Fiat Bravo - Pictures

Thanks to its torsion beam rear suspension, the Bravo offers a supple ride, making it extremely refined on the motorway. It can feel crashy over rough surfaces, but on the whole it strikes a good balance of handling and comfort.

Build quality and finish are top notch, and a real improvement over previous Fiats. The cabin is the most sophisticated here, with soft-touch plastics and quality switchgear, while the seats are the most comfortable.

With the rear chairs in place, the Bravo has the advantage, offering 365 litres – that’s 25 litres more than the Leon or Kia. Yet with the shortest load area, a high lip and a narrow opening, loading heavy or bulky objects

The Bravo’s City button lightens the Dualdrive electric power-steering to minimise effort and aid low-speed manoeuvring. Above 19mph, the system reverts to standard power assistance.

We love some of the Fiat’s design touches – such as the bootlid release, which is incorporated into the tailgate badge. If the car isn’t clean, you end up with dirty hands, but the firm has fitted a separate button on