The possible Fiat bakkie comeback

The possible Fiat bakkie comeback

I'm sure the last thing that comes to mind when you think of Fiat is a bakkie, but the brand seems to be rather fond of its Strada unit. Fortunately, we quite love these workhorses down here in SA, so where better to reintroduce this model?

Interestingly, Italy is not the birthplace of this bakkie, and its stomping ground lies to the west in Brazil. The Portuguese-speaking nation loves it and has proven to be “an indisputable leader in vehicle sales in Brazil in 2023". According to Fiat, that is.

The Strada's design is certainly daring, with a bold front end, but the side profile dimensions look somewhat questionable. The excessive plastic cladding around the wheel arches and the vehicle's unusual profile are the primary styling culprits here.

Fiat boasts an advanced array of tech to assist with off-road traction, with features including stability control, traction control, and hill start assist to aid the driver on different terrains. Being a bakkie, the Strada has a load capacity of up to 720kg, depending on the model.

The Strada will come in both single- and double-cab configurations, but at this stage, there's no official word on pricing or arrival.  

While the Strada's arrival will eventually fill the void left by the Nissan NP200 after its production grinds to a halt next year, Fiat SA has confirmed that the current generation will only be available to left-hand-drive markets. Hopefully, the following generation will arrive locally around 2025.