What a handy car for Fiat Australia to obtain. At last we have a Fiat that has some serious room, power and luxury. The new Fiat Freemont doesn’t just look the right deal, it does drive nicely and exploits high levels of comfort.

You may already know that Fiat and Chrysler have merged companies, and this is probably why the Fiat Freemont and Dodge Journey look so similar. And, there’s nothing wrong with that, the exterior of the Fiat Freemont is a class act, and the Freemont can carry the Fiat logo with a lot of pride. Many discerning buyers will appreciate the Fiat Freemont’s strong looks. A long roofline hovers over roomy dimensions, where the length of the Freemont is only a few centimetres short of five metres long. A bold stance on the road is helped with a width of 1878 mm, and the equation for length-x-width equals plenty of area for occupants to lounge around in. In the rear of the Freemont are a third row of seats, so you can actually carry seven (including the driver) with ease. Pop the third row flat, and the Fiat Freemont transforms into a phenomenally roomy five-seater station wagon. With the second row of seats occupied, there is a massive 784 litres of luggage space available, which really does make the new Fiat Freemont a desirable and spacious family wagon. Drop both rows in the back, and luggage space is cavernous!

Petrol lovers will appreciate the response and flat torque curve of the 2.4-litre, in-line four-cylinder engine. Linked to a six-speed automatic gearbox, the smooth selection of gears and precise engine performance brings satisfaction to the drive. Touring Australia in a Fiat Freemont is a relaxed experience. The petrol equipped Freemont models won’t set any track records, but the easy, continuous high speed travel is comfortable and safe.

Debates will run riot as to whether the diesel alternative is the better choice but, for me, I think that the 2.0-litre, MultiJet II 16V, 125 kW diesel engine is better suited for carrying a full capacity crowd in the back, with luggage to boot. The maximum torque figures of 350 Nm between a very low 1750-to-2500 rpm speak for themselves, and for real-time driving dynamics, the turbo-diesel engine is a strong performer and will probably be the choice for most Fiat Freemont buyers.

Fiat Freemont handling is solid and secure, with independent, MacPherson suspension components in the front, and there is the added bonus of the taut control of the anti-roll bar arrangement. At the rear, there is an independent, Multilink type suspension with wishbones, an anti-roll bar, coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers. The tweaking for front and rear suspensions results in accurate steering and solid road-holding.

Safety is taken very seriously in the Fiat Freemont. I guess that one of the main uses for the new Fiat Freemont will be as a people carrier. A well itemized safety list shows features like a tyre pressure monitoring system, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a hill holder system, rollover mitigation, side airbags, side curtain airbags, front driver and passenger airbags, child seat anchorage points, ABS, active front headrests and child boosters to be standard across the range. Also handy are the Trailer Sway Control (TSC), rear parking sensors, and anti-theft alarm systems.

Speaking of models in the Fiat Freemont range, there are three levels of luxury. The Fiat Freemont Base is a nice starting point, where you will enjoy a good level of equipment for comfort and interest. Dual-zone air conditioning works very well to keep a balanced temperature, while cruise control and a 4.3-inch touch-screen CD/MP3 radio is standard on the Base model. A trip computer and nice cloth material upholstery are features for both the Freemont Base and Freemont Urban versions. The Urban model gets some tinted rear windows, a leather gear lever, dual-zone climate control, a foldable front passenger seat with a storage compartment and an 8.4-inch touch-screen CD/MP3 radio with a DVD/SD player.

Opt for the ultimate luxury model, and you’ll be buying the Fiat Freemont Lounge. A set of classy 19-inch alloys, tri-zone climate control with a seven-seat mode, an electrically operated driver’s seat (also in Urban), leather upholstery with accent stitching, satellite navigation and an upgraded Alpine Stereo system are Freemont Lounge features.

You’ll be buying well with the brand new Fiat Freemont range. Particularly in diesel from, the Fiat Freemont is a very complete people carrier and nice getaway station wagon.

The current Fiat Freemont models include the:

• Freemont Base 2.4-litre petrol
• Freemont Base 2.0-litre diesel
• Freemont Urban 2.4-litre petrol
• Freemont Urban 2.0-litre diesel
• Freemont Lounge 2.4-litre petrol
• Freemont Lounge 2.0-litre diesel

For any more information on the new Fiat Freemont or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Fiat dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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