Model tested: Fiat Grande Punto 1.9 Multijet 130 Sporting
Price: £12,420
Date tested: June 2007
Road tester: Stuart Milne

Overall rating: 83%
The Grande Punto is bigger than previous Puntos, but it hasn't lost its youthful charm. It oozes style from every angle, is great fun to drive and offers tremendous value for money.

1. Looks
The Grande Punto is surely the prettiest supermini on the road. Its front is reminiscent of the Aston Martin DB7, while the rear and sides carry on the curvy theme. There are plenty of neat touches and even the base models look great.
9/10

2. Looks inside
So often interiors fail to live up to the expectations set by the bodywork. Not so with the Grande Punto, with its colour-coded dashboard that's are a world away from the grey plastics in most other superminis. The seats are supportive too.
8/10

3. Practicality
As the Grande Punto has grown, so has its practicality. There's lots of room for all, but the boot isn't class-leading. There's plenty of storage space too.
8/10

4. Ride and Handling
The Grande Punto feels composed at speed, while the steering is precise and light at low speeds – although it gets heavier as speeds rise. A 'City' mode lightens the steering further for easier parking.
8/10

5. Performance
The 130bhp 1.9 Multijet engine is a gem; punchy, refined and free-revving, while the six-speed manual gearbox is also a joy. The Sporting accelerates to 62mph in 9.5 seconds and the top speed is 124mph.
9/10

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6. Running Costs
With prices starting from around £7,500, the Grande Punto is exceptionally cheap and huge demand keeps second-hand values healthy. Fiat claims an average of 48mpg, insurance is group 6, while emissions are 154g/km.
9/10

7. Reliability
Fiat has been working to iron out the niggles which used to beset its vehicles; the Grande Punto seems as well built as anything else from Europe. The Reliability Index for the cost and frequency of breakdowns rates the Punto far better than average.
8/10

8. Safety
The Grande Punto has a five-star EuroNCAP rating, with most models having six airbags and some getting ESP.
8/10

9. Equipment
All Grande Puntos get electric front windows and remote central locking while higher spec models get air-con or climate control, alloy wheels, electric mirrors and MP3-compatible CD player. The Sporting adds 17-inch alloys, chrome exhaust, cruise control, bucket seats and a trip computer.
8/10

10. X-Factor
The Grande Punto oozes style from every angle. It's great fun to drive, especially in 1.9 Sporting guise. But best of all is its tremendous value for money.
8/10