Made in the FIASA plant in Betim (Brazil) the Strada has been Brazil's best selling light commercial vehicle for a decade. The Strada has also achieved niche status in outside Brazil on several markets, including many Latin American countries such as Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, as well as further afield in South Africa. It has also been exported to some European countries.

The version now hitting the showrooms in Italy isn't anything new, apart from the engine choice under the bonnet, as the most recent facelift of the Strada has been on the market in Brazil for three and a half years. The Strada was first introduced in Brazil in 1996 as part of the "Project 178" family of cars (which included the Palio and Siena) and has received a number of major revamps since. Italy will also benefit from the newest 'Crew Cab' option that was first added to the Brazilian range in August 2009.

The Strada comes to the Italian market basically with the same specifications as the Brazilian version: three outfits (Working, Trekking, Adventure) and three body types (Short Cab, Long Cab, Crew Cab) for a total of six different versions. The Crew Cab is available on the Working and Adventure versions and can carry four people while maintaining a loading capacity of up to 650 kg at the same time.

Now equipped with the 95 HP 1.3 MultiJet 16v Euro 5 engine, the model is both versatile and multifunctional as well as cost-effective. This is demonstrated by the Working single cab version for professionals who are looking for a "purely commercial vehicle". Interesting, is the new crew cab version for mixed use allowing up to four people to be carried plus tools and materials.

For the most demanding uses, the E-Locker electronic locking differential (which was added to the Brazilian range in the middle of 2008) is also being made available in Italy; it helps tackle slippery terrain. All these features allow it to compete with larger pick-up trucks but with the added advantage of lower purchase price, running costs and fuel consumption.

Prices (before tax) on the Italian market range from 12,900 euros for the 95 HP 1.3 MultiJet 16v Working Single Cab version to 16,000 euros for the top-of-the-range 95 HP 1.3 MultiJet 16v Adventure Crew Cab version.

Style

The versions on sale in Italy conform to the August 2008 facelift in Brazil. The tough-looking bumper was then given a renewed design with two air vents grouped in a single rectangular box and new headlights (single-lens for the Working outfit and double-lens for the Trekking). Much more assertive however is the front of the top-specification Adventure version: painted in matching body colour it has a black grille and chrome-plated inserts framed by an insert which continues over the wheel arch protection. The integrated fog lights are fitted in the lower part. The Long Cab and Crew Cab versions have lengthwise roof bars and spoiler with an integrated third brake light in addition to room in the passenger compartment. The overall dimensions are length 4409 mm (4457 mm for the Adventure version), width 1664 (1740 mm for the Adventure versions) and a wheelbase of 2718 mm.

Inside there are ergonomic, antisubmarining seats, height-adjustable steering wheel (standard on Trekking and Adventure) and the climate control system (standard on Adventure) make travelling and working in the Strada pleasant, comfortable and safe.

Load compartment

A strong point of the Strada is its large rear box, which is 1685 mm long (1332 mm on long cab versions or 1082 mm on crew cab versions), and 1300 mm wide (1070 mm between wheel arches). Large and with a regular shape to make it easy to exploit to the full, it is provided with scratch-resistant protective lining designed to withstand extreme temperatures. Hooks, used to fix the transported objects in safety, are arranged on the sides and bottom of the box and intelligently placed, so as not to hinder loading and unloading operations. Access to the load compartment is also facilitated by the rear board, covered in non-slip material which can be folded by 90° and is also removable. It can bear a weight of 300 kg. The payload including driver ranges from 630 to 705 kg according to the version, while the gross vehicle weight is 1915 kg. The towable weight is 1000 kg.

Engine

While the Strada is mostly unchanged from the Brazilian version, it does have one significant difference, the Brazilian market's flex-fuel (petrol/alcohol) engines are dropped and in comes the 1.3 MultiJet 16v Euro 5 engine, which delivers a maximum power of 95 HP and a torque of 200 Nm (20.4 kgm at 1500 rpm) in this application. Equipped with variable geometry turbocharger and intercooler, the engine ensures good performance with low running costs. Consumption is virtually the same as the previous Euro 4 85 HP engine (up to 5.3 litre/100 km in the combined cycle).

Range

The Strada offers plenty of standard equipment: instruments with trip computer, height-adjustable steering wheel (on Trekking and Adventure), door mirror manually adjustable from the inside and ABS. Additional standard features of the New Strada Adventure include climate control system, fog lights, alloy wheels with 205/65 R15 oversized, lug tread tyres.

For extra versatility, Adventure versions come with the electronic locking differential, called E-Locker, to assist tackling slippery terrain in general, where the extremely performance typically offered by a 4X4 is not needed. In detail, the system can lock the front differential, providing all the available torque to the wheel with the best grip to get the vehicle out of tricky situations: "off-road-like" performance combined with all the winning features of a 4x2. The E-Locker is convenient because it does not imply the extra costs of four-wheel drive, it does not penalise tare and payload and it has no impact on consumption and running costs (because the vehicle consumes like a 4x2 when the system is off). Proof of the Adventure's off-road personality is the dashboard which, on E-Locker versions, is complemented by a supplementary compass and roll and pitch meter instrument.

Finally, the list of optional equipment that is being carried over from the Brazilian versions to the Italian market specific model includes radio with CD player, climate control system, sun roof, leather steering wheel (on the Adventure level only) and alloy wheels.