Fiat Eco Bravo 2008 Fiat’s new Eco Bravo has the Monopoly on London driving; from October every time it passes ‘Go’ it will be saving £8 a day on congestion and to tax it only costs £35 a year. It’s a great year for Fiat all in all; they’ve won over the super mini fraternity with their stunning 500 model, resurrected their Abarth racing arm with great success and now they’ve launched the Fiat Eco Bravo which is not only a money spinner, it’s also trendy, practical and safe. We were treated to a blast in Fiat’s green mid-sized family hatchback around the scenic ribbon routes of the Chilterns and were pleasantly surprised by the delicacy of its front end and diligent handling. You do get a few interruptions for gear changes and a sense of distance from the steering at times but then it isn’t built to be a race car. The point is it is self-assured and much improved dynamically and this all pulls together with the Italian firm’s feel good branding.
Economy takes precedence over power but the Eco Bravo’s 104bhp unit is by no means lethargic. Fire up the engine and although noisy it’s straight off the block and puling hard up to 62mph which comes in 11.3 seconds. There’s a thrust of 214lb ft of torque from 2000rpm to yank it up hills and it’s got top end potential up to 116mph. This all sounds a bit mediocre until you mention the 62.8mpg and 119g/km of C02. Though rather than singling out one model to wear the Eco crown Fiat has developed an ‘Eco pack’ which means you can opt in or out of the environmental crusade.
The Eco pack costs an extra £295 and relies on different ECU settings and gear ratios as well as lower rolling-resistance tyres. As from October 2008 its low C02 rating will gain it congestion charge exemption and as it slots in to the tax B band it will only cost you £35 to make it road legal. The Fiat Eco Bravo has an On the Road list price of £14,150 which means it`s significantly cheaper than its main rivals the Golf Bluemotion and Ford Focus 1.6-litre TDCI Econetic. In addition Fiat now has a new range-wide five year unlimited warranty which inspires much more confidence.
The Eco Bravo’s interior is also streaks ahead of its predecessor, the upholstery has a richer, softer feel and the plastics won’t make you wince either. The Active Equipment spec proves great value for money with full electrics as standard, radio and CD player, Bluetooth connectivity, MP3 inputs, air-con and dual-zone climate control, velvour seat trim and a leather steering wheel.
The exterior styling is typically chic and could easily fool other road-users that it has much more clout beneath the bonnet. However there are other engines offered should performance be high on your agenda. The 1.6 Multijet 120 has a turbo to give it an additional 15bhp kick, the T-jet petrol engines then have 120bhp or 150bhp. The stand alone 1.9-litre diesel also serves up a healthy 150bhp or at the other end of the scale there’s a 1.4-litre 16V 90bhp petrol which keeps things modest.
The Eco Bravo has a fair amount of cabin and boot space, five doors for easy access and generous safety features. Depreciation isn’t its strongest point but with five years under warranty you’ve got plenty of time to make the most of it. As a long term investment it is sure to pay off especially as it has so many bases covered.
Verdict
FOR: Well equipped, beautiful design and cheap to run.
AGAINST: A little too much jiggle at slow speeds, the engine isn’t the most melodic and the brakes are a bit abrupt.
CONCLUSION: You’ll make a style statement in the Eco Bravo while quietly doing your bit to save the earth. Enjoy having all the mod-cons at your fingertips and more money in the bank.
Spec
ENGINE: 1.6-litre Diesel
Co2 (g/km)/tax: 119
POWER: 104bhp @ 4,000 rpm
TORQUE (lb/ft): 214 lb ft at 1500 rpm
0-62mph (sec): 11.3
TOP SPEED: 116
MPG: -/-/62.8 (urban/extra-urban/combined)
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
WEIGHT: 1320kg
PRICE: £15,150
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