Innovation drives the automotive world in a way that few realize. Inside of the vehicle it's lauded, lionized, and celebrated. Honda with its integrated vacuum in the Odyssey, Oldsmobile released the first Heads Up Display in 1988, and Hyundai and its excellent blind-spot video displays are just a few examples of this. Every manufacturer seems to be in an arms race to put as many innovative features inside of their offerings as they possibly can but that drive ends as soon as you step out of the vehicle.

Automakers that push the limits of exterior design are often derided, bemoaned, and chastised for their "poor taste". Cars like the Bangle-designed BMW 7-Series, the Pontiac Aztec, and the Porsche Panamera all come to mind. Supercars aren't even immune. Just look at how much hate the McLaren Senna has received since its introduction. Still, those who dared to push the limits have provided some of the most intriguing cars ever produced, and not least of them is the amazing Fiat Multipla.

Named both the "Car of the Year" and the "Ugliest Car" by TopGear in 2000, this odd automobile is incredibly appealing to the practical yet judicious automotive addict. That's because it can haul lots of people, lots of things, and still get all the attention at Cars and Coffee. The Multipla is just our first of four reviews highlighting special cars borrowed from the amazing Lane Motor Museum that have just become legal here in the USA for the first time.

Related: Barely Legal: 3 Iconic Affordable Cars That Were Contraband Until Now Plus 1 Coming Soon

Judging The Multipla By Its Cover

Fiat Multipla Front for RiversCars.Com Via @GingerlyCaptured
Via @GingerlyCaptured

There's no denying that on the face of it (see what we did there?), the Multipla is akin to the Phantom of the Opera without his mask on. There are no less than 8 different lights on the front of this vehicle and you can separately control all of them from inside the cabin. The main lights where the bumper cover meets the hood and fender are the high-beams. The indicators are clearly the amber side markers and the fog lights are there in the bumper itself. The shocking point of course is the location of the high beams. Why they're so high Fiat never really told us but the Beluga-like front end simply didn't swim with buyers.

The side of the Fiat Multipla for RiversCars.com Via @GingerlyCaptured
Via @GingerlyCaptured

Truthfully though, Fiat went for it with the design of the Multipla. They stopped worrying about the somewhat arbitrary unwritten rules we often can't even put into clear language and they built a people carrier that would turn heads for better or worse. That's to be commended because no matter what any one person might think of it we're still talking about it 25 years later. It's also great because, in terms of practicality and personality, the Multipla really earned its TopGear car of the year award.

Related: Exclusive: Chief Engineer At McLaren Tells Us About Its New Revolutionary Artura Supercar

The Multipla Is A Better Driver Than You Realize

Fiat Multipla Steering Wheel for RiversCars.Com Via @GingerlyCaptured
Via @GingerlyCaptured

Fiat was pretty clear when they built the Multipla; it was meant to behave like a car from behind the steering wheel. In fact, its curb weight is under 3,300 lbs. That's roughly equal to the 2021 Chevrolet Trax, and the Multipla is a far more interesting and useful car. Steering is incredibly accurate and communicative. The shift knob is located incredibly close to the wheel, so much so that it reminds us of the same setup in the Porsche Carrara GT (Perhaps the only time these two cars will be mentioned in the same sentence). The clutch (all Multiplas are manuals) is smooth and easy to modulate. The brakes are ample and responsive even on rough roads. While the Multipla does suffer from some body roll it's certainly not any worse than similar cars from its era and compared to most it's markedly better.

Via AutoCar.UK

The controls are all placed beside the wheel to provide maximum visibility and they're angled in such a way that might remind owners of the driver-centric center console of the MKIV Toyota Supra. While it wouldn't be a benefit in a side-impact accident, the door card is incredibly thin which is a big bonus for drivers who aren't familiar with right-hand drive. It makes placing the Multipla accurately on the road much easier since you can clearly see where you're at.

It's not all perfect though. For example, one compromise that's required of a vehicle with three-abreast seating in the front is that the emergency brake has to be relocated. In the Multipla it's placed on the outside of the driver seat(seen in the photo below). That's fine but the problem is that once you're parked, it can't be lowered like in most cars where it sits in such a position. That makes ingress and egress, ahem, a bit awkward to say the least. Ultimately though, Fiat knew that this vehicle would be driven by people who needed to carry people and things and that where it shines the brightest.

The Multipla Mutates Based On Your Needs

The Side of the Fiat Multipla for RiversCars.com Via @GingerlyCaptured
The Side of the Fiat Multipla for RiversCars.com Via @GingerlyCaptured

Notice that the Multipla allows for a "walk-through" experience in both the front and rear rows. That flexibility allows owners to seat 6 people comfortably within the small footprint of the vehicle. We mean that too. Unlike most vehicles with three-abreast seating, this one is actually wide enough that all three passengers can ride in comfort. The middle seat is actually set back just a bit of the other two adding a bit of offset space for all three passengers. The rear row does that too but it goes even further to accommodate people and things.

crewphoto for RiversCars.com Via GingerlyCaptured.
Via @GingerlyCaptured

Of course, should someone want a more conventional layout, all 5 passenger seats can be folded flat with both middle chairs featuring a table/cup-holder design on their back for maximum utility. The Multipla might not have hit a home run with its exterior design but it hit a grand slam when it comes to interior flexibility.

Via @GingerlyCaptured

Let's say that you want to carry more cargo in the trunk of the Multipla and your second-row passengers are of the juvenile type. Those seats can all be moved forward to allow for more rear trunk space. They can also be removed altogether. In fact, the middle seat in the front can also be removed entirely and the space can be fitted with a factory option 18-liter refrigerator. Both rows have a power sunroof to let natural light into the cabin or to open for fresh air.

Multipla Puts The M In MPV

The Exterior of the Fiat Multipla Via @GingerlyCaptured
Via @GingerlyCaptured

When we think of multi-purpose vehicles today we imagine ones like the aforementioned Odyssey, the Sienna, or the all-new Kia Carnival. What we forget is that the original idea was that you could do more than just carry people. The Multipla capitalizes on that idea. Want an economical sedan? Pull out the middle seats and enjoy driving a vehicle with a super low-set engine, an engaging transmission, and decent handling. Want to start a small business and carry all of your supplies and maybe an employee? get rid of almost all the seats and store your tools inside. Need to carry the entire family and your weekend luggage? The Multipla can do that too.

Really, the Multipla can do far more than it's given credit for, and it can do it all while turning heads everywhere it goes. Line this up with a bunch of other odd-looking vehicles of the same ilk and it would always get the most attention and interest. If you're in the market for an odd but highly competent vehicle like this, the Multipla is a no-brainer.