In recent years, Fiat started resurrecting model names from the past. They started with the Fiat 124 Spider, which shares the underpinnings of the Mazda MX-5. More recently, the company brought back the Tipo name, as a more affordable alternative to the likes of Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Golf that comes in three body types – hatchback, sedan, and station wagon. For 2023, the Italian model is station wagon is getting a more rugged, high-riding version called the Tipo Cross Station Wagon.

It seems high-riding station wagons are slowly rising back to popularity. We have the Cross Country versions of Volvo V40, V60, and V90, as well as Mercedes C and E-Class All-Terrain, and Audi’s Allroad models. The Tipo Cross Station Wagon will, of course, not compete with most of them. Rather, it will be a more affordable alternative to the likes of the Volkswagen Golf 8 Alltrack.

The 2023 Fiat Tipo Cross Station Wagon follows in the footsteps of its hatchback counterpart, which got its own Cross version, with the model’s facelift, in 2020. Thanks to the new suspension, the Tipo Cross Hatchback is 2.4 inches (approx. 61 mm) taller than the regular Tipo. We expect the same to be true for the Tipo Cross Station Wagon when it comes out, on sale.

The prototype is still heavily camouflaged so we can’t make out any of the new design elements that the model will feature. However, given that the Tipo Cross Hatchback is already on sale, we expect to see the same plastic protectors around the wheel arches, which would extend to the rocker panels and front and rear bumpers.

The front, rear, and side aprons are also expected to feature contrasting silver trim, like the ones, seen on the Tipo Cross Hatchback. Of course, all this will be confirmed once the camouflage is dropped, but overall, we don’t expect there to be too many surprises.

While the Tipo never boasted an upscale interior, it provides adequate space and decent standard equipment. Cross versions get a new, unique texture for the cloth seats, but that’s about the only thing that sets the interior apart from non-Cross versions.

In terms of powertrain, the Tipo’s rather unenthusiastic inline-four petrol and turbodiesel engines are expected to carry over from the rest of the lineup. The facelift does away with all normally-aspirated petrol engines, leaving only a 1.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 100 horsepower and 140 pound-feet (190 Nm). The other two are 1.3 and 1.6-liter MultiJet turbodiesel engines that make from 95 to 130 horsepower and 147 to 236 pound-feet (200 to 320 Nm).

While pre-facelift models had the option of an automatic, Fiat has decided to keep the Tipo a budget alternative. The only available gearbox is a five-speed manual, although the Cross Station Wagon could change that.

One thing we don’t expect is to see all-wheel drive, as we are yet to see a version of the Fiat Tipo that sends power to both axles.

While the Fiat Tipo Cross Station Wagon could bring a few pleasant surprises, what we said above is most probably what we are going to get. The first-generation Fiat Tipo (1987-1995) may have been a revolutionary car for its time, but Fiat’s strategy for its successor is to keep it as affordable as possible, while still providing a complete product. As the car gets near production, more details will come up, which we will be sure to share with you.