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Fiat Punto Evo Car Review
Car Review
Fiat Punto Evo
The Fiat Punto Evo is an appealing supermini with great engines and lots of kit. It is neat and stylish and more refined than the Grande Punto model it replaces.
Fiat Punto Evo Car Review Summary
The clue to Fiat’s thinking behind the Punto Evo is in the name. The ‘Evo’ bit is not some reference to the Punto’s hot hatch capabilities - but rather the evolution the Italian motor manufacturer has put the Grande Punto through to produce this cosmetically and technically enhanced car.
There are a number of modifications included to help the Punto Evo compete in what is a fiercely competitive marketplace.
The most radical alterations come under the bonnet where revolutionary new engines - known as MultiAir petrols and MultiJet diesels - have been introduced.
They are not only extremely efficient but also produce more power than their capacity suggests. The high-end 1.4-litre turbo petrol produces an impressive 133bhp yet still manages an average fuel consumption figure of close to 60mpg.
The biggest seller though is likely to be the 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel as this model can return a brilliant 67.3mpg thanks to a revolutionary new common rail injection process, with eight individual cycles.
Don’t expect eye-watering acceleration though as the 0-60mph times are nothing to shout about.
Practicality
The Fiat Punto Evo is a supermini, but its small dimensions do not rule it out as an viable option for a family.
Look in the back and there is plenty of room for passengers to sit comfortably - even for long journeys.
The boot is also a decent size capable of handling a weekly supermarket shopping trip, and the rear seats split and fold in all but the entry-level version of the Punto Evo when more space is needed.
Life behind the wheel is made easier with a height-adjustable driver’s seat and two-way steering column adjustment included as standard. There’s a decent view out, even in the more enclosed three-door versions, while the layout of the controls and switchgear is user friendly.
A radical redesign has halved the size of the centre consol. A classy piano black panel surrounds the sound system’s display and includes buttons for functions such as the central locking set into it.
The car handles well - safely and without fuss - while the steering is reasonably precise. In essence there are two suspension set-ups for the Punto Evo – standard tune for Active, Dynamic and Eleganza versions and a firmer setting with GP and Sporting models.
The standard set-up works best on what passes for roads these days in Britain but the Punto falls short of the drive offered by the top superminis.
Fiat had a patchy record for reliability but recently this has improved a lot.
The Punto Evo comes with a five-year warranty and with reasonable price-tags attached to models it represents good value for money.
Fiat Punto Evo Car Review
Life Style
The Fiat Punto Evo is a stylish supermini that benefits from changes to the front end - including LED running lights and a new honeycomb front grille - that ensures it presents a pleasant face to the world. There are several neat touches to the exterior such as the boot release catch being neatly integrated with the Fiat badge.
Life in the cabin is quiet and refined. This is due to the engines being smooth and hushed, plus extra sound proofing measures which dramatically reduce wind noise and tyre roar.
Fiat has worked hard to smarten up the Punto’s interior with the transformation to Evo and it stands comparison with virtually everything the supermini sector has to offer.
The cabin has been refitted with plusher textiles and better quality plastics that are a considerable improvement on that offered in the Grande Punto.
The seats in the Punto Evo are reasonably comfortable although they are perhaps just a little firm.
As far as the environment is concerned the Punto Evo’s new engines are great for not burning a lot of fuel while carbon dioxide emissions are reasonable.
Fiat Punto Evo Car Review
Security and Safety
The Fiat Punto Evo deters the criminal element with an immobiliser and alarm, but deadlocks are not fitted.
Fiat has a good record on safety and the features on the Punto Evo reaffirm this commitment to provide protection for all the family.
Seven airbags are fitted - including one to protect the driver’s knees - and stability control is included on more expensive models.
Daytime running lights are also fitted. These are not designed to light the road, rather to make the car more visible. They use special bulbs with lower power than those in dipped beam headlights and are switched on automatically.
The Finishing Touches
The Fiat Punto Evo gets a lot of equipment as standard with all versions of the car getting some form of air conditioning.
Fiat’s Blue & Me infotainment system allows MP3 playback from a USB stick or iPod. GP and Sporting models have alloy wheels and front foglights, while the Sporting model gets aditional bodykit plus sports seats and stability control. An integrated TomTom system is also offered as an optional extra.
