Segment: Compact
Production years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Fiat introduced the Albea lineup in 2002 as a low-cost, small-sized vehicle aimed at East European customers and improved it in 2005 so the car could fit into the Euro 4 emission standards, which became mandatory starting in January 2006.
The small-sized sedan segment was rising in Eastern Europe. After the Polo Sedan in the early ‘90s, the Clio Thalia/Symbol and the Skoda Fabia joined the bandwagon. Later, in 2004, Dacia (Renault’s Romanian sub-brand) launched the Logan, which became a best-seller. Fiat’s solution was to refresh the Albea lineup and improve it in several areas. Its main asset was the exterior design that was penned by Italdesign, Giorgetto Giugiaro’s design studio. Even though it wasn’t a piece of art, it was decent, and the artist neatly concealed the fact that the Albea was actually a Fiat Palio with a trunk attached to its back.
From the front, the 2005 Albea got a new set of headlights, which were bigger than the previous model. Between them, the automaker added a redesigned grill that sported four slats and the Fiat’s badge in the middle. Depending on the grade, the lower bumper featured a deeper apron with an integrated air intake and flanked by a pair of scoops for the fog lamps. In addition, the hood wasn’t completely flat and featured two creases that visually connected the grille to the windshield.
Giugiaro couldn’t completely conceal the connection with the Palio since the Albea featured the same doors as its hatchback sibling. Furthermore, not all versions featured body-colored door mirrors, and all of them sported black door handles. The base models sat on steel wheels with plastic caps, and only the upper versions received alloy wheels. Behind the rear doors, the automaker added a raked forward rear window and a short trunk. Finally, at the back, Fiat installed a set of wide taillights that were split between the trunk’s lid and the quarter panels.
Inside, the cabin revealed that the car belonged in the low-cost category, especially in terms of material quality. Still, the available two-tone dashboard design and the options could provide customers with enough comfort to suit their needs. The driver fronted a complex instrument cluster filled with a large tachometer, speedometer, and two smaller gauges for the fuel level and water temperature. In addition, a small TFT display showed the odometer. On the center stack, Fiat added the HVAC control unit and the CD stereo that was mounted on the upper side. In the back, the bench seat was suitable mostly for two adults.
Under the hood, Fiat installed a choice of three gasoline and one turbo diesel engine, depending on the market. All of them were paired with a five-speed manual transmission that sent the power to the front wheels.
ENGINE SPECS - 1.2L 5MT (82 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1242 cm3 |
Power: | 60 KW @ 5000 RPM 82 HP @ 5000 RPM 80 BHP @ 5000 RPM |
Torque: | 75 lb-ft @ 2500 RPM 102 Nm @ 2500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 12.7 gallons (48.1 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 93.2 mph (150 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 16.9 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 175/70 R14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 164.8 in (4186 mm) |
Width: | 67 in (1702 mm) |
Height: | 58.7 in (1491 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 55.7/56.6 in (1,415/1,438 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 96 in (2438 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 18 cuFT (510 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2238.1 lbs (1015 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3362 lbs (1525 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 25.8 mpg US (9.1 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 39.2 mpg US (6 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 33.1 mpg US (7.1 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.4L 5MT (77 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1368 cm3 |
Power: | 56.6 KW @ 6000 RPM 77 HP @ 6000 RPM 76 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 85 lb-ft @ 3000 RPM 115 Nm @ 3000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 12.7 gallons (48.1 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 100.7 mph (162 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 13.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 175/70 R14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 164.8 in (4186 mm) |
Width: | 67 in (1702 mm) |
Height: | 58.7 in (1491 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 55.7/56.6 in (1,415/1,438 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 96 in (2438 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 18 cuFT (510 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2238.1 lbs (1015 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3494 lbs (1585 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 28.7 mpg US (8.2 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 47 mpg US (5 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 37.9 mpg US (6.2 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.6L 5MT (103 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1596 cm3 |
Power: | 75.8 KW @ 5750 RPM 103 HP @ 5750 RPM 102 BHP @ 5750 RPM |
Torque: | 107 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 145 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 12.7 gallons (48.1 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 111.9 mph (180 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 10.8 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/65 R14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 164.8 in (4186 mm) |
Width: | 67 in (1702 mm) |
Height: | 58.7 in (1491 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 55.7/56.6 in (1,415/1,438 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 96 in (2438 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 18 cuFT (510 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2370.4 lbs (1075 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3494 lbs (1585 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 20.5 mpg US (11.5 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 36.2 mpg US (6.5 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 28.3 mpg US (8.3 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.3L CRDI 5MT (70 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1248 cm3 |
Power: | 70 KW @ 4000 RPM 95 HP @ 4000 RPM 94 BHP @ 4000 RPM |
Torque: | 133 lb-ft @ 1750 RPM 180 Nm @ 1750 RPM |
Fuel System: | Common Rail |
Fuel: | Diesel |
Fuel capacity: | 12.7 gallons (48.1 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 99.4 mph (160 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 14.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 175/70 R14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 164.8 in (4186 mm) |
Width: | 67 in (1702 mm) |
Height: | 58.7 in (1491 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 55.7/56.6 in (1,415/1,438 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 96 in (2438 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 18 cuFT (510 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2392.4 lbs (1085 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 39.2 mpg US (6 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 60.3 mpg US (3.9 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 50 mpg US (4.7 L/100Km) |