Fiat's punt on Evo

Jan 25 2010 John Connor

FIAT has an established reputation for producing great small cars, and the Punto is one of them.

It all kicked off in 1972 with the diminutive 127, followed by the even smaller Uno, both winners of the Car of the Year title in their day.

Then came the best of the bunch, the Punto which also won the title in 1995, before going on to sell to more than seven million people.

Evolution being what it is sees the story move on further with the introduction of the Punto Evo.

Continuing in the same vein as its illustrious relatives by offering a competitive packet in a small package, the 2010 line-up is first and foremost prettier.

Secondly it is light years ahead of it predecessors in technology, safety, and cabin comfort.

From its wide alloys upwards, this pocket rocket is very well put together, boasting class leading features like Blue& Me interface system, which allows drivers intuitive control of all major functions.

The cutting edge Blue& Me TomTom navigation system is fitted as standard on all models but entry level Active.

The launch of the Punto Evo is doubly important as it marks the debut of Fiat's new eco-friendly MultiAir petrol and MultiJet diesel engines.

I drove both and whilst I was delighted by the firm suspension and the sporty nature of the 127mph, three door 1.4 petrol model - capable of returning 61.4mpg at best - I was more enthralled by the 1.3 MultiJet 95, five door diesel.

This had a softer suspension set-up and a lower top speed of 111mph but its frugal use of fuel made it my favourite.

With a CO2 rating of 110g/km it returns 53.3mpg around town and can stretch to 80.7mpg according to Fiat.

It is a car equally at home in the city, on the motorway or in country lanes thanks to legendary Italian expertise when it comes to perfecting handling characteristics.

Priced from £14,095 it also has another bonus being less expensive than the sporty petrol which costs £15,295 but its main attraction is undoubtedly its running costs.

Both models, as indeed all the variations in the line-up, are well specified. The cabins across the range feature a modern instrument cluster with larger dials and new cowl that shades from the sun.

They are fitted with thermo-expandable roof panelling to cut road noise. A gear shift indicator that advises drivers when to change gear, is also available, as is ergonomically designed seats that are comfortable over long journeys, and the use of new materials on seats and door panels that make the range feel contemporary.

Other high tech ideas include a host of safety and security feature plus LED rain sensors, parking sensors, ESP with hill holding facility, ABS, electronic braking, brakeforce distribution, and a lane change warning system given via the fog light which blinks to alert other traffic of your intentions to move over.

Also worthy of mention is the start/stop system - which is an ideal fuel saver in town traffic - and adaptive lighting for cornering.

Fiat has not made any sacrifices over safety or style, and whilst this may be a small vehicle in the grand scheme of things it is just as well equipped as any executive car.

Evo follows on where Grande Punto left off and with more than 20 different models on offer there is plenty of choice.

Pricing will also please prospective buyers, although beware of extra costs when ordering optional add-ons.

The entry level kicks in at £10,995 and the flagship version carries a price tag of £15,295.