Fiat Punto 2014 Review

Price Guide: $16,000 drive-away
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Premium Paint $500
Crash rating: N/A
Fuel: 91 RON ULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 5.7
CO2 emissions (g/km): 132
Also consider:Holden Barina (from $15,990 plus on-road costs); Nissan Micra (from $12,990 plus ORCs); Mazda Mazda2 (from $15,790 plus ORCs); Volkswagen up! (from $13,990 plus ORCs)

When we think of an Italian car, there’s a romantic notion that unfolds – and with that, rightly or wrongly, certain expectations form. And if we were talking about an Italian supercar, you’d be in good standing. But the Fiat Punto, on the other hand, plays in a field where value for money and a competitive edge takes the form of electric windows and Bluetooth connectivity. Romance aside, it’s game-on in the light-hatch segment.

The Australian launch of the Punto was closely followed by the Fiat Panda, which sees the Italian marque offering a three-vehicle line-up alongside around 25 competitors in the light car segment under $25K.

With a starting price of $16,000 drive-away for the entry-level Pop, this Italian is well positioned to go head-to-head with any number of rivals – Korean, Euro and Japanese.

In terms of mechanics, the Fiat Punto keeps it simple, offering one engine only: a 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol. However, the car itself is available in three trim grades: Pop, Easy and Lounge.

The Punto Pop is available with the choice of a five-speed manual or five-speed Dualogic robotised semi-automatic transmission, the standard offering across the remainder of the line-up.

Delivering a practical 57kW at 6000rpm and 115Nm at 3250rpm, the Punto performs on par with my expectations – which I have to say weren’t terribly high. Weighing in at 1024kg and measuring just over four metres in length, the typical city car shape and weight of the Punto work in its favour.

The five-speed manual transmission fitted to our Pop test vehicle offers short and precise gear changes. However, when you up the revs, as manual-drive enthusiasts often do, it becomes a noisy affair as the Punto calls upon all of its might to respond.

Around town, the manual transmission proved easy, thanks in part to the lightness of the Punto’s clutch. Even the constant gear switching in city traffic was pretty effortless. While the Punto clearly managed the task of high-speed freeway driving, the 1368cc engine is most happy around town and overall dynamics feel much better suited to purely urban motoring demands. The Punto’s leisurely pace is evident from its meander to 100km/h in 13.2 seconds, with a top speed of just 165km/h.

With time spent previously behind the wheel of the Punto Lounge, we encountered Fiat’s five-speed Dualogic robotised semi-automatic transmission. This gives you the option to let the semi-automatic do the work for you, or you can manually select gears with a push/pull sequential shifter. Left to its own devices, the semi-automatic proved a little clunky over the cogs and often slow to react. Using the manual shift allowed a greater use of revs, and proved more responsive and more fun. But if you’re really after that level of engagement at the wheel, my pick would be the traditional clutch-based arrangement in the five-speed manual.

The light and effortless characteristics that underpin city-car steering, detract from the handling of this pint-size hatch -- it turns up a little too light in this instance. There’s very little feedback or connection with the road. Fiat’s Dualdrive electric power steering gives you the option to select ‘city’ mode for an altered feel at the wheel, but it’s a token adjustment at best. That said, there’s no denying the ease of manoeuvring the Punto in tight spaces.

The suspension in the Punto (MacPherson strut/torsion beam) feels like that experienced in so many rivals. Capable of absorbing the rumble of inner-city roads and aging tramlines, but shows up as slightly compromised when it comes to more imposing speeds humps and harsh bumps.

In terms of design execution, the Fiat Pop is entry-level at its best -- or should I say worst. Both inside and out lifeless materials combine with dowdy knobs and dials to deliver a sub-standard decor. Its short list of features breeds a long list of omissions. The good kit is afforded to the Easy and Lounge models only, but with an elevated price to match, with the range-topping Punto Lounge coming in at $21,800 (plus on road costs).

Basic equipment for the Punto Pop includes, 15-inch alloys, halogen headlights, daytime running lights, electric front windows, fabric seats, remote central locking, and a six-speaker audio system with Blue&Me Bluetooth connectivity.

The Punto Lounge gains fog lights, tinted glass, 16-inch alloys, sports body kit, leather seats, climate control, electric windows front and rear, rear parking sensors, leather wrap steering wheel and gear shift, rain sensing wipers, ambient dash lighting and electric driver’s seat with lumbar adjust, USB and auxiliary audio connectivity.

A TomTom plug-in navigation unit is an option for all Punto models, priced at $595.

While there’s obvious leap in equipment levels across the range, it was the overall design that sets our Pop and Lounge test vehicles worlds apart. Inside the Lounge, Fiat completely redeems its style credibility with its premium dash design. There’s joy, emotional buy-in, and a true sense of design flair. The high-gloss plastics and leather seats transform the interior of the Lounge. The difference is astonishing.

It was nice to see that height and reach adjustable steering wheel featured across the range (as is not always the case). This helped in achieving a comfortable driving position. In cabin storage is adequate, with a mix of small storage compartments throughout. The Lounge spec gains a centre armrest with storage, too. Cargo capacity is 275 litres, and grows to 1030 litres with the rear split-fold seats folded flat.

Second-row seating is comfortable and offers adequate space for two passengers, although legroom is a little tight. It’s equipped to take three passengers, with three-point seatbelts all-round, but it’s a tight squeeze.

Contributing to the overall fuel efficiency of the Punto is idle stop-start technology, which is quick to restart with either a lift off the brake or press of the clutch. At the end of our test period, the Punto Pop was showing an average fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km -- not far shy of the claimed figure of 5.7.

Safety is of a good level in the Punto, however, an official crash-test rating is yet to be awarded. The model on test was fitted with front, side and curtain airbags, anti-whiplash front seat head restraints, anti-lock brakes, stability control and hill hold assist.

While the lure of an Italian romance is sure to capture the eye of some buyers, I suspect the sharp starting price of the Punto is where the real attraction lies.

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