Tailored for the South American market, Palio is a mid-sized (by Fiat standards) model, the best claim which is that it’s been styled by Giugiaro.

Despite its modest exterior, the packaging is nice; side airbags, rain and dusk sensors, an onboard computer, along with a CD and MP3 file player are standard features.

The performance is geared more to functionality than excitement, with reliability and sturdiness not to mention the ability to operate on low octane fuels in remote regions, at the top of its listing of attributes. Unexciting to European eyes, the Palio hits the location where it counts, in Latin America.