The Fiat Punto Evo. Sleek bumpers and stylish headlights have given it a sportier look at the front.
ROADTEST FACTFILE
Car...Fiat Punto Evo
Model...1.416v MultiAir GP
mpg (comb cycle)...49.6mpg
CO2 emissions...134g/km
Price...£13,495
Loaned by Harwoods Fiat, Wootton
A MAKEOVER for one of Fiat’s favourite models has made it well worth taking a punt on.
Launched last month, the new Fiat Punto Evo has evolved from the Grande Punto, designed to represent today’s evolution in the compact car market — hence its name.
Fiat prides itself on the success of the Punto, having sold more than seven million of them since it was introduced 16 years ago, and the Italian manufacturers claim the latest model will have the bragging rights over its rivals.
But I have to admit Puntos of the past have never caught my eye, so I was a little sceptical on my way to collect one for the weekend, from Harwood’s Fiat, Wootton.
However, I can honestly say I didn’t want to take it back on the Monday morning because the Punto Evo was a little beauty.
It comes in 22 different versions, including the 1.4 16v MultiAir GP I drove — complete with all the usual refinements expected from a good car, plus a host of extras.
Sleek bumpers and stylish headlights have given it a sportier look at the front, which is complemented throughout the vehicle, both in its style and performance.
Fiat has gone to town with the Punto’s lights, both inside and outside the vehicle, as the front exterior boasts new cornering fog lights that come on at night to light up sharp bends.
The rear lights are stylishly L-shaped, and back bumper lights come with colour co-ordinated painted inserts.
The inside is much the same, with a discreet glow feature in certain areas of the car, like under the glove box and on the door releases, giving the interior a calm feel, particularly at night, which, might I add, is when the lovely dashboard is at its best.
While I’m on the subject, the dash has a new central console and has the facility to accommodate a Tom Tom satellite navigation system, which connects to a mobile phone via Bluetooth, although the equipment itself is an extra £275.
The Evo is also impressive economically.
Both petrol and diesel versions come with Fiat’s MultiAir electro-hydraulic device, which causes the engine’s intake valves to open twice instead of once.
In simple terms, it means it saves ten per cent of energy, as well as enhancing a number of the vehicles performance statistics, including increasing power by up to ten per cent, fuel economy by ten per cent and reducing CO2 emissions by ten per cent.
The optional extras are available to further enhance the Evo, and I have to admit I did take a peek at Fiat’s website, to personalise one of my own.
Sadly, my editor won’t give me a pay rise just yet but in fairness to Fiat, the Punto Evo is very reasonably priced, starting at £10,995.
I am in no doubt motorists looking at the current market of superminis, even those who haven’t traditionally liked Fiats, will be impressed by the Punto. You know what to do.