The Cage on BBC One: Viewers 'obsessed' with Leanne's car, but what model is it and why was it discontinued?
Love it or loathe it?
The Cage on BBC One stars TV favourite Sheridan Smith as casino cashier Leanne and, as usual, she’s brilliant – but her quirky car has been attracting a fair bit of attention too.
Before stealing the spotlight on the crime drama, the model was already famous for being the “world’s ugliest car”. But some viewers have fond memories of the vehicle, which was discontinued more than a decade ago.
Trust Sheridan to make it cool again! So what is the car that Leanne drives in The Cage on BBC One, and why was it called “one of Europe’s biggest automotive mistakes”?
Here’s everything you need to know about the cute four-wheeler.
What car does Leanne drive in The Cage on BBC One?
In BBC One crime caper The Cage, Sheridan Smith’s character Leanne drives a very distinctive golden yellow car.
It’s actually a Fiat Multipla, a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) known for its unconventional “two-tier” design and high-set headlights.
It features a unique six-seat layout with two rows of three seats. It was also popular at the time because of its large trunk space.
The Fiat Multipla, produced by Italian company Fiat, first hit the roads in 1998. It was based on the Bravo/Brava, but was shorter and wider than its rivals.
Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your television news
When and why was the Fiat Multipla discontinued?
The Fiat Multipla was officially discontinued in 2010. After moderate success after its launch in 1998, interest waned. And, by 2005, the Multipla only sold 1,609 units, quite the come down from the 79,000 in 1999.
In short, it was likely a lack of sales which led to the car being discontinued. And the sales slump was most likely due to its unusual appearance. SlashGear subsequently called it one of Europe’s biggest automotive mistakes.
Thirty years on, the Fiat Multipla is still considered one of the most controversial cars ever made. Mocked for its looks, few cars have divided opinion quite like it. It was the car version of Marmite.
Despite criticisms about its appearance, the car won the Top Gear Car of the Year in 2000, and it was also voted Top Gear Magazine’s Family Car of the Year for four years in a row, from 2001 to 2004. In July 2000, in the series finale of Clarkson’s Car Years, it was awarded “Family Car of the Moment”.
The Fiat Multipla is ‘one of the ugliest and weirdest cars ever made’
In 2025, Slashgear.com said: “The Fiat Multipla is often considered one of the ugliest and weirdest cars ever made due to its bulbous behind, beluga-like blubbery forehead, and extra set of headlights.
“The wonky shape has often overshadowed how practical the car is and may even be the reason the Multipla is almost completely extinct.”
The car website also called the car “visually insulting”, but insisted it could be “worth the investment” for anyone looking for a spacious car with plenty of leg room.It said: “There’s a reason this monstrosity won Best Family Car three years in a row. It was also once owned — and crashed — by popular reality show star [Jersey Shore star, Snooki].”
In fact, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond famously crashed a modified Fiat Multipla, known as the Rover James, in Top Gear series 19. The unappealing appearance of the Fiat Multipla stopped it from being sold in the US.
Despite Slashgear.com’s rather damning review, Top Gear were fans of the Fiat Multipla and described it as a “guilty pleasure”. They said on TopGear.com: “Ignore the critics. The Multipla should be lauded for prioritising substance over style. The Fiat Multipla has a face that only a mother could love. These days, they can be found for as little as £500 on your favourite auction sites.”
Viewers ‘obsessed’ with Leanne’s car in The Cage on BBC One
After the trailer of The Cage dropped, some fans were thrilled to see the Fiat Multipla appear on screen.
One said: “Obsessed with the Fiat Multipla.”
Another reminisced: “My parents had a Fiat Multipla, so I could sit in the front away from my feral brothers. Loved that car until I vomited into the air vents and we could never put the air on again. Sad times, loved that car.”
A third said: “My dream one day… Is to design something as iconically ugly as… The Fiat Multipla.”
Read more: DI Thomas Lynley’s vintage car is ‘star of the show’, but what model is it?
