The Italian carmaker needed a car to replace the older 127, which was in production since 1971, and it offered more than customers expected.
It is not wrong to say that the Uno was a great little car for the Italian carmaker. It was produced for more than three decades in several countries. While the first model rolled off from the assembly line in 1983, the last came out in 2014 in Brazil.

Giorgetto Giugiaro designed the initial model. It was easy to recognize the cubist style of the Italian design studio. Its squared headlights resembled those installed on the Fiat models. Its hatchback style was simple, with only a touch of personality due to its third side window, mounted behind the rear doors on the 5-door version. The slightly raked tailgate was ended into a vertical panel.

Inside, the Giugiaro continued the cubist style. The designer tried to clear the dashboard and concentrated too many items on the instrument cluster, including a few buttons. A lower mounted audio system featured more buttons than a regular infotainment unit, which worsened things. At least, for driving, it was a good small vehicle. Its flat sides made possible a wider shoulder room. The rear seats could have been folded to expand the trunk.

Under the hood, the 1983 Fiat Uno featured a wide choice of engines, diesel, and gasoline. While the base versions were paired to a 4-speed manual, all the other options were mated to a 5-speed manual.