With the demise of the Grand Caravan minivan and Journey crossover, Dodge‘s 2021 model line is down to only three vehicles: the Charger sedan, Challenger coupe, and Durango SUV. Yet, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles could easily fluff up the threadbare Dodge lineup with a Dodge-badged Fiat Tipo. We’re not proposing just any Tipo, either, but the new Tipo Cross, the orange pseudo-SUV pictured here.
Think of the Tipo Cross being to the regular Tipo as the Subaru Crosstrek is to the regular Impreza. Whereas the updated Fiat Tipo is a handsome enough compact car, the Tipo Cross takes things up a notch courtesy of its rugged SUV-like style. Limited to the hatchback body style (the standard Tipo is also available as a sedan or wagon), the Cross welcomes a more aggressive front fascia (replete with faux front skid plate), fender cladding, and a 1.6-inch lift. No, the Tipo Cross won’t chase any Jeep Wranglers or Land Rover Defenders far off the beaten path, but it certainly offers more capability than its Cross-less counterparts.
Like all Tipos, the Cross benefits from a myriad of updates for 2021. This includes reworked styling with standard LED headlights and taillights, as well as the latest iteration of the Fiat badge. The latter of which matters little to us, though, as we’d love to see the Tipo Cross adopt a crosshair grille instead. (The car’s front end vaguely resembles the long-defunct Dodge Dart’s, in a way, so the transformation would be easy.) Meanwhile, the interior features updated technology, such as FCA’s latest UConnect infotainment system (which includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility), a 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, and a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster.
Power comes courtesy of a 100-hp turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine or a diesel engine that makes up to 130 horses. Frankly, neither unit seems particularly ready for the United States, and we’d recommend FCA fit the 177-hp 1.3-liter inline-four from the likes of the Fiat 500X in our proposed Dodge Tipo Cross, or its ubiquitous 2.4-liter four-cylinder. While we’re making recommendations, how about a cooler name, too? Why not dust off something such as the old Raider nameplate for this—theoretical—Dodge-badged Crosstrek competitor?
Fiat plans to kick off sales of the updated Tipo across the pond before the end of the year. When, or if, the Tipo Cross dons a Dodge badge depends on a number of internal factors we’re not privy, too. Still, an American-spec Tipo Cross would bring Dodge some much-needed new metal in a highly competitive segment.
