car from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive gives good traction on a slippery surface.
The Fullback’s strong practicality score is founded on the huge load bay – whatever you want to take with you when you go touring, it should fit in the Fiat.
If you puncture with the load bay full of luggage, you won’t have to unload as the spare wheel is stored under the vehicle.
Compared with its pick-up rivals, the Fullback is well equipped and reasonably priced. The warranty lasts for three years and 120,000 miles. However, it’s worth noting that the Mitsubishi L200 (on which the Fiat is based) has a five-year warranty.