The latest Fiat Punto shares a badge with sporting legends like the Mitsubishi Lancer and Lancia Delta Integrale. But it’s no hot hatch – instead, increased efficiency is the name of the game for the Evo.
This revised version of the firm’s best-selling supermini goes on sale early next year, starting at around £10,500. It benefits from a fresh range of MultiAir petrol and JTD diesel engines, incorporating stop-start, as well as an upgraded interior. The Evo will be offered alongside the current Grande Punto – which will have its model range and price tag cut back.
Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Fiat Punto
That leaves the newcomer to take on VW’s new Polo and the Ford Fiesta. So, is it good enough to beat two of the best superminis ever? The Punto Evo certainly stands out, with a larger front grille and new badging, as well as redesigned headlights and wraparound bumpers front and rear.
Our car came with Sports trim, which adds 17-inch alloys, side sills, a rear spoiler and an uprated exhaust – all of which provides more presence, without detracting from the Fiat’s pleasing lines.
Inside, there’s been a big leap forward. The dash is completely redesigned, and now features softer materials, the dials are bigger and the seats get fresh upholstery.
Our car was generously equipped, with Fiat’s intuitive Blue&Me TomTom package, which comprises a USB port for MP3 players, plus Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and sat-nav. Also fitted was the clever eco:Drive set-up. This downloads data on your driving to a USB stick, which you feed into a PC. Fiat’s software can then provide tips on improving your efficiency.
Petrol fans have a choice of a 77bhp 1.4 and two new 1.4-litre MultiAir units, with 105bhp or 135bhp. We tried the 105bhp model, and were impressed by the MultiAir technology. This sees the camshafts and valves replaced by an electrohydraulic management set-up, which gives better control over combustion. The result is a boost in power, to the tune of 28bhp, but reduced fuel consumption and emissions.
On the road, it makes the Evo feel much more punchy and smooth than the base Grande Punto 1.4. Plus, it returns 50mpg combined (up from 47.9mpg), and puts out 5g/km less CO2, at 134g/km.
There’s also a pair of Multijet diesels, delivering 75bhp and 90bhp, while all new models get Fiat’s latest Start&Stop system.
This works in the same way as rival set-ups – turning off the engine when you come to a halt and select neutral, and firing it again when you press the clutch – and is smooth in operation.
As with the Grande Punto, the Evo’s steering is very light and doesn’t provide much feel, but the car coped well with the corners on our twisty route, resisting body roll. It delivers a smooth and comfortable ride, too. Plus, a hot Abarth version, with a 1.4-litre MultiAir turbo, will join the range.
Is the Punto Evo good enough to topple the Polo and Fiesta? Not quite. It can’t match the bulletproof feel of the VW or the Ford’s sparkle. But it’s an excellent supermini that looks better than ever, drives well and shouldn’t cost much to run.
Rival: Ford Fiesta
The best model in Ford’s excellent range, the Fiesta scores with a blend of sharp looks and low running costs. What really defines it, though, is the strongest driving experience in the supermini class.
The Grande Punto has always been one of Fiat’s most popular cars – buyers love its style and fuel economy.
The new Evo improves on that winning formula with some well judged visual updates and a range of excellent MultiAir engines, which offers better performance and lower running costs. Plus, the interior designers deserve a lot of credit for the updated cabin, and the raft of goodies on offer, such as the Blue&Me TomTom set-up.
While it’s not up there with the best models in this sector, the new Punto is a talented all-rounder.
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That is one of the worst face-lifted cars I have ever seen. Th front end looks like it was styled by 3 different people in dark rooms (or the love child of the Fiat 500 and the new Clio), and the back reminds me of the Dacia Sandero. The interior looks like it has been designed by a child. Not a good effort Fiat.
Oh dear, oh dear dear dear me... what were Fiat thinking? They have managed to transform a mini maserati into a Nissan note that went wrong in production....
Why , why , why?
It seems most of the comments about this car over the past week have been about the so so looks or the lifeless steering. However, the most significant part of this car is under the bonnet. The new multi-air technology has the potential to be one of the most significant advances in engine development for over a decade.
What use is a great enigine when it looks like that?
Alfa are also introducing these multi air engines into the Mito and how gorgeous is that car?
Oh dear, the Punto Grande was the best looking supermini by far, but now FIAT have given it a botched, and un-necessary facelift.
Reminds me of when they gave the sharp nosed Punto a poor VW Polo copy grill and turned the car into a dull also ran.
Everyone knows that the Italians build the most stylish cars in the world. You only have to look at the Alfa Brera. I'm sorry to say, Ford fans, that the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo have about as much Kinetic design as a JCB sinking in mud! They're ugly and the moist boring cars to drive or look at. The new Punto is a joy to look at and it has an exciting looking interior as well as loads of safety technology and driver aids. And, as for how many people it took to design the front end? Well, the Audi 'wide-mouthed frog' look is no Picasso...
Everyone knows that the Italians build the most stylish cars in the world. You only have to look at the Alfa Brera. I'm sorry to say, Ford fans, that the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo have about as much Kinetic design as a JCB sinking in mud! They're ugly and the moist boring cars to drive or look at. The new Punto is a joy to look at and it has an exciting looking interior as well as loads of safety technology and driver aids. And, as for how many people it took to design the front end? Well, the Audi 'wide-mouthed frog' look is no Picasso...
I have to say when I saw the first pictures this looked a bit wierd, a bit like the first sightings of the Mk2 Focus - familiar but gone a bit wrong - but the shock seems to be wearing off a bit now and the interior is a major improvement, as are most of the engines. That said it still looks better in the darker colours where the contrast with the black mouth/grille is toned down a bit.
i'm amazed that a car company that can build gorgeous cars like the fiat coupe, barchetta, 500 and the grand punto ect can build something as ugly as this.
just as fiat gets it's mojo back they go and do something like this
come on fiat, why do you think customers go elsewhere.
"...and were impressed by the MultiAir technology. This sees the camshafts and valves replaced by an electrohydraulic management set-up, which gives better control over combustion."
It still has both valves and camshaft; Multiair substitutes a direct mechanical link between the two with electro-hydraulic mechanism, allowing unprecedented flexibility in valve timing and lift!
By reading this article I have to reconsider my pinion on the credibility of Brittish auto revieuw ore shall we say
auto tabloyd . It is a shame!!
Fiat punto doesn't stands against a polo? well the fiat punto reduces the immage of the polo ot shrapnells.
Example Fiat punto has a 4 cilinder JTDM2 1.3Liter 95 HP that is as aconomic as the 3 cilinder noisy polo engine
that Polo is more noisy as a tractor with her only 3 cyl diesel engine has less smoothness and les HP but the fuel consumption is the same
Fiat Multijet engines 1.3 Liter are used in Citroën, Peugot, and yes also Ford fiesta and Ka
another thing How can a ford fiesta be mraculously better if it shares the same platform that they have from Fiat and the same fiat engine??
Reviewers, note that there are readers that know more about cars...
Don't fool people !!! because there is always some one who put you back on the right direction
teacher alessio
Came across this article when looking to see what to replace our other car with. I know the last comment was over a month ago but feel as it is so unfair, I should still add 'my' own understanding of the extent of different platform co-operation between Fiat and others.
I had remembered the original Punto Grande being a joint project with GM (who then had a shareholding in Fiat). The GM car being the current Corsa. They were one of the first European cars to adopt all electric steering (hence the lifeless comment and the main negative levied on the Focus3, now that Ford finally adopted it as well). The Punto Evo, I understand is still based on the Grande. Each OEM will have their own suspension setting even on common platform but the current Ford Fiesta has no intentional component commonality with the Fiat Punto.
Alessio may be confused with the 500 and the latest Ford Ka. As his comment would be more appropriate on this platform. The latter is based on the Fiat platform as Fiat was the Lead Engineer on this collaboration. Furthermore I think even built for Ford in their Polish factory.