FIAT PALIOTiming chain or Belt?

The Fiat Palio is a B-segment utility car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat. It is a 3- and 5-door hatchback that also had station wagon (Palio Weekend), sedan (Siena), and pick-up (Strada) versions. It was produced between 1996 and 2018 across 2 generations. It was the successor to the Fiat Uno and the predecessor to the Fiat Argo.

The first generation of the Palio was introduced in 1996 and was produced until 2001. It featured Fiasa and Fire gasoline engines ranging from 1.0 to 1.6 liters, and 1.7 and 1.9-liter diesel engines. In 2001, it received a redesign by Giorgetto Giugiaro.

The original Palio was launched in 1996 in Brazil and later expanded to other Latin American markets and some European countries. It featured a reinforced chassis and improved suspensions compared to the Fiat Uno. In 1997, the Weekend station wagon version arrived, followed by the Siena and Strada derivatives. The 2001 redesign updated the front end, rear end, and interior.

The second generation arrived in 2004, once again designed by Giugiaro. It incorporated new Fire 1.0 and 1.2-liter engines and Multijet diesel options. The 2004 redesign kept the original platform but renewed the styling with distinct headlights and bumpers. It stood out for including dual front and side airbags as standard in Brazil. The Palio 1.8R featured a 1.8-liter engine with 115 hp.

From then on, the Palio continued to be manufactured on the same base, with various restylings to extend its lifespan. In 2007, the model evolved with primarily aesthetic changes. The mechanics were retained, and the Dualogic automated manual transmission was added. The Adventure version featured an elevated suspension for mixed-use driving.

The final version of the Palio was launched in 2011. The engines were the already classic 1.0 and 1.4-liter Fire gasoline engines and the 1.6-liter E-TorQ. Production ceased in 2017 to make way for new, much more modern models. Nevertheless, this latest Palio featured a completely revamped design inspired by the Fiat Grande Punto. Also in this generation, an experimental electric version was added.

The main alternatives to the Fiat Palio in its markets were the Volkswagen Gol, the Ford Fiesta, the Renault Clio, and the Chevrolet Corsa / Opel Corsa.