Fiat Punto Emotion 2007 Review

Many Aussies have fond memories of the breed, but there are also some who are less enamoured with it. So, the Punto had its work cut out for it.

It ended last year as one of our finalists in the CARSguide Car of The Year and with good reason. It's a well-equipped machine.

We're driving the 1.9 JTD Emotion five-door, which gets cloth trim - in this case an odd greenish hue but, after all, it's European - and plenty of standard safety gear.

The Punto has ABS brakes and (in the case of the 1.9 models) standard stability control, two front and side and window airbags, anti-whiplash front seats and seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

Once in the cabin the seating is comfortable and supportive for lateral movement, but the driving position still feels like you need long arms and short legs. That's despite the inclusion of reach-and-rake wheel adjustment, but most average-height folk won't have a problem.

There's airconditioning, trip computer, cruise control, remote central locking, power front windows, power mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift.

The Emotion model also gets a six-speaker CD sound system which produces a nice noise, with steering-wheel-mounted controls.

It might be seen as a bit gimmicky, but the electric “dual-drive” power steering offers the driver two levels of assistance - one for around-town twirling and the other for open road work. You can feel the difference but only the weak-limbed are going to need to switch it to city mode to park this little Euro.

Despite not even topping two-litre cubic capacity, the Punto can be whipped along at an indecent rate. The power peaks at 80kW but the 280Nm of torque does plenty when it only has to shift 1220kg from standstill. There is a moment of hesitation as the turbo huffs and puffs, but once it has boost pressure on board the little Punto can whip away, but the noise betrays its combustion system. It's not overly intrusive, but you won't be in any doubt that it's a diesel.

The six-speed manual is a reasonable gearbox (there's no auto on offer), with a clean, if a little rubbery, shift, but there can be a bit of “snatch” between the gearbox and the engine if it's in the meat of torque curve and throttle use is not super smooth. Fuel use during our metropolitan stint was around 7 litres/100km, but throw even 20 per cent highway driving into the mix and the ADR figure of 5.5 litres/100km is more than believable.

The highway figure of 4.4 litres/100km means 45 litres has the potential for 1000km on the highway.

With an auto, the diesel would have added appeal but even as a manual the Punto diesel has plenty going for it.

SMALL TOURQUE

Fiat Punto Emotion

Price: $27,990.

Engine: 1.9-litre eight-valve common-rail intercooled direct-injection variable geometry turbocharged four-cylinder diesel.

Power: 88kW at 4000rpm.

Torque: 280Nm at 2000rpm.

Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive, with stability control.

Suspension: Independent MacPherson struts, dampers and anti-roll bar (front). Independent torsion beam axle and hydraulic dampers (rear).

0-100km/h/top speed: 10 seconds/190km/h.

Fuel consumption/capacity: combined 5.5 litres/100km, tank 45 litres.

Dimensions: Length 4030mm, width 1687mm, height 1490mm, wheelbase 2510mm, track fr/rr 1473/1466mm, boot 275/638 litres.

Weight: 1220kg.

Brakes: Four wheel discs, front ventilated, with ABS and EBD.

Wheels: 15in alloy.