1990 Fiat Croma CHT 2.0 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A scruffy but practical all rounder

Faults:

Electrics are a bit hit and miss, but spending time cleaning up switches, contacts and checking earthing points usually solves most of the gremlins.

Clutch master and slave cylinders have just had to be replaced, but not that expensive if you choose an independent garage.

Interior door trim is abysmal, it has warped so looks really ugly.

Rear calipers on this model are expensive and prone to failing. Parking with the hand-brake off at home, especially during the winter will extend their life.

General Comments:

This car has enormous boot space, and has the carrying capacity of a small estate with the seats folded down.

Rear passenger space is excellent and is the biggest of most cars I have seen.

Fuel economy is excellent, I regularly get between 35 & 45 miles per gallon.

Galvanised body so rust isn't an issue even for a car of this age. Only the wheel arches where mud gets behind can be a problem.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th May, 2001

27th Jul 2025, 17:54

An interesting review of a car that wasn't very common in its time, but I remember it because a close friend owned it.

From what I remember, the most serious problem it had to deal with quite often was rust. The roof, trunk, and doors would corrode very quickly. This was very common in Fiats of that time, although not too serious.

The engine was very reliable, and it was a fairly fast car, both in gasoline and diesel. It was one of Fiat's best models in the 1980s and early 1990s; it's a shame that few examples were sold.

3rd Aug 2025, 18:51

My father had one exactly like this, a 2 liter petrol engine.

I was very young when we had it, but what I can say is that I had very fond memories of it. The interior was very spacious, with plenty of room for a family of four. In the summer, it was a real pleasure to use (the A/C worked perfectly, practically freezing).

But the most important thing is what my father said: the Croma was one of the best cars he ever owned, along with the Toyota Corolla he currently owns. Very few cars were as powerful with an engine as reliable as the Croma. At least I have the memory of having enjoyed it a lot during my childhood. In its segment, I doubt very much that there has ever been a car superior to this one, at least among non-premium brands.