I own a Palio 1.1 SLE since October. Car has done 2200 kms.I am proud to own a car like this. The name FIAT in itself was enough for me to go for a Palio. The looks - ah what should I say, the beast is a killer. It just won my heart. I leke the was the car is shaped especially the nose with lovely looking double barrel headlamp cluster(which in fact is available only in expensive cars).
I drive mostly in Gurgaon and at times hit the highway. I should say that the drive on the highways is superb. There are lots of mid sizers which can not beat Palio in terms of stability at high speeds and the kind of ride quality that this car offers.
Once inside the vehicle, one feels cocooned in a tank like shell. The feeling is awesome for those who believe in safety. I have been driven around in cars from Maruti, Hyundai, Tata, and I must say without any doubt that the safety factor is completely ignored in the tin cans that these companies are selling to Indian consumers.
I get an FE of 14.5 with the AC in city conditions and 17 with AC on the highways. Now that winters have set in, I need to check the mileage without AC. The drive in city conditions is great too, engine is smooth, the gear shift is slick, insulation inside the cabin is decent, the ride quality cos of the chasis and the tubeless tyres is amazing.
I believe with the current price tag, Palio is a value for money offering, provided people who own these cars write more articles on forums for prospective buyers to read and make up their minds based on the feedback.
I request all FIAT lovers to come forward and share their experiences.
Till then drive safe and HAIL the king - FIAT PALIO 1.1