Forget the majestic titles of Grande and Evo, now it’s just plain old Punto for Fiat’s updated supermini – and the simplified badging is joined by a new TwinAir engine, too.
With its turbocharged 0.9-litre two cylinder, Fiat promises high levels of driver enjoyment despite claims of low emissions, low fuel consumption and low running costs.
At start-up you do wonder if it will deliver, though. The noise that penetrates into the cabin is unlike any other supermini, but on the move that’s all forgotten.
The unmistakable thrum is always present, and the harder you push the motor the louder it is, but it’s a note that has been especially designed to appeal to keen drivers.
The throttle response is sharp, and the Punto TwinAir encourages drivers to explore the rev range, which is just as well since peak power doesn’t arrive until 5,500rpm.
Thankfully, all of the TwinAir’s torque arrives at 2,000rpm so it’s flexible around town. It also boasts the firm’s stop-start system and a gearshift indicator, as well as the CITY button which makes the steering lighter for parking manoeuvres. However, away from built-up areas this Punto will struggle to return Fiat’s claimed 67.3mpg combined economy figure.
That’s all down to the engine, though, as the chassis is beginning to feel its age. It hangs on gamely, but there’s no finesse and the steering lacks feel; a Ford Fiesta is much more involving. Add in the optional 17-inch alloys of our test car and the ride becomes very hard.
At least the TwinAir looks good and is well equipped, benefitting from body-coloured trim, gloss-black mirrors, air-conditioning and special TwinAir seats which brighten up an interior that’s starting to feel a bit tired these days.
For an alternative review of the latest Fiat Punto Hatchback visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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i think Fiat have missed a trick with this engine
i dont understand why they can make a 1.2 liter in twin cylinder format and gain some more poweri understand this 0.9 is under 100 gm for tax free motoring ..but before long the govt will increase this to generate some revenue...rather a more powerful engine and pay ther extra road tax
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Autoexpress proves again that they are agents of VW by giving just 2 stars to such a capable car. I dont think that it has any finesse problem; still after many years it doesnt feel aged actually its ride and handling are way ahead of fords or any japanese/korean counterparts. My question to you; what do you think about 1.2, 3 cyl TSI engine in VW Polo. Probably you would rate 5stars..eh..??
Passion 1st of all the punto does consist of a chassis which is very inadequate second of all what is wrong with a 1.2 polo
Actually the AE review of the 3 cylinder diesel engined Polo is not unduly adulatory. Previous generations of VW 3 cylinder engines were vibrating little rattlers but I have no experience of the newer ones.
However we still have AE's problems (shared with other but, thankfully, not all motoring journalists) of being too optimistic about two and three cylinder power plants. Expressions like "thrum" and "characterful" in the current review are the giveaway euphemisms for "unrefined". Most car purchasers do not look for "thrum",
I suppose brutal honesty in road tests makes for a drying up in the supply of cars for review!
My wife's 500C TA struggles to do better than 35mpg in normal driving, going up to 38mpg with extreme care. Simply not good enough and I feel conned by the marketing of the TwinAir at my time of purchase (june/july 2011) when the wildly unrealistic official fuel figures were emphasised. Fiat now market the engine on fun factor, they know they've been rumbled.