Even though it’s been almost a year since the Punto was launched, it is still one of the best looking cars in its segment, thus warranting no exterior changes whatsoever. It retains the mini-Maserati front end, which is the highlight of the car. The tear drop headlamps are still striking. Flared wheel arches are well integrated and add a bit of muscle to the car’s profile. The Grande Punto still wears an overall proportionate design and looks particularly smashing in red or black body colours. Clearly, the Italians know a thing or two about style.
In some ways, the Grande Punto does come across a modern sibling of the Palio. On the inside though, there are a host of new additions. The steering wheel is now tilt adjustable and rolling the windows down is no more a laborious affair, thanks to the inclusion of power windows. While the Emotion variant gets an integrated music system, fog lamps, electric mirrors, dual tone dashboard and split seats as standard, Fiat is also offering an enticing introductory offer by offering a music system free in the lower Dynamic variant. Smart move, we say.
Like the competition, the Punto also gets a 1.2 -litre engine to benefit from the excise duties. But unlike the competition, the specs look the least promising of the lot. The fully integrated robotised engine or F.I.R.E, as Fiat calls it, puts out a meager 68 PS@ 6000 rpm and maximum torque of 96 Nm@ 2500 rpm. With all of the competition pushing out in excess of 75 PS, the Punto is a pretty dull performer.
Call for sudden acceleration and you will be disappointed. In th earlier petrol avatar, the 1.4- litre DOHC 89 horsepower petrol would perform stupendously (115 nm @ 4,500 rpms), and it’s a heck of a lot of fun to drive. The petrol is smooth and revvs freely all the way to its 6,600 rpm redline (there is no Palio 1.6 100 BHP machine though).
Driveability was better than in the Honda Jazz 1.2, the second gear pulling clean from 10 kph (with three passengers and full luggage onboard) all the way to 80 kph, and proving to be a vital tool within the city.
Even the third would pull clean from in-town speeds. The engine would sound awesome at high rpms (classic Italian engine sound).
The new Punto, though with a step-down engine, still manages to bring more or less the same mileage.
The engine is kept pretty busy all the time . Overtaking also has to be a well planned affair and downshifting to a lower gear only makes it guzzle more fuel without yielding any quick progress. Driving around town, the Punto 1.2 returned 10 kmpl.
At Rs 4.57 lakh and Rs 4.87 lakh ex-showroom Delhi, respectively, for the Dynamic and Emotion variants, the Punto is a pretty viable option for those looking for a well-mannered, good looking hatch. However, with the recent splurge of competition offering so much more, Fiat will have to up its ante even further.