A decade after the Fiat Palio Fire led as the best-selling car, check out the current situation in the Brazilian automobile market. Fiat's popular model had a starting price of just R$24.
Today the Renault Kwid Zen holds the title of most affordable car on the Brazilian market, with a price of R$71.640. However, the scenario was considerably different ten years ago. At that time, the Fiat Palio Fire (two-door version) led as the most affordable popular car, with a value of R$ 24.190. The difference of R$48.450 in price can be attributed to several factors, including inflation. However, in this analysis, we will focus on the features and offers of the popular car, as well as other relevant information.
What equipment did the Fiat Palio Fire offer for R$24?
On January 1, 2014, the Resolutions 311 and 312 of the National Traffic Council (Contran), which requires by law that two safety items be mandatory for any car that leaves the production line: dual front airbags and ABS braking system, which prevents wheel locking during sudden braking. And the Palio Fire was the cheapest popular car in Brazil at the time to leave the factory with this standard equipment. On the other hand, the hatch was extremely simple and everything attractive was offered as an option.
To add power steering to the vehicle, it was necessary to invest R$1.111. For an additional R$3.101, the consumer could purchase the Celebration 2 Kit, which included air conditioning, locks and front electric windows.
The option of a radio with USB input was also available for an additional cost of R$182. With these options, the final price of the popular car rose to R$28.584. The four-door version of the Fiat Palio Fire had a sales price of R$26.190 in that period.
Performance of the cheapest popular car in Brazil
The Fiat Palio Fire has 1.0 flex engine with 75 horsepower and 9,9 kgfm, coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. Consumption, according to Fiat, was 8,8 km per liter in the city and 10,3 km/l on the highway, when fueled with ethanol, and 12,3 km/l and 15 km/l, respectively, when fueled with gasoline .
Regarding size, the popular car is 3,82 m long, 1,63 m wide, 2,37 m wheelbase, 1,43 m high and 280 liters of trunk capacity. According to the Fipe table, the list price of the car on the used market is R$25.500.
Even after 10 years, many people still opt for the Fiat Palio Fire. In the used market, Volkswagen is in the lead, with the best-selling car for 27 years being the famous Gol, which is still preferred by used car buyers. In February alone, 55.745 units were sold. Just behind in sales we have the Fiat Uno, with 31.584 and the Fiat Palio, with 30.335 units sold.
Difference of a decade in the automotive market
Currently, 10 years after the reign of the Fiat Palio Fire, the Renault Kwid and Fiat mobi compete for the cheapest car in the country month after month. Currently, the Renault Kwid model holds the position for just R$350. While the Zen version of the popular car costs R$72.640, Fiat charges R$72.990 for the entry-level version of the compact, called Like.
After a decade, there is an abyss when comparing the list of standard equipment of the cheapest car in Brazil. Among the main items, the Kwid Zen offers side airbags, start-stop, air conditioning, electric windows, electric steering, radio with Bluetooth connection, traction and stability controls, electric locks and tire pressure monitoring.
