It is the four-door sedan version of the Fiat Palio, a supermini car especially designed for developing countries.

Later, in 2002, a similar car based on the same platform was developed for the European market, the Fiat Albea.

It replaced the Siena in these European markets, such as Poland and Turkey, where the original model was previously sold.

The original Siena was launched in Argentina in late 1996 and in Brazil in August 1997, as the four-door sedan of the Fiat Palio, whose code name was Type 178.

The Siena was created due to the important sales benchmarks of hatchback models in developing countries.

In Turkey and China, the redesign Siena was introduced with a "Speedgear" Continuously variable transmission.

Fiat had considered changing the name to Palio Sedan, due to the lack of interest on the previous Siena, and the solid sales of its biggest competitor, the Chevrolet Prisma.

These accessories, however, are very expensive for the Brazilian and most other South American markets, so they are generally not found in end-use vehicles.

In Mexico is sold as Palio Sedan, first with the 1.6 16v Torque engine and later with the 1.8 GM Powertrain with 110 PS (81 kW).

The rear lights are sharp and integrated with the trunk and appeared to be inspired by models of Alfa Romeo, like the 156 and 159.

The new Siena is in production at Betim (Brazil) and Córdoba (Argentina), with 1.0 8v, 1.4 8v, 1.4 8v TetraFuel, and 1.8 8v engines, flexible for the Brazilian market (capable of using gasoline and ethanol).

In the past it was also produced in Turkey (Bursa), Poland (Tychy) (1997–2001), India (Pune) (1999–2004), South Africa (Rosslyn), China (Nanjing), Iran (Saveh), Morocco (Casablanca) and Vietnam.

The Dodge Forza received a 1.4-liter, CNG-powered FIRE four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission.

Russia was meant to be the first country outside China to receive the Perla, but with the 1.4 L Fire 8v engine with 77 PS (57 kW) and the Speedgear transmission.

[46] Production ran from 2011 to 2014.The Fiat Albea, a European version of the Siena, was tested in Russia according to the Euro NCAP latest standard, an offset frontal crash at 64 km/h (40 mph).

[53] The 2017 model received small changes, such as a redesigned grille, new interior colors and the relocation of the USB connector to the center console in the versions with manual transmission.