Fiat Punto 2007 Review

If you see a Fiat Punto 1.4 pulled over by the constabulary it would be unlikely the driver has been nabbed for speeding.

The 1.4-litre Punto is hardly going to get you into trouble even if you tried.

Having said that it is quite tractable around town but has trouble keeping up with the highway pace if it has to slow down and then get back to the speed limit again.

The little petrol unit is willing and the new Dualogic gearbox brings out the best in the small four-cylinder petrol.

This gearbox is one of the new breed of clutchless sequential manuals with a fully automatic mode or change-yourself operation by tipping the shifter forward or back.

As opposed to the 1.3-litre diesel engine, which is mated to the 6-speed Dualogic unit, this 1.4-litre petrol uses the 5-speed version.

It is responsive and kicks down smartly from fifth if you need more urge to round up a slower commuter on the open road.

The Punto is at its best around town.

Yes, there are more zippy city cars on the market for around $20k but many are not endowed with as many standard features.

What you get off the showroom floor is a long list of stuff including a nifty trip computer with trip meter, fuel consumption (average and instantaneous readouts) etc.

There are electric front windows, internal boot release, central locking, follow-me-home headlights, split-fold rear seats, cruise control, full-size spare, airconditioning and the third rear seat gains a three-point seatbelt and head rest.

On the safety front there are front, side and window airbags and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution. This five-door hatch gets child safety locks and the passenger airbag can be deactivated when the seat is not occupied.

There is a lot of kit to support the $21,490 price tag for the Dualogic version which is $1500 more than the manual Punto.

It is quite comfortable and there is good vision all around.

On the open road the Punto hums along at 110km/h in fifth gear pulling 3500rpm, the little transversely mounted four potter is not getting a lot of peace here.

There is a fair bit of road noise filtering through the cabin and there was a rattle from a driver-side air vent.

This is no rocketship but it has a certain amount of charm and fits in well with its unconfrontational exterior design.

At 57kW of power there is probably more oomph in your kitchen waste disposal and, for that matter, probably more torque than the 115Nm available.

Its environment is on short darts in urban areas and you can't complain about the 5.5litres/100km we experienced on this drive.

There are only three cars with less power on the new-car market in Australia at the moment: the Citroen C3 SX, the Peugeot 207 XR with 55kW, and the Smart Fortwo which is at the bottom of the class with 45kW.

It might be at the bottom end of the power scale but it offers a point of difference to the mass market $20k runabouts.

Diesel

However, if you chose the five-door Punto with the 1.9-litre diesel engine, be prepared for a surprise.

The 280Nm of torque, most of which is available just off idle up to 400rpm or so, makes this little Italian deceptively fast. There is no point waiting until it runs out of breath at 4500rpm.

Change up at 3500rpm through the slick six-speed box and let the engine grunt a bit. Before you know it 110km/h is on the dial.

Indeed the multi-jet diesel is so torquey it is quite capable of pulling the car along at idle in fifth gear on a flat road when it will be doing about 50km/h.

You will pay a hefty $6500 more than the same car with the 1.4-litre petrol engine.

But as well as the multi-talented 1.9 diesel you also get 15-inch alloy wheels, courtesy lights for the vanity mirrors on the sunshades, a more comprehensive instrument capability and fog lights.

At $27,990 the 1.9 diesel Punto very definitely does not fall into the cheap car category but it is fun to drive and will surprise many other drivers at the traffic lights. Especially if they have recently come up against another Punto equipped with one of the less energetic petrol engines.

Fiat Punto 1.4litre Dualogic

$21,490

Engine: 3 stars

Willing enough but isn't going to lift the heart-rate in a hurry

Transmission: 4 stars

One of the best examples of clutchless manuals although there remains a degree of interruption when it changes cogs in automatic mode

Handling: 3 stars

Cushy ride although there is some crashing through the front wheels on bad surfaces

Safety: 3 stars

Airbags and ABS as expected although an ESP option and its associated programs is not available

Value: 3 stars

There is practicality, charm and strong equipment levels

Tech specs

Body: 5-door hatch

Engine: inline four-cylinder petrol

Transmission: 5-speed manual/dualogic sequential

Power: 57kW @ 6000rpm

Torque: 115Nm @ 3000rpm

Tyres: 175/65 R 15T

Verdict

For: Italian kitsch

Against: May not have the poke to suit some tastes

Will win admirers who don't live for performance