If the brand name Fiat only conjures up images of small cars like the Punto, Panda and 500, it is time to think again.
The red and silver badge now adorns a fearsome 4x4 called the Fullback.
Like its namesake rugby position, Fiat says the pick-up is versatile, tough and reliable. It might also look a little familiar.

Because Fiat has taken a neat shortcut to entering the posh pick-up market as theFullback is an exact copy of the tried and tested Mitsubishi L200.
There is also no low-specification model on offer, as its main aim is to answer the demand from managers running Fiat-badged fleets who have company car drivers asking for a tax-efficient pick-up option.
Largely due to the UK tax system, there has been a steady stream of new pick-ups piling in to British showrooms and they are far from stripped-down workhorses.
Because company car drivers can save thousands of pounds in tax by swapping a large saloon for a lavishly equipped double cab pick-up, four out of five pick-ups sold here are high-specification versions.
Lining up alongside the recently revamped Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi
L200, new Nissan Navara, updated Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok, Fiat has pitched the 2.4-litre turbodiesel Fullback in with a pretty fancy set of equipment.
The 148 horsepower entry-level model comes with everything from DAB radio, cruise control and air conditioning, to hillhold assist and LED daytime running lights.
Move up to the 178 horsepower LX model driven here and there is the choice of a six-speed manual, or five-speed automatic gearbox. You also get luxuries like electrically-adjusted and heated leather front seats, privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, bi-xenon headlamps, a six-inch
touchscreen with satellite navigation, lane departure warning, reversing camera and softer “touring” suspension.
The cabin is roomy and there is plenty of adjustment available.
The Fullback has nicely weighted
steering, and keeps well composed when cornering. Manoeuvring around town is surprisingly easy for such an impressive vehicle, thanks to a tight turning circle.
The LX version comes with a 4x4 system originally developed for the Mitsubishi Shogun, which means you have the option of two- or four-wheel-drive on tarmac, and the option to lock the centre differential to
improve traction if conditions are difficult.
It looks good too thanks to sports SUV styling and swage lines along the flanks, tying the front of the pick-up to the rear.

LX versions have a satin silver trim around the sump protector, as well as chrome-finished door mirrors, door handles and side steps and swish 17-inch alloy wheels.
In the UK more than 40,000 pickups were registered in 2015 – a jump of 20 per cent compared to 2014 – so it is clear that there is a growing audience, both internationally and in the UK, who see a practical and pretty pick-up truck as an ideal solution.

AUTO FACTS
Model: Fiat Fullback 2.4 180 LX
Price: £28,653
Fuel consumption (Combined): 44.2mpg
Top speed: 111mph
Length: 528.5cm/208in
Width: 178.5cm/70.3in
Towing (unbraked): 3,100kg
Payload: 1045kg
Load length: 152cm
Load width: 147cm
Fuel tank capacity: 16.5 gallons/75 litres
CO2 emissions: 169g/km
Warranty: Three years/120,000 miles