Available for less than two years in the UK, Fiat's second take on the Croma proved as forgettable as its first, offered from 1985. Half-way between a conventional estate and an MPV, the Croma is hard to pigeonhole, but that's not to say it's talent-free. Indeed, as a used buy you won't get more carrying capacity for your money; just make sure you focus on the diesels only. And while you won't revel in the car's dynamics, you'll love the value that it offers.
Key Dates
8/05: The Croma goes on sale with a choice of three engines. Buyers can choose from a 2.2-litre petrol unit, or 1.9 and 2.4-litre JTD turbodiesel powerplants. Trim levels range from Dynamic to Prestigio, with Eleganza in between.
2/06: There's now a new entry-level engine in the form of a 1.8-litre petrol unit.
3/07: The Croma becomes special order only, due to very poor sales. Nobody orders it specially...
Fiat Croma (2005-2007) Checklist
- Electrics can be unreliable, so make sure the windows, radio and air-con work.
- As soon as the Croma became special order only, parts supply could be an issue - so make sure nothing is needed.
- The rear light cluster seals can fail, leading to the lights misting up.
- The interior trim isn't that durable, so check it's all present and intact.
- Alarms can work only sporadically.
- Fuel economy can be poor, even with the diesels.
- This is a surprisingly big car - will it fit in your garage?
We Like
- Space
- Value
- Comfort
- Diesel engines
We Don't Like
- Stodgy handling
- Patchy parts supply
- Petrol engines