Motoring editor Malcom Baylis takes a look at the new Fiat Multipla.

FOR reasons best known to itself, Fiat has decided to get rid of the "froggy" front-end styling of its award-winning Multipla people carrier. Instead, the latest model loses its individuality and, frankly, becomes just another conventional looking MPV.

However, some say an ugly duckling has been transformed into a superb new swan.

Time (and sales) will tell.

Since it was introduced here four years ago, the family-sized Multipla has won awards galore, and many motorists' hearts, too, with its combination of oddball looks and unparalleled practicality.

Building on the awards, the new range has a six-model line-up with a new front end, while retaining that instantly recognisable width - 1.87 metres. It has large headlamps, a chrome grille and a deep air dam beneath an integral, colour-coded bumper.

The vehicle's high roofline - it is eight inches taller than a standard saloon - also emphasises the Multipla's extensive glazing, which makes up half of the vehicle's sides.

The line-up embraces three new trim levels, Dynamic, Dynamic Plus and Eleganza, together with a choice of two engines, a 1.6-litre, 16-valve, 103bhp petrol unit, or a 115bhp 1.9-litre economical and clean common rail turbo diesel.

Prices start at £13,295 for the 1.6-litre Dynamic, going up to £16,495 for the 1.9-litre diesel Eleganza. Sitting between those two trim levels is Dynamic Plus, at £14,295 for the petrol version and £15,495 for the diesel.

The MPV is packed with kit, and has six seats, keeping three up front and three at the back.

It is this excellent seating versatility that made the original model so successful, allowing extensive adjustment of those up front and the ability to remove and relocate the rear seats into numerous formats.

The six individual, orthopaedically-designed seats are identically sized. With frames of aluminium they are light, yet very strong.

A special safety feature for the driver are the large door mirrors, unique in being split into two, covering not only the driver's blind spots, but also the kerb next to the rear wheels to help with parking. Both mirrors can also be folded flat when passing space is at a premium.

Safety features are impressive: every Multipla is fitted with anti-lock braking, with electronic brake force distribution, and in the cabin, you can specify up to six airbags including front airbags and window bags, and, as standard, there are three front seatbelts with pre-tensioners, three inertia reel safety belts in the rear, six full-sized head restraints, child seat attachments and a fire prevention system.

Even at entry level, standard equipment includes power-assisted steering, a six-speaker stereo CD player, remote central locking, driver and double capacity front passenger airbags, electric height-adjustable driver's seat and electric front windows.

At the back end, where there are revised light clusters and colour-coded bumper, the large, curvy top-hinged rear cargo door opens on gas-filled struts to a load area reached through a wide door, low sill height and a fully flat floor.

With all the back seats used, luggage room is still a class leading 430-litres, and fold the seats away and there is 1,300-litres. Take out all the seats and you are looking at 1,900-litres. Acres by anyone's standards.

Working on the principle that you can never have enough storage areas, the Multipla provides two closed and two open dashboard compartments, dashboard cup holder and another for coins, storage areas under both sun visors, and a large drawer under one of the front passenger seats.

The driver has a powered adjustable seat for height and a steering wheel adjustable for rake and reach. He or she also faces an angled dashboard layout which also includes the the gear lever. Decide on a Multipla with satellite navigation fitted and there is a choice of screen locations, directly ahead of the driver, or in the middle of the console where front seat passengers can see it.

Both engines, petrol and diesel, are matched to a five-speed manual gearbox. The 1.9-litre diesel provides a 0-62mph dash in 12.2-seconds, and returns a combined fuel economy figure of 44.1mpg, while the 1.6-litre 16v petrol has an acceleration of 12.6-secnds and combined fuel return of 32.8mpg.

Prices are kept down by offering a wide range of options, such as satellite navigation, parking sensors, a fridge, a twin screen DVD player, 17-inch alloy wheels and, from next year, Bluetooth connectivity and Connect Nav - Fiat's communications system.

<bullet/> Fiats are available locally from Piccadilly Fiat, Boroughbridge Road, Knaresborough. Telephone 0800 085 85 55.

Updated: 15:57 Thursday, September 09, 2004