Compared to what other people movers you could get in 1998, these things flew and they outhandled almost all of the competition too. The 1.9 Diesel used less than half the diesel of a Hiace of the day with just as much usable power. They were also supremely reliable and very low maintenance. Go grab a 90's Estima and see how it compares.
I feel like Fiat were ahead of the curve with the Multipla. It's a jacked up hatchback with more room inside, which means it's basically a crossover, just no one knew what that was in the 90s and its hard to look past the... unfortunate styling. I reckon if Fiat brought the name back now for the novelty like they did with the 500 people would dig it.
Yeah I mean there has been a few cars that came 10 years later that are similar, like the Ford C Max, Honda Stream, Toyota Ipsum etc. But the concept in general is just quite uncool
Very practical and reliable cars, especially with the turbo diesel engine. Not the prettiest, but someone who needs a cheap entry level work car that can transport, this is ideal.
The 1.6 petrol engine is the final incarnation of Lampredi's SOHC from the 1960's. In production in its various forms from 1969 to 2005 in Italy, and until 2010 in Brazil. 41 years. Used in the 128, X1/9, Ritmo/Strada, Uno, Tipo and Punto to name but a few. BMC A-series managed 49 years.
Bless their Italian hearts for trying something different. And this car's biggest issue is that its not had the easiest treatment it seems. So many scratches everywhere, grime, etc. I know its a meme car, but you can astleast keep it clean.
Bear in mind it's not the kind of car people are going to keep in immaculate condition because it's just a workhorse to get from a to b for most people
woeful handling? It's the Tipo platform that went under many great cars, and worked really well. Chuck on some Fiat/Alfa alloys with a bit more rubber and Bob's your uncle
A worked for a company in England that had used a fleet of these for transporting handicapped kids to school. Apparently the 1.9 diesel was one of the best vehicles that they'd had on fleet. Eventually replaced with Skoda Yetis.
Fun vid mate, well I certainly couldn't own one of these, but at least you could park it anywhere and even leave the keys in it and it probably wouldn't be stolen. I can draw parallels with the fact that sometimes unassuming cars can still provide driving enjoyment! (again I just couldn't take it this far though haha! )
Hey Liam I think you could be on to something - why confine yourself to performance and driver oriented cars, there are thousands of utter s&^t boxes that have no redeeming features, that you could make entertainment for us! I enjoyed this video just as much as your M3 and other lusty worthy car reviews. So this shows you are the star attraction, not the cars 😊
It is the Homer if Homer was a European woman in the ‘90s. I remember hearing a story that the front end was the safest design for hitting a pedestrian. It’s basically a shopping cart and kid delivery mobile on wheels.
that interior door handle/speaker mount dubbed the rock climbing wall looks like someone ran over a cheap kettle bell and repurposed it for the panel :P
This car is defined my childhood and as a kid I absolutely loved it. It's a war crime of a machine but still, you ended this review with a smile on your face. That's just the effect this absolute travesty of a car has on people 25 years later!
My neighbor from across the rd owns one the exact same color but its always sitting on his driveway he never drives it and just parks out on the rd with his other car. Must be embarrassed to take it out 😂
It's the wide track that gives the Multipla it's handling abilities. It's shorter than the Fiat Bravo it's based on , but has a track more like an S Class of the time. I don't think it rolls too much, but then that's a subjective judgement.
I feel like it would be better with the diesel. Then at least it might have some torque behind it (i’ve never even seen one let alone driven one so I have no idea)
I've been looking for one to buy, the now ex wife said she would divorce me if i bought one, hence why I'm looking for one now, been looking for a while but rare as in NZ
@@KiwiCarLife In the US, they had a turbo version of the PT Cruiser that had the running gear out of a Dodge Neon SRT-4. I wonder if there are any in NZ. I know there's at least one Mercury Marauder in New Zealand. That's a vehicle you should definitely try out. They're badass.
It's actually quite a reasonable and practical vehicle, and it seats six. A much more sensible option than the ridiculous overweight SUVs and crossovers that people drive these days. A relic from the days when common sense was still common.
They are brilliant esp. in diesel form, go well, handle very well ( I use mine on track days to surprise many sports cars), superbly reliable (I have one with 400K and another 495K kms with no issues) and economical (5 - 6 l/100km) all in a car 300mm shorter than a contemporary Golf. I'd buy another new if I could as would very many people I know. I doubt that the 25 year old well used (kind words for the test car) example tested was reflective of the breed. But a good laugh on the test and at the tester.
BTW, sold my Range Rover Sport HSE Luxury SDV6 to buy another. The RR finishes were great, the RR didn't make 180k kms before the turbos, shocks, electrics etc. gave up. IMV not a patch on the Multipla. Won't be buying one of those again.
Way too ugly to be the worst car ever. And, it does have quite a nice engine note and a manual gear-box. Anything with a manual gear-box is scratched from the Worst Car Ever competition. Def. a contender for Ugliest Car Ever.
@@KiwiCarLife bought it from Turners with a broken cam belt. Fixed it and used it as delivery hack for a couple of years. 800+kg of stock with the 3 seats removed still stayed off the bump stops. Was great in Welly being able to exit from the pax door - walk thru. Did easily over 1000km on a tank, pulled like a train in the mid range.
@@KiwiCarLife Brazil. At least they offered us some gems, like the Tempra Turbo [and 2-door] or the Fiat Marea Turbo [sedan and wagon], with a detuned engine from the Coupe Turbo. 😆
It's too quirky to be the "worst". That title might go to the Suzuki Celerio. Slow, ugly and nothing quirky or fun about it. Oh and when it was released, somebody doing an emergency braking test , found out that the pedal collapses under heavy braking initiating a recall.
@@KiwiCarLife Wasn't aware Suzuki made any bad cars. They have however made many budget cars, so they may well be terrible to drive. Bloody durable cars them Suzukis.
That's a weirdass car! I want hate it because of how tacky & cheap the interiour is, & the ugly design, but you can't deny what a little Tardis it is, & how well it performs (for what it is). Was not expecting what it delivered!
that engine is a last bad thing about it with the gearbox but everything else is....Utility value is not there. Stupid layout, stupid controls, stupidly designed.
Definitely the worst car you've had on your channel but its good to see these in compassion to cars people actually sought after, youd have to pay me $400 a week to drive these around to work and back honestly
Yeah it always used to be a classic sight seeing a mid engine spaceship looking Previa going up the gorge at full chat with that dreadful whistle from the exhaust. No idea why but they all did it. Haven't seen one in years
Compared to what other people movers you could get in 1998, these things flew and they outhandled almost all of the competition too. The 1.9 Diesel used less than half the diesel of a Hiace of the day with just as much usable power.
They were also supremely reliable and very low maintenance.
Go grab a 90's Estima and see how it compares.
Yeah tbh it's not a bad car (for a people mover from the 90's) but it's sooooo ugly HAHA
I will own one of these, one day.
HAHA I hope you do!
I feel like Fiat were ahead of the curve with the Multipla. It's a jacked up hatchback with more room inside, which means it's basically a crossover, just no one knew what that was in the 90s and its hard to look past the... unfortunate styling. I reckon if Fiat brought the name back now for the novelty like they did with the 500 people would dig it.
Its an MPV, which is essentially that a bigger hatch. Shame they didn’t catch on really
Yeah I mean there has been a few cars that came 10 years later that are similar, like the Ford C Max, Honda Stream, Toyota Ipsum etc. But the concept in general is just quite uncool
As someone who grew up in a time when these were new. This car is iconic. But no I won't be buying one even if it is $500 😂😂😂
Its Ugly
Not Iconic 😂
Me neither
This is a close as I want to get to a Multipla
HAHA thank goodness
I know someone who owns two of these
Could be this guy haha he's got two
does he live in Bucklands Beach Auckland? There are a pair there always street parked
Very practical and reliable cars, especially with the turbo diesel engine. Not the prettiest, but someone who needs a cheap entry level work car that can transport, this is ideal.
That is true!
The 1.6 petrol engine is the final incarnation of Lampredi's SOHC from the 1960's. In production in its various forms from 1969 to 2005 in Italy, and until 2010 in Brazil. 41 years. Used in the 128, X1/9, Ritmo/Strada, Uno, Tipo and Punto to name but a few. BMC A-series managed 49 years.
Good strong engine
Bless their Italian hearts for trying something different. And this car's biggest issue is that its not had the easiest treatment it seems. So many scratches everywhere, grime, etc. I know its a meme car, but you can astleast keep it clean.
Bear in mind it's not the kind of car people are going to keep in immaculate condition because it's just a workhorse to get from a to b for most people
This is the best car ever. I love mine. 310km going strong
Oh my word the STRENGTH of the multipla
woeful handling? It's the Tipo platform that went under many great cars, and worked really well. Chuck on some Fiat/Alfa alloys with a bit more rubber and Bob's your uncle
Doesn’t really matter what platform it’s on if it’s 2m tall and has biscuit tins for wheels
No ducks were harmed in making of this video..... oh wait scratch that...
Mildly harmed haha
Funny you should mention Doug Demuro... He already fizzed at the quirks and features of this car 3 years ago.
Yeah he did haha watched that video before this one to learn some more about it
Just put a Shackletons High Seat Chair in it and it will be easy to get in and out of you know 😂
@@jt_goddard1816 also some random show music so you and all your retired friends can clap to it!
HAHAHA yesssss
_I remember clearly when these came out new, it’s taken 3 decades to forget it and now you’ve done this review, _*_THANKS_*_ 😑_
HAHAHA
A worked for a company in England that had used a fleet of these for transporting handicapped kids to school. Apparently the 1.9 diesel was one of the best vehicles that they'd had on fleet. Eventually replaced with Skoda Yetis.
Well yeah I suppose for that they’d be ideal!
Fun vid mate, well I certainly couldn't own one of these, but at least you could park it anywhere and even leave the keys in it and it probably wouldn't be stolen.
I can draw parallels with the fact that sometimes unassuming cars can still provide driving enjoyment! (again I just couldn't take it this far though haha! )
Yeah definitely haha
I’d buy one of these and put it in my backyard, just to annoy my neighbour who always complains about how loud my cars are during cold starts. 😂
HAHAHAHA
Hey Liam I think you could be on to something - why confine yourself to performance and driver oriented cars, there are thousands of utter s&^t boxes that have no redeeming features, that you could make entertainment for us! I enjoyed this video just as much as your M3 and other lusty worthy car reviews. So this shows you are the star attraction, not the cars 😊
Thanks haha yeah I’ve got a few more “normal” cars in the pipelines
It is the Homer if Homer was a European woman in the ‘90s. I remember hearing a story that the front end was the safest design for hitting a pedestrian. It’s basically a shopping cart and kid delivery mobile on wheels.
Pretty much haha
Worst is a funny way of spelling best, NCEA these days lol
Lol
That heel toe comment 😅
lol
that interior door handle/speaker mount dubbed the rock climbing wall looks like someone ran over a cheap kettle bell and repurposed it for the panel :P
HAHAHA
This car is defined my childhood and as a kid I absolutely loved it. It's a war crime of a machine but still, you ended this review with a smile on your face. That's just the effect this absolute travesty of a car has on people 25 years later!
Haha tbh I did have a bit of fun in it. Good driving slow cars fast
My neighbor from across the rd owns one the exact same color but its always sitting on his driveway he never drives it and just parks out on the rd with his other car.
Must be embarrassed to take it out 😂
Probably broken down😂😂
Classic HAHA
The diesel is the one to go for. I bought one of the first petrols, and now i have a diesel.
Yeah I imagine they'd be a bit better
It's the wide track that gives the Multipla it's handling abilities. It's shorter than the Fiat Bravo it's based on , but has a track more like an S Class of the time. I don't think it rolls too much, but then that's a subjective judgement.
it looks like the sort of car the teletubbies would drive 😀
HAHAAH
Was half expecting to see you understeer clean off the road .
Me too honestly
I Heel and toe it all the time! Not her first time ;)
oh GOOD
I actually like this. I want a Twingo as well though. Also an Isuzu Vehicross. Alternative cars are kind of my jam.
My word that is alternative!
do a honda civic ep2 sport next :D
We don't get them here!
I feel like it would be better with the diesel. Then at least it might have some torque behind it (i’ve never even seen one let alone driven one so I have no idea)
Yeah that's true, although it is quite fun to wind out the petrol to... uhh... whatever redline is?
Someone needs to whack a turbo on this thing
Get the 1.9 tdi version then tune her up haha
My cousin's got one, it's got a bullbar and a big roof rack on it. Funniest car ever
Oh my that’s hilarious haha
I've been looking for one to buy, the now ex wife said she would divorce me if i bought one, hence why I'm looking for one now, been looking for a while but rare as in NZ
Import one 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Oh dear well I'm sorry to hear of your divorce, but yes the chances of finding one are extremely slim... 66 in NZ atm
When we have kids we must get this babe I know you secretly love it! 😉
We absolutely will not 😂
@@KiwiCarLife The car or the kids😉
Reminds me of a PT cruiser, but even worse lmao
Nothing is worse than a PT Cruiser.
I must review one to find out
@@KiwiCarLife In the US, they had a turbo version of the PT Cruiser that had the running gear out of a Dodge Neon SRT-4. I wonder if there are any in NZ. I know there's at least one Mercury Marauder in New Zealand. That's a vehicle you should definitely try out. They're badass.
WAY better than a PT Cruiser
It's actually quite a reasonable and practical vehicle, and it seats six. A much more sensible option than the ridiculous overweight SUVs and crossovers that people drive these days. A relic from the days when common sense was still common.
If only it didn't look so euurgghhhh
@@KiwiCarLife It's ugly, but the styling at least serves a functional purpose. I think the new Hiace vans are uglier to be honest.
if only it was the 1.9jtd that thing would rip
Yeah it would be interesting to try a diesel one
Loved the Multipla! But then I love Citroen DS's and SM"s too.
@@NZBRG1 goodness me they’re some oddballs!
The Honda FR-V is another MPV with two rows of three bucket seats. 🙂
Yeah here they're called the Honda Edix. A lot less ugly for sure!
If i didint have to pay the price of the car all over again to get it to the U.S. I would definitely pick one of these up
Haha yeah I’ve heard US import laws are nuts
My 2010 Peugeot 207 1.4 litre was only 54kw. THAT was gutless even with 5 speed manual.
Holy hang how did they only scrape 54kW from a modern 1.4?? A 2010 Jazz 1.5 makes 88kW haha
They are brilliant esp. in diesel form, go well, handle very well ( I use mine on track days to surprise many sports cars), superbly reliable (I have one with 400K and another 495K kms with no issues) and economical (5 - 6 l/100km) all in a car 300mm shorter than a contemporary Golf. I'd buy another new if I could as would very many people I know. I doubt that the 25 year old well used (kind words for the test car) example tested was reflective of the breed. But a good laugh on the test and at the tester.
BTW, sold my Range Rover Sport HSE Luxury SDV6 to buy another. The RR finishes were great, the RR didn't make 180k kms before the turbos, shocks, electrics etc. gave up. IMV not a patch on the Multipla. Won't be buying one of those again.
Goodness me that's insane how reliable they are. Very unlike most Fiat products!
You were grinning the whole way through. When you have low expectations thats the key.
Absolutely
A can of NOS should fix things 👍
HAHA the SPEED would know no bounds
Way too ugly to be the worst car ever. And, it does have quite a nice engine note and a manual gear-box. Anything with a manual gear-box is scratched from the Worst Car Ever competition. Def. a contender for Ugliest Car Ever.
That’s a valid point
Miss my Multipla 1.9 Jtd.
Good car
@@KiwiCarLife bought it from Turners with a broken cam belt. Fixed it and used it as delivery hack for a couple of years. 800+kg of stock with the 3 seats removed still stayed off the bump stops. Was great in Welly being able to exit from the pax door - walk thru. Did easily over 1000km on a tank, pulled like a train in the mid range.
Haven't seen one of these in like 8 years
I know me neither!
Rock climbing material 😅
HAHA
@@KiwiCarLife funny guy
At least it doesn't have a fuel tank that catches on fire if you rear end it (ahem Ford Pinto)
HAHAHA
I love these. And I curse Fiat for not selling these here. But at the same time I understand why. 😂
HAHA insane cars. Where are you based?
@@KiwiCarLife Brazil.
At least they offered us some gems, like the Tempra Turbo [and 2-door] or the Fiat Marea Turbo [sedan and wagon], with a detuned engine from the Coupe Turbo. 😆
should have been called the Platypus
HAHAH
Learn to drive a manual and your driving will be a lot smoother also noted when driving on Man feild as well to aggressive
I like how you're commenting "learn to drive a manual" on a video of me driving a manual HAHA
my neighbour had one... they were weird neighbours
I am sure they were lol
It's too quirky to be the "worst". That title might go to the Suzuki Celerio. Slow, ugly and nothing quirky or fun about it. Oh and when it was released, somebody doing an emergency braking test , found out that the pedal collapses under heavy braking initiating a recall.
Oh yeah that is a fair point the Suzuki Celery is truly dreadful
Espace, multipla, hugely fun exact. Toyota Estima by comparison is like slow painful death …
That’s true, this is more interesting, but Toyota sold millions of previas…
Only a mother could love😂
Not sure i can watch this, just joking, watched
Would be good if you could compare it to an Odyssey or something like that, Odysseys seem quite low for what they are, I wonder how they corner😂
Yeah that would be interesting, too bad we never got a manual Odyssey here
Worst car in the world?
Nissan, hold my Sake.
Nissan has made some very bad cars for sure. I'd argue Suzuki has made worse...
@@KiwiCarLife What are some bad Suzuki cars? Didn't get many of them in Canada
@@KiwiCarLife Wasn't aware Suzuki made any bad cars. They have however made many budget cars, so they may well be terrible to drive.
Bloody durable cars them Suzukis.
That's a weirdass car! I want hate it because of how tacky & cheap the interiour is, & the ugly design, but you can't deny what a little Tardis it is, & how well it performs (for what it is). Was not expecting what it delivered!
Yeah man a real surprise aye!
I do think we can all agree that the Citroen 2cv is the slowest car known to man
nah, it's the t0asta with it's current status 💀💀💀💀
Oh unbearably slow
@@KiwiCarLife absolutely
@@Sk8erNZ cheeky bugga
no joke this car looks uncomfortable to even drive safely.
Lol
that engine is a last bad thing about it with the gearbox but everything else is....Utility value is not there. Stupid layout, stupid controls, stupidly designed.
HAHA
159th!! Nope...164th!!
Congratulations!
Definitely the worst car you've had on your channel but its good to see these in compassion to cars people actually sought after, youd have to pay me $400 a week to drive these around to work and back honestly
HAHA yep me too I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole
Blob car, but it does sound better than it looks 😂
For sure haha actually sounds alright
I dont know if its just me but the last 5 years iv bearly seen any privias around anymore
Same I haven't seen them for ages but in the last couple months more and more have started to resurface
lol all the rental camper companies have got em all
*Previas*
Yeah it always used to be a classic sight seeing a mid engine spaceship looking Previa going up the gorge at full chat with that dreadful whistle from the exhaust. No idea why but they all did it. Haven't seen one in years
this is exactly the car i need lmao
HAHA
Oh great, another video making fun of the Multipla.
Yep... sorry
Ah yes, but is it worse than a PT cruiser 😂
Nothing is worse than a PT Cruiser.
Yeah PT cruiser is definitely worse
Ugly maybe,worst differently not
I'd agree
😂😂😂
HAHA
Ugly car! Yuck!
HAHA sure is!
FIRST
Well done
Definitely the ugliest
Haha yup!
That duck trying to get a pay day smh
You know the economy's bad when even ducks are trying to scam the system lol
HAHAHA
second 🫡
Well done