Fiat Punto Hatchback 1999-2003

The Punto was one of the leaders of its class in the mid 2000s. It's a very successful car offering a lot for a relatively low price. During its hey-day 35 variations were produced simultaneously. The first generation Punto, that replaced the well-loved but outdated Uno, was a great little car. The 2nd generation, however, sees a further improvement making a valid question: why would you not want a Punto?

Pros and Cons:

• Reliable and practical
  Enough room for 5 people
  Many variations to choose from
  Bright colours and fresh design

• Expect a bumpy ride

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Exterior and Interior

The original Punto made debut in 1993 and was instantly recognised as a spacious and practical car. When the time came to update the classic model, the Fiat engineers had a massive task on their hands. How do you improve something that is already so good? In 1999, the new Punto (Nueva Punto as it was called in Italy) came about in a brand-new three door and five-door design with a completely overhauled chassis and body. A face-lifted version followed in 2002. The main trim levels that are available are Active Sport, Active, Eleganza and Dynamic. Multiply it by the huge number of petrol and diesel engines and you're really spoilt for choice.

You keep wondering how they managed to fit so much space inside such a small car. It is a proper 5-seater and its secret is in its long wheelbase. It is visibly and technically a class lower than the Golf, yet its wheelbase is only 2 inches shorter than the Golf. The cabin is laid out in a way that it provides enough legroom and a decent 297-litre boot space. Fold the seats away and it transforms into a small pick-up offering 1080 litres of luggage space.

Visually, the car is appealing. With the narrow headlamps (which by the way are made of a clever plastic that is capable of healing the scratches) and a wedge-like body style it leaves an impression of a dynamic and capable car.

It's pretty well equipped car. If you're lucky you'll find a 2nd hand Punto with all the possible bells and whistles, including air-bags and electric windows and mirrors. You'll require some time to find certain knobs and controls. And be sure to prepare some Post-Its as you'll keep forgetting where things are ‐ the interior has an enormous number of nook, crannies and storage compartments of various sizes.

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Engines

Despite the impression you get from the interior of this car, the Punto is still a small car and it doesn't really need a big engine. However, the entry-level 1.2-litre 60BHP engine is too weak even for a car this size. Add more valves to the same displacement and you get a 1.2-litre 86BHP engine which is a great little power plant. From the larger engines the 1.8-litre HGT is a good choice. Connoisseurs, however, should look for the 1.4-litre engine coupled with a mechanic 6-speed gearbox. It's an explosive little thing ‐ almost like a small Ferrari. The 1.9-litre JTD diesel engine is a sound choice for those who want to save money.

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Performance and Economy

The Puntos provides a decent economy level. The 16-valve 1.2-litre engine can manage 36mpg in the city. When it comes to high-way driving, all Puntos should be able to manage at least 40mpg.

Insurance is one thing to consider. The very basic 1.2-litre 60BHP version can be insured in a 7 group. But then we decided not to touch the basic version. More powerful models will even touch the insurance group 14-17 and the top-of-the-range 1.8 HGT will be expensive to insure.

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What it's like to Drive

Because of its relatively long wheelbase and short body, you will have to get accustomed to driving and parking it. Steering is another thing that needs getting used to ‐ you can barely feel the road as you steer. Once you get it right, you'll actually enjoy driving it. The only criticism we might have is the stiff suspension, which plagues most of the Fiats range. Unless it's a 60BHP version, the car will be quick to accelerate and happy to drive at high speeds, especially the 6-speed manual version.

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Faults and Repairs

It is one of the most reliable Fiats around. Although not saved from the inherited Fiat-problems, it's not likely to give you too much of a headache. Suspension is one thing to check when buying a used Fiat. Also the electric system is prone to faults. The Punto is a city-car hence some older examples will be suffering from typical city-car ailments ‐ wobbly clutches and tired brakes.

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