How is the small pickup that added new mechanics, more comfort and technology?

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4 days ago

How is the small pickup that added new mechanics, more comfort and technology?

In recent years, the advancement of compact pickups has taken away the prominence that small trucks once had. With the same concept of urban utility vehicle, but with a little more space, comfort and capabilities, this class of vehicles was gaining street status while light pickup trucks lost weight and diversity of offering.

The Fiat Strada Not only is it a benchmark in this category, it is also one of the two survivors – along with the Volkswagen Saveiro – of a segment that at some point knew how to have up to five modelsincluding Ford Courier, Peugeot Hoggar and Chevrolet Montana, now converted into a compact pickup.

Despite the launch of Toro in 2016 – a model that gave the brand a lot of satisfaction in terms of sales – Fiat continued working on the Strada and presented its new generation in 2020, adding, among other things, what users of this model are looking for today. type of vehicles: more technology, comfort and safety.

Furthermore, he added a unprecedented four-door body which made it more comfortable and practical for those people looking for a mixed vehicle that allows them to combine work with family.

A more efficient Strada

In the middle of this year, Fiat launched the top-of-the-range version Ultrawhich became the first in the segment and in the family with motor turbonaftero (now also in the Ranch variant).

It’s about the propeller 1.0 liter, chain, 120 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque (hence its name T200) that had debuted with the Fiat Pulse and was later introduced in other models of the Stellantis group such as the Citroën C3 Aircross and the Peugeot 208 and 2008.

Associated with a CVT automatic transmission, The Strada Ultra also offers a Sport driving mode, an electronic function that simply presses the red button on the steering wheel (see In Detail) alters the acceleration parameters and gear ratios. It also allows manual changes, using the paddles located behind the steering wheel or from the selector itself.

Due to its mechanical configuration, because it has the lowest ground clearance in the range (only 160 mm) and because it has 16-inch mixed tires (other variants have 15” ATR rubber for better off-road performance), this version is the “more clueless” among all the Strada.

Improved quality interior, with leatherette upholstery and red stitching. The multimedia screen is still a 7-inch touch screen.

This efficient turbo engine gives it extra agility and reaction that it clearly does not get with the 99 HP 1.3 FireFly that equips the other versions. And not so much because of those 21 extra HP, but because of those 200 Nm of torque that it delivers from 1,750 revolutions.

Although its behavior on the road and in the city is exemplary, we must not forget that it is a multipurpose vehicle, and having reduced its clearance can complicate it on irregular terrain, especially off-road.

The driving position is correct even though the steering column is still without being regulated in depth. The height of the driver’s seat can be modified, but even in its lowest position it ends up giving a high driving position.

Aesthetically, this version adopts a new exclusive grille and bumper with graphite gray and red finishes, side running boards, roof bars, San Antonio bars, maritime hood, headlights with LED technology and 16” black alloy wheels.

The interior, for its part, offers leather upholstery with red stitching and the logo alluding to the printed version, central armrest and new door panels with leather details.

All versions have a multifunction steering wheel and new door panels, a 7” touch multimedia system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, wireless cell phone charger, reversing camera, digital automatic climate control (except the Freedom version), traction control and rear parking sensors, among other highlights.

Due to all these improvements, the Strada has a great advantage in sales over its rival Saveiro and fights with the Toro to be the brand’s second best-selling model in the country, behind the undisputed Cronos.

A no less important fact is that the Strada is the best-selling vehicle on the Brazilian market since 2021 and could stretch its leadership for the fourth consecutive year, since at the beginning of December it had a slight advantage over the Volkswagen Polo.