Fiat Punto EVO Sporting 2010 Pictures 
Premiership Hopes
What’s the deal with the new Fiat Punto EVO? Isn’t the Grande Punto already good enough? One thing’s for sure, with Twenty Two million invested in it, it really does need to be in the same league as the Fiesta and Polo.
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First let’s address where that money has gone. Style is of course one key area and it’s not so much changing the silhouette as most people agree it is already pleasing to look at, it’s the chrome detailing, Punto EVO badging and drawing attention to things like the deep dual air intake. The interior though is where you really feel a little more treated. Now you may actually be tempted to run your fingers over the gloss finish or offer your passengers to stretch out. We bet you’ll admire the curvature that separates the door cards and runs along the dash or take time to admire the bold dials before you start the engine too. The prominent stitching on the seats and the wheel that invites you to take charge are yet more examples of why our 135bhp 1.4-litre Multiair sporting test model was deserved of the huge sum that was invested in it.
Of course aesthetics can spark our interest but it has to be the driving experience that keeps us interested enough to sign on the dotted line. You’ll be pleased to know that a lot of that investment also went in to the engines and suspension. The engine we experienced, it has to be said was a lot smoother and when driving a little more zealously, the Punto EVO embraced all the looping around and accelerating with authority and never lost its pitching. Despite the grip and balance being fair, the steering unfortunately is still a little on the loose side and this made us wonder whether we really belonged together.
We were brought back on board by the favourable fuel economy (50mpg); this is helped along by the standard Start&Stop system which is similar to many others on the market. When you come to a stop all you have to remember is to operate the gears and dipping the clutch will automatically take care of the ignition. A hillholder function is also standard on the top of the range model as well as Fiat’s Blue&Me TomTom package which as well as sat nav and Bluetooth phone connectivity includes a USB port for MP3 players. You even get an eco:Drive set-up too which downloads data on to a USB stick when driving so that when you get home and connect it to your PC you can see how you can drive more efficiently.
So can Fiat improve on the Grande Punto? The Grande Punto will incidentally still be sold alongside the EVO but for a reduced price and it is already Europe`s fifth best-selling car. Fiat believes that the EVO can trump this though and there is certainly a big enough small car market to test this theory out. The manufacturer is confident that it won`t be an expensive trial because buyers are primed for cars which are as politically correct as they are easy to park and maneuver. Fiat also believes that the new technology and equipment in the EVO model is more reflective of larger models and therefore customers get more value for their money. We have to agree that the Punto EVO is very forward thinking and certainly the sporting spec leaves little to be desired. In fact once you can shrug off the steering (which isn’t that wooly considering), you’ve got yourself a smart, technological, affordable and safe small car. Now our reference to safe has two meanings here because many buyers still see ‘safe;’ buys to be a car that they are familiar with like the Ford Fiesta or VW Polo. However if some venture in to a Fiat showroom they may be surprised at how much of their criteria the Punto EVO can satisfy.
FOR: Smooth engines, favourable ride, smart technology and affordable to run.
AGAINST: It’s a shame that the suspension is much improved but the steering is still trailing.
VERDICT: If it’s all about feel rather than function for you then the Ford Fiesta still has the edge. However if you take in to account all the insight Fiat has about efficient, economical driving side by side fun then it may just fit in to your lifestyle perfectly.
FIAT PUNTO EVO SPORTING SPEC
Engine: 1.4-litre
Maximum Power: 135bhp
Top Speed: 127mph
0-62mph: 8.5
Combined Mpg: 50.4
C02: 129g/km
CAR MAKE & MODEL
Fiat Punto EVO Sporting 2010 Pictures
CAR REF NUMBER
25382
VIEWS: 117
TOTAL VIEWS: 7,310
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