Fiat Grande Punto 5 Door Hatchback 2006 Pictures

Fiat Grande Punto 5 Door Hatchback 2006 Pictures High Res

                     

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Fiat Grande Punto 5 door hatchback 2006

The art of looking small on the outside yet spacious within is a highly prized achievement in the supermini segment. The Grande Punto certainly fits this profile as well as having the panache to fill it.

Those Italian designers have really excelled themselves with the latest Punto; its pebble like roundness and conical headlamp housings have a playful, soft appearance, yet its sporty side skirts and spoiler demand a more serious rep. Then there’s its narrow yet prominent grate-like grille, colour-coded bumper and deep airdam recess with its foglight housing. The Grande Punto’s also got a nipped in waistline at its sides which is another aesthetically pleasing touch and this is repeated at the rear with its tidy midline boot join. Both the five and the three door versions also sport upright tail-light clusters and a top hinged tailgate. In practical terms you can access the boot from its full width which makes loading easier.

The interior of the new Grande Punto looks fresh and modern; there’s also been a good deal of thought that’s gone in to ensuring all the controls and displays are logically set out and easy to use. Without taking your hands off the steering wheel you can change the radio channel and volume and by pressing the button at the end of the indicator stalk, you can view different data on your trip computer. The colour co-ordination and design of the interior are very inviting and with all that room around you, including a high roof it has a free and airy ambience. The gear stick feels pretty big at first but not clumsy by any means, we also took a real shine to the steering wheel as it fans out in thickness to give your wrist extra support, it’s also very tactile. The material chosen for the seat detailing is a little IKEA rather than John Lewis but then this car is very good value for money much like the popular furniture store. We also like the uniqueness of their styling and the lumbar support it offers.

Start up the engine and the initial turn-over sounds like a diesel, although a close inspection of the petrol cap confirmed it took unleaded. When moving away it was smooth and pretty quiet but it also felt a bit under powered, especially with 5 people in the car. It was great for tottiling along A-roads and also fared well on the motorway but in terms of overtaking manoeuvres, it will take a good run-up. With 77bhp to lay down on the tarmac and 85lb ft of torque to back it up, it feels quite laid back and calming to drive which could be a good thing in a society where everyone is stressed out and in a hurry. It’s got a top speed of 103mph and this matches a mediocre acceleration from 0-62mph in 13.2 seconds. Its combined fuel economy of 46.3mpg is much more impressive though and this seems to tip the balance in its favour when contemplating the benefits of ownership.

Other engines in the range include an entry level 1.2litre petrol engine with 65bhp at the flywheel and an award winning 1.3litre 16-valve diesel offered with either 75bhp or 90bhp. At the top end of the range is a 120bhp or 130bhp version of the flagship 1.9litre 8-valve Multijet engine. Both petrol engines as well as the 75bhp, 1.3litre Multijet unit have the five speed manual gearbox, whereas the 90bhp 1.3litre turbodiesel and both 1.9litre Multijet powerplants are married off to a 6-speed manual transmission. There are more engines in the pipeline for the Grande Punto including a 95bhp 1.4litre 16-valve petrol engine which we feel will be a good option for press-on motorists. Further advancements to the transmission are also hinted at for the future, this is likely to be in the form of a Dualogic clutchless 5-speed sequential manual shift example. The choice of engines and transmissions for Fiat’s popular supermini are the most plentiful in the B-segment market.

The Grande Punto handles well on the whole, there’s no wobbles on corners or the fear it won’t do as it’s told. When parking and manoeuvring at low speeds the steering requires little effort, especially if you press a little button picturing a steering wheel which you will find on the centre console. This also helps around urban areas, hence the little ‘city’ that is displayed on your dash and the lighter feel of the wheel. Fiat’s little gem is also rather slick when travelling at higher speeds but it has a bit of a restless shuffle at slower speeds when the surface is uneven. Although noticeable it’s not something you’d really penalise it on as over all the dynamics are good.

Equipment is another plus for the supermini, even on the entry-level Active model which features its clever ‘Follow Me Home Headlights.’ This means that once you’ve parked up your car, your driveway or garage can be lit up for a few minutes while you get to the door. You can operate this by the light flasher stalker and be seen right to your door by the dipped beams and side light that automatically switch off again. Parking sensors are also offered as standard on higher spec models as well as extra stability control, a Bluetooth telecommunications pack, flashy alloys and on the sporting model sports seats and interior trim. You can also opt for selective equipment from higher spec models to adorn your more humble example as well as other optional equipment like a Sky dome crystal-glass sunroof.

To summarise then, this roomy supermini has a lot to offer and Fiat have done the brand proud with thirteen versions available and prices starting from a minute £7594. The Grande Punto also received top marks in the Euro NCAP crash rating and Fiat is expected to shift 360,000 of these models a year. Since the launch of the original Punto in 1993, it has proved a big hit in Europe and is one of Fiat’s most crucial brands.

Verdict

FOR: It’s very stylish, roomy, affordable and safe. Ergonomics are well thought out and standard equipment pretty generous. Optional equipment like the Sky dome crystal-glass sunroof is also very appealing as it occupies almost the entire roof and so has a similar feel to a convertible.

AGAINST: Not a car you execute swift overtaking manoeuvres in. Shuffles a bit over uneven surfaces at lower speeds but not anything major and the materials used for the seat detailing are budget yet stylish.

CONCLUSION: The quality and driveability of the new Punto has improved a great deal, it’s cheap to buy and fairly cheap to run but you still have the reassurance that it’s solid, well-equipped and has plenty of Italian style. It’s proved to be hugely popular already and we think its charm will keep on multiplying as more prospective buyers are inspired to purchase one due to their enchanting presence on the road.

Spec
ENGINE: 1.4litre petrol
Co2 (g/km)/tax: 145/-
POWER: 77bhp @ 6000rpm
TORQUE (lb/ft): 85lb ft @ 3000rpm
0-62mph (sec): 13.2
TOP SPEED: 103
MPG: 36.7/54.3/46.3 (urban/extra-urban/combined)
TRANSMISSION: 5 speed manual
SUSPENSION: Front: Macpherson Independent with telescopic dampers and anti-roll bar Rear: Torsion beam interconnected wheels with torsion bar and telescopic hydraullic dampers
BRAKES: Front: 257 ventilated discs, Rear: 228 drum
WHEELS: 15″
TYRES: 175/65R 15T
WEIGHT: 1030kg
RIVALS: Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 206