Fiat Punto

What better way than with a facelift of the top-selling Punto supermini? Last year, Fiat shifted nearly 500,000 across Europe, but only 10 per cent of those made it to the UK. Has the new-look line-up, with its raft of revised engines and temptingly low prices, got what it takes to woo more? We brought together the three key variants to find out.
But before we get behind the wheel, it's worth mentioning the main styling changes. Strangely, the facelifted Punto looks familiar. That's because many of the sharp lines have been buffed into softer shapes reminiscent of the old Punto. It's not ugly, but a backward step.

Move inside and the revisions are more successful. The dashboard has a rounded shape and attractive dials. Unfortunately, the plastics are not up to the standards of class leaders, while inconsistent panel gaps and flimsy trim don't bode well for the Punto's build quality.

But there's plenty of space front and rear, with better head and legroom than many rivals. The sizeable boot should easily swallow the weekly shopping, and a folding rear bench adds versatility.

A total of seven engines are available, from 1.2 to 1.8-litre petrol and 1.3 to 1.9-litre diesel units. Highlights include two new oil-burners - a 70bhp 1.3-litre and a 100bhp 1.9-litre - plus a fresh 95bhp 1.4-litre petrol powerplant. First, we got behind the wheel of an entry-level five-door 1.2-litre petrol machine.

Priced ΂£7,535, it's not the cheapest in class, but it's one of the most economical. Producing 60bhp from its four-cylinder eight-valve unit, this car can do 96mph and 0-62mph in 14.3 seconds. Combined fuel economy of 49.6mpg is sure to impress when it comes to running costs, as will the car's refinement.

However, it's not all good news. Our Active-spec model offered an extremely basic cabin. ABS was not fitted, and we felt the steering lacked precision.

If a hot hatch is more your cup of tea, the new ΂£10,895 1.4-litre Sporting will be of more interest. With a bold bodykit and revised cabin trim (including a new steering wheel and white-backed instruments), this model offers 95bhp and 128Nm of torque. Stiffer suspension ensures decent cornering, although the Sporting isn't as sharp as rivals such as the 1.6-litre Peugeot 206 XSi. Still, it's fast, with 0-62mph in 9.6 seconds, helped in part by the 960kg weight.

But the most significant new Punto is the hi-tech 1.3-litre direct-injection diesel, badged Multijet and priced from ΂£8,595. At idle, its new engine is quiet and refined, and it stays that way on the move until revs climb past 4,000rpm.

Performance is also impressive, with 0-62mph in 13.4 seconds. But drivers have to work the spongy gearbox hard to stay in the car's narrow powerband. Economy of 62.8mpg makes this Punto one of the most frugal small hatches on sale, while emissions of 119g/km are good news for the environment.