Fiat Reviews

Need a small car but don’t want one that’s so sensible it’s ultra boring? Then iconic Italian automaker Fiat has just the thing for you. The Fiat 500 is as far from being mundane as you can possibly imagine, yet is far more practical than you would guess from its oh-so-cute lines.The original Fiat 500, usually called the Cinquecento (500 in Italian) was a tiny car that was a big hit when introduced in 1957 and remained on the market until 1975. Quite a few reached Australia and are now collectors’ items.When the modern-retro Fiat 500 was introduced in 2007, exactly fifty years after the original, it too grabbed plenty of attention. Styling to match the earlier 500s was admired by all.The new 500 - still called Cinquecento by many lovers of the marque, despite it having a range of engine sizes, none of which displace 500cc - is a couple of sizes up on the old 500, partly to provide crash protection, but also to give it reasonable interior space.Australian imports of new Fiat 500 three-door hatchbacks began in February 2008, with a two-door convertible / cabriolet joining the range two years later. Sales weren’t particularly good as the original importer charged top dollar for the cars - they also imported Ferraris and Maseratis, so are accustomed to charging what the market will bear…The pricing situation changed rapidly when the Fiat factory took over Australian imports in May 2012. A series of price drops - which didn’t exactly please existing owners - saw sales take off in a big way and the cute little Italian machines are now becoming a common sight on Aussie roads.Believe it or not, four adults can fit into this tiny car with more room to move than you would anticipate, that’s principally because they sit tall in the car. The resulting high driving position isn’t initially to all tastes, but owners report they quickly become accustomed to it.Owners say their 500s are great fun to drive and love the way that people smile and even wave to them, particularly when they’re in a convertible with its roof open. Boot space isn’t great, even less so in the convertible, but that’s the price you pay for having a reasonable back seat. Realistically, most Australian owners are singles or couples and use the fold-down back seats to increase luggage space.The diminutive dimensions of the 500 mean it has a short wheelbase, which can result in a choppy ride at times. Around town, it’s natural habitat, the Fiat 500 is great. It buzzes around in the traffic and can be slotted into minute parking spots. On long open-road trips the busy ride and the equally busy little engine means it’s less comfortable.Fiat 500 is sold in several models; Pop, Lounge and Sport. There’s also a hot sports version called the Abarth 500 Esseesse (try saying SS with an Italian accent and the name suddenly makes sense). Technically the Abarth isn’t sold as a Fiat, it should be referred to as an Abarth. Same with the crazily priced ($69,990) Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari that’s crammed with Ferrari type features, though it’s only powered by a 1.4-litre turbo engine.The Fiat 500 has petrol engine capacities of either 0.9, 1.2 or 1.4 litres. The smallest unit has two cylinders (just like the old 500s), and is turbocharged. It has only been imported since 2012. The 1.2 and 1.4 are four-cylinder engines, with the 1.4 coming with or without a turbo - the blown examples being fitted in the hot Abarth tuned machines.There are turbo-diesel options, initially with a size of 1.3 litres, which was upped to 1.4 litres midway through 2011. Given that the petrol engines are pretty economical the diesel seems like a bit of an overkill on the Australian market, but owners say they love the big torque it provides.Transmissions are a five- or six-speed manual or a five-speed automated manual. The latter, like most of its breed, can be rough in its changes in the low gears but becomes much better in the higher ratios. Since Fiat took over importation to Australia the company has spent bulk money on constructing new offices, spare parts warehouses and appointing new dealers.This bodes well for the future, but it’s still wise to check on sales and servicing in your locality before falling for the appealing body shape and the sheer joy of driving. Insurance rates tend to vary more than normal from company to company, something that should settle down now Fiat is again part of the mainstream. Check by clicking and/or ringing around, but make sure you’re comparing apples with apples.WHAT TO LOOK FORThis is primarily a city car so the Fiat 500 may suffer the usual battle scars created by crowded parking areas, tight traffic and silly drivers. Check the body carefully for signs of damage or repairs to the same. Tiny repairs are acceptable, big ones aren’t.Look at the wheels to see if they have been kerbed, the front lefts are usually the first to suffer, but have a look at them all.Boot space is limited, particularly in the convertible / cabriolet so look for damage caused by luggage having been crammed in.Wheels with a lot of brake dust inside them probably indicate a hard driver.The engine should start easily and idle relatively smoothly from the moment it kicks over. The two-cylinder unit has a different note to the typical four- or six-cylinder to which the average Australian driver is accustomed. If you suspect there may be problems call in an expert.The interior is pretty well bullet proof, but we have experienced several cars where a piece of sound absorbing foam has fallen onto the floor beneath the glovebox - strange.CAR BUYING TIPCity cars with low kilometres may suffer from more wear and tear than country cars with much higher readings on the odometer.

Doing 100km of general running about for less than five bucks in fuel makes motoring pretty affordable. As manufacturers bring out more models with increasingly-amazing frugality, motorists are laughing all the way from the pumps. A generation ago, the 30 miles per gallon mark (9.4 litres/100km in metric speak) was a

YOU'VE almost got to wonder, who buys all those cars? To say nothing of the SUVs and commercial jiggers.  Private owners and fleets bought almost 81,500 new vehicles last month. Of course, the usual suspects - Holden, Toyota, Mazda, Ford, Hyundai - do most business among the 50 or so brands on offer. But for every no-brainer buy there's an overlooked, if not unloved, model sitting on the lot.If you fancy a bit of vive la difference, we've unearthed some hidden treasures whose lack of popularity ought to compel the sales people to do a deal for you.Alfa Romeo 159Sales in April: 29Price:$49,990-$82,990THOUGH a non-starter in the premium sales stakes led by zer Chermans, Alfa's now five-year-old midsize sedan and wagon will be with us for another two years.Upgrades have seen it shed a bit of lard and get a six-speed automatic that works with it, as opposed to behaving like a transplanted organ the body's rejecting. Most 159s sold now are TI editions with lowered suspension and lustrous, but eminently kerbable, 19-inch alloys.Hardly the sharpest tool in the shed but, my, isn't she lovely? Gorgeous, actually.  Standard equipment levels are high, so put the acid on the dealer for a good driveaway deal.* Our choice: 2.4 JTDm auto sportwagonCitroen C5Sales in April: 16Price: $45,990-$72,990DESPITE its dashing appearance, the driving reality of this almost entirely diesel line-up can be considered exciting only if you accept boules as an extreme sport. It ain't sportif, but that's the point.What it does, in its Gallic shrugging way, is provide a classically wafty Citroen ride in a package that looks equally at home in Paris, Provence or Parramatta. The 3.0 twin turbo V6 oiler would convert an avowed petrolhead but, in Australia's Third World road conditions, isn't sufficiently superior to the 2.0-litre four potter to justify the price.* Our choice: 2.0 HDi ComfortFiat 500Sales in April: 25Price: $22,990-$33,990THING is, everyone who wants a mini 2+2 convertible goes for, well, a Mini. The irresistible new Bambino now comes with a rag top, in addition to its more stalwart though hardly less cute coupe siblings.Indeed, how much cute can you cope with? Given its level of kit and customisation options, the 500 is as much a bite-sized luxury car as a city-friendly commuting device.The current lack of an auto option in all versions across the range keeps sales to niche levels but, hey, this is a compact Italian job. Over there, even the most venerable nonna can handle a stick shift. Anecdotal evidence suggests the Fix-It-Again-Tony days are way behind Fiat.* Our choice: 1.4 Lounge manualHonda Civic HybridSales: 75-80 (since January)Price: $34,490WHILE Toyota's Prius is effectively a synonym for petrol-electric propulsion, the cheaper Honda not only looks like a car it drives like one, while returning a potential 4.6 litres per 100km. Sales are down a bit at the moment, as petrol prices are too, but an oil price spike is certain at some point. If you want a green car that doesn't make you look like Clover Moore, act soon.* Our choice: There is but oneSkoda SuperbSales in April: 6Price: From $39,990MAYBE the long Czech liftback and now wagon is just too close in essence and price to its VW Passat sibling. Maybe we don't yet "get'' big cars with small but highly efficient engines (though there's a diesel and a V6 petrol variant as well). Maybe it's a cold war hangover.Whatever it is, we're wrong. With a price realignment, the Superb offers better value, more kit, lots of space and lusher feel than the VW. It won Top Gear's luxury car of the year; the previous winner was a Rolls-Royce, for heaven's sake.* Our choice: Got to be the 1.8 turbo petrol wagon

  Fiat has launched a turbocharged petrol version of its light Punto hatch that is in a word a little ripper.We can't get over the difference this power plant makes to the feel of the car, with its lively performance and sporty dynamics.The good looking Punto is the car that heralded the return of the Fiat passenger car brand to Australia two years ago.But at the time the hatchback was available only in diesel form.The three-door Sport Turbo, priced from $25,990, is essentially the same car as the 1.9-litre turbodiesel Sport, but with a different engine and transmission.Where the diesel is heavier and more expensive, the petrol version feels lighter, nippier and more fun to drive _ and it's $2000 cheaper.Weighing in at 1155kg, it is 50kg lighter than the diesel and you'd have to reckon that most of that weight would have come out of the front end.The new engine is a light pressure turbocharged version of Fiat's 1.4 litre Star-Jet engine.The low inertia turbo lifts power from 57 to 88kW and torque from 115 to 206Nm, with an amazing 200Nm of torque available from just 1700rpm.The engine is hooked up to a relatively pedestrian five-speed manual transmission.It would have been nice to see the six-speed from the diesel, but having said that the five is slick, easy to use and delivers the goods.By boosting the engine Fiat has managed to shave four seconds off the car's 0-100km/h time which is now a very respectable 8.9 seconds.At the same time it uses an average of 6.6 litres of fuel per 100km and that's not too far behind the diesel at 5.8.As the cost of fuel continues to rise motorists will start looking to smaller cars with smaller engines to save money.With petrol costing $1.60 and diesel $1.80 a litre, many motorists are finding the cost of filling up the family car topping the $100 mark.That's going to take a bit of getting used to.Punto takes 95 strength premium (although it will run on standard) and we were getting 7.6 litres/100km from the 45-litre tank, with a bit of hard stuff thrown in.Many people will take one look at the 1.4 litre capacity and dismiss the engine as too small.But you'll be surprised.The boost kicks in early with a flat torque curve that generates strong peformance across the range.Even in top gear it sales up hills and will still accelerate even if the revs are allowed to drop.Punto comes with a five-star safety rating, six airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.It's a middle of the road car in the Fiat scheme of things and this is reflected in the plainer, more conservative styling inside.The standard of finish is also not up to the standard of the more recent Ritmo and 500 models.Also, you'll find a re-inflation kit instead of a spare or space saver under the luggage area.Still, it's a very appealing little car if you want to get away from the usual Japanese fare.

Fiat vans are a common sight but it seems like only yesterday that the company re-entered the passenger car market with the launch of the Punto hatch.Punto has since been joined by the retro look Fiat 500 that we drove recently and now another larger hatch called the Ritmo.We were pleased to find that both cars are finished to a much higher standard than the Punto.Ritmo also sees the debut of a brand new Fiat logo.It is larger than Punto and sits on a modified version of the platform that underpinned the earlier Stilo.It is also slightly longer and wider than its cousin the Alfa 147, but we are told the new 147 (make that 149) will share the same platform.Ritmo is designed to go head-to-head with the likes of VW's best-selling Golf.It is offered in two grades with a choice of 1.4-litre petrol or 1.9-litre diesel turbocharged engines.Our test car was the petrol 1.4-litre Ritmo Sport T-Jet priced from $32,990.It is a good looking car and the combination of burgundy paint, charcoal alloys and piano black trim inside create a smouldering kind of appeal.Far from being a bit of a yawn, the 1.4-litre turbocharged engine produces a surprising amount of pep.It is good for 110kW of power at 5500rpm and up to 230Nm of torque at 3000rpm, if the sport setting is selected.The trend is towards smaller engines in Europe where the same engine produces anywhere from 52 to 137kW, with a 150kW unit said to be in the pipeline.The dash from 0-100km/h takes 8.2 seconds and it has a top speed of 208km/h.Fuel economy for this model is rated at 7.1 litres/100km, but we were typically getting between 8.8 and 9.0.Once up and running, disengaging the overboost Sport button improves economy.To get the best results from the car you need to keep the engine on the boil, but with a slick six-speed manual and a nice note from the exhaust that is easily accomplished. In fact, it can be a difficult task getting the car off the line quickly without spinning the front wheels.Although its fitted with electronic stability control, the system is designed to provide some wheel spin. The sports suspension can be a rough at times, but it pays dividends in the handling department.Point Ritmo at a corner and it hangs on nicely, with controlled slide at the limit.Stability control and six airbags are standard and the car has a five-star safety rating.The Sport model adds a rear spoiler, sideskirts, sports pedals, sports seats with lumbar adjustment of driver's seat, leather sports steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake knobs, sports upholstery, red brake callipers and 17 inch alloys fitted with 225/45 tyres. Climate air and Blue&Me integrated telematics system are also part of the package.It offers Bluetooth hands-free technology with steering wheel controls, instrument panel with multifunction display, MP3 audio file player from a USB port and SMS text reader.Rear leg room is adequate and the deep boot could easily accommodate a full-sized spare, but unfortunately a space-saver is provided. 

But its big brother is making a splash of its own. And a noisy one at that.The 500 sits at the base of Fiat's attack on Australia as far as size goes, starting with the two-door, 1.2-litre $22,990 Pop model. Bigger, but with a lower starting price, are the 1.4-litre and 1.9-litre Punto 3 and five-door hatch from $19,990. Biggest brother in the Fiat world is the Ritmo five-door hatch, which starts just under $30,000.Ritmo is called Bravo elsewhere but as Mazda already had the name on its vans, Fiat opted for the Italian word for rhythm. It arrives in Australia in four different models. Two different spec levels can be matched with either a 1.4-litre petrol or 1.9-litre diesel engine. Prices range from $29,990 to $36,490. Buying an Italian car is all about emotion. People get these cars because they want the look, the feel and the style — even if in the past build quality was questionable.Alfas have suffered in the past from reliability dramas. And the former generation of Fiats didn't gain the catch phrase “Fix It Again Tony” for nothing. Emotion sells, though. Which is as good a reason as any for Fiat to name its base model Ritmo the Emotion. The higher-specced model is the Sport. I tested the diesel Emotion in Sydney and it stirred quite a lot of emotions — and senses.The first was my hearing. I have driven quite a few small diesels in recent times and this is definitely on the noisier end of the scale. The chatter from the diesel engine is clearly audible in the cabin.To test it, I turned to one of our long-term fleet cars, a slightly smaller and cheaper non-European (but a diesel competitor nonetheless) currently in our garage: the Hyundai i30.A simple back-to-back comparison drive revealed the Korean diesel sounds considerably quieter inside.Then again, you can always pump up the sound system and enjoy a whole lot of other things about the Ritmo.The car was designed by the same bloke who created some recent Ferraris and it shows. There is a lot of style about the Ritmo. It starts at the front with the small grille, the style of the headlights and the slightly raised bodywork behind them that extends to the windscreen and leaves the bonnet sitting stylishly lower. Very Italian.Then there's the gradual shaping of the side windows, tracing to a well-rounded rump that gives the car a certain chic feel. It's too big to be cute ... but it does border on sexy. And much more than either the bambino or the Punto models will ever do.Fiat proudly proclaims that the Ritmo is powered by a jet engine. Well, in name at least, they are correct.The 1.9-litre Multijet diesel boasts 110kW of power and a considerable 305Nm torque. Acceleration is good, and the 0-100km/h benchmark arrives in a decent nine seconds.There is plenty of pull, too, in the lower range. Currently only manual gearboxes are available, though you can expect some auto boxed-versions by the end of the year.However, the lack of an auto is not a hindrance here. The six-speed shifts easily up through the range although there is a noticeable gap between third and second when changing down.The big value in buying a modern diesel is in fuel savings.The official claimed fuel use figure is just 5.6 litres per 100km. That meant I didn't trouble the local garage for a refuel in the time I had the car.And even though diesel prices are running at record highs of around $1.60 a litre, the oilers are still a great buy, particularly if you are not just keen to save money, but also to help the environment, there's a $3000 slug on buying an equivalent diesel to a petrol Ritmo, but you can expect to get that money back reasonably early in the car's life.Inside the car there is plenty of room for the driver and front-seat passenger. Five-door hatches make better sense than three doors for rear-seat access and there is reasonable leg room in the back.The design of the car also enables a sizeable boot area. The groceries fit easily as should luggage for two or, indeed, a small family.Instruments and controls are well laid out and the dash has a tactile finish that gives a more dynamic look to the plastic interior.Airconditioning and fan controls are easily reached. One unusual control is the ability to change the lightness of the steering. Depressing a button on the dash switches between a normal and a sportier feel but the overall effect when driving seems fairly minimal. One hitch with the layout of the controls is in the seat adjustment. The handle to move the driver's seat forward and back is below the front of the seat. It's too small, and worse, it's not easily found.Standard features include electric windows and side mirrors, cruise control, power steering, remote central locking, a good sound system, airconditioning and alloy wheels.For an extra $3000 the Sport model gains a better look, with a rear spoiler and sideskirts plus climate control airconditioning, sports pedals, front sports seats, leather sports steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake knobs and 17-inch sports alloy wheels.It also gains the Blue&Me integrated telematics system, which is a joint venture with Microsoft.That covers Bluetooth mobile phone technology with steering wheel controls, an instrument panel with multifunction display and an MP3 player with USB port and SMS text reader. And there's one other key factor that might attract buyers.While you wallow in the attention of other motorists, relishing the dynamic Italian pizazz and style, there isalso a comforting thought.The Ritmo is one of the safest cars on our roads today.With a five-star safety rating for adult-occupant safety, the Ritmo recorded 33 points in EuroNCap testing. It has six airbags, ESP electronic stability program anda chassis designed to increase passive-safety by minimising the impact of pedestrian accidents.

Developed by the Fiat Style Centre, the exterior design looks like a more grown-up version of the Punto hatch and has a distinctly sporty flavour, including a Maserati-style grille.As with all new European cars, the Ritmo has a long snout to pass European pedestrian safety regulations.The five-door hatch is slightly larger against its key rivals.Compared with a VW Golf, the Fiat hatch is slightly bigger in every area, including wheelbase.The Ritmo's luggage space, with the rear seats in place, is 400 litres compared to the Golf's 347 litres.Australia is expected to get two engines, the 110kW/305Nm 1.9-litre JTD and 110kW/206Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged TJET, in with Sports or Luxury specification in either six-speed manual or robotised manual guises.Fiat says the 1.4 has a 0-100km/h sprint time of 8.5sec while returning 7.1litres/100km on the combined fuel economy cycle. The 1.4 also has over boost that lifts peak torque to 230Nm.The 1.9 JTD is almost as quick as the petrol engine, reaching 100km/h in 9sec and returning 5.6litres/100km on the combined fuel economy cycle.As expected of Fiat, buyers can expect a full range to be available in Europe, including a wagon, hot Abarth models and possibly a coupe.However, Fiat's Australian importers Ateco Automotive will initially concentrate on the petrol and JTD hatches but is tipped to fill out the range with the Abarth models later.As with the Punto, the new Ritmo has a five-star Euro-NCAP safety rating. The equipment list locally is expected to be on a par with its rivals.That means cruise control, alloys, climate-control airconditioning, stability control and six airbags. Logical dash layout with large buttons. Expect prices to start about $30,000, right in the VW Golf, Mazda3 and Ford Focus arena.The performance of the 1.9 JTD was strong and even the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol had a good burst of mid-range enthusiasm on the roads around Bologna, Italy, and felt like a strong 2-litre four. In sharp corners the car exhibits some steering rack rattle, which feeds back through the steering but the MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension is well sorted. But overall the packaging and performance is on the money.Inside the cabin has a nice Italian air about it, the layout is logical, seats comfy and there's plenty of room in the back. Most drivers will find the driving position acceptable.However, small children may whinge about not being able to see out of the rear side windows because of their shallow depth.

Fiat's general manager, Chris Swann, is a firm believer in payload when it comes to a commercial vehicle that has to pay its way carrying cargo.While some van makers focus on the volume of cargo a van will hold, Swann reckons it's possible to have both cargo volume and payload.That thinking was front and centre when he was deciding on which Ducato models he would sign up for the Australian market.The Ducato range Swann settled on is topped by the extra long wheelbase medium roof van.With a GVM of four tonnes, the big front-wheel drive Fiat will swallow 15 cubic metres of freight weighing up to two tonnes.Others in its class can accommodate a little more volume, but come up well short of the Fiat's payload.Its sleek lines are protected by broad rub strips down each side, and large bumpers protect the front and rear from bumps and scrapes.Access to the cargo zone, which is separated from the cabin by a fixed partition, is through a wide, easy-sliding door on the left side or barn doors at the rear that can be swung back flat against the van's sides.Inside, there is lighting and heaps of tie-down hooks in the floor and along the walls to secure the load.Up front, the driver has all the comfort and convenience features now expected in a working vehicle.Standard air-conditioning, CD sound, power windows and mirrors, a reach-adjustable steering column, and comfortable cloth-trimmed seating make it easy to get through the day.There's also a plethora of storage possibilities, including an overhead shelf, a large lockable glove box in the centre of the dash, and the centre seat folds down to form a work table.While it's packed with everything needed in a working day, the Ducato's interior is a little cramped.The leg room is limited, the gearshift rubs against the left leg and the overhead shelf is a little too close for comfort. On the road, there is little noise from the engine, road or the wind racing past to disturb the inner peace.Our test van was powered by the 3l, four-cylinder turbo diesel that put out 115 kW at 3500 rpm and 400 Nm between 1700 and 2500 rpm. There isn't the option of an automatic or automated transmission so the test Ducato had the standard six-speed manual gearbox.The gearing is well matched to the engine and the dash-mounted shift is slick and precise.On the road, the Ducato hauled away from traffic lights, easily kept pace with the traffic flow, and the big four was turning over at 1800 rpm when cruising down the highway at 100 km/h. For the duration of the test, the Ducato returned the remarkable fuel economy of 10l/100km.The ride is comfortable, bumps are absorbed with ease, four-wheel discs and ABS stop the four-tonne van easily, and the power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering provides a good feel of the road and a tight turning circle.In addition to the standard ABS, the big Ducato features traction control, and there's an option of electronic stability control.The driver also has the protection of an airbag in the event of a crash.Major services are every 45,000km with oil drops scheduled every 22,500km.The test Ducato is priced at $49,990 and comes with a three-year, 200,000km warranty and three-year roadside assistance. 

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 $21,490Engine: 3 starsWilling enough but isn't going to lift the heart-rate in a hurryTransmission: 4 starsOne of the best examples of clutchless manuals although there remains a degree of interruption when it changes cogs in automatic modeHandling: 3 starsCushy ride although there is some crashing through the front wheels on bad surfacesSafety: 3 starsAirbags and ABS as expected although an ESP option and its associated programs is not availableValue: 3 starsThere is practicality, charm and strong equipment levelsTech specsBody: 5-door hatchEngine: inline four-cylinder petrolTransmission: 5-speed manual/dualogic sequentialPower: 57kW @ 6000rpmTorque: 115Nm @ 3000rpmTyres: 175/65 R 15TVerdictFor: Italian kitschAgainst: May not have the poke to suit some tastesWill win admirers who don't live for performance 

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 TOURQUEFiat Punto EmotionPrice: $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.