21/01/10

• Price13,695
• We like...Style; new-tech engines
• We don't...Base 1.4 lacks spark

Mid-life refresh brings new engines, a smoother ride and sassier cabins. But has the Evo improved enough? We find outThe Punto Evo. If you know your cars, ‘evo’ evokes bonkers performance saloons Mercedes and Mitsubishi made and makes. But here it marks that Fiat’s little car has moved on. Grown up, even. That’s not to say it has increased in size though, thanks to its new bumpers, it’s now just a few millimetres longer.

The Grande Punto, which this takes over from, was already one of the prettiest superminis. The Evo grafts on a new nose inspired by its baby sister, the 500, new lights all-round and a new dash and seats. Mid-life makeovers, with cars as with people, aren’t always for the better but this is a good ‘un.

Looks are subjective but we’d say the car has emerged more handsome. But the changes that hit hardest come inside. Where the Grande Punto looked low-rent beside more come-lately rivals, such as Volkswagen’s just-revamped Polo, the Evo looks a quality item: nicely finished, crisp and cheerful . And when too many rivals default to charcoal and silver cabin colour-ways, Fiat’s reds and blues add welcome variety.

The cabin is also generously kitted out and seven airbags (including one for the driver’s knees) are fitted in. Fiat has worked, too, to shield passengers from engine and road noise so that it’s now one quiet small car. As before, cabin space is generous. Boot space is good and the seats drop easily to enlarge the space.

It’s also more assured over the bumps. Where the Grande Punto crashes into pot holes, the Evo cushions. Go for the Sporting or GP models and you’ll experience stiffer, more lashed-down body control than but it’ll still be comfortably fluid. The steering, too, is direct and feel-some, made better to use by leather-wrapped rims on all but basic models.

Spanning five trim levels, five engines and three or five-doors, the range is extensive. And the real interest comes with a brace of new engines, the 1.4 Multiair petrol and the 1.3 Multijet II diesel. The Multiair works tricks with its valves to boost low-revs response, improve fuel economy and push down its emissions levels. We spent an hour driving a 1.4 105bhp and can say it’s a cracker.

You’ll notice its flexibility from the off – it’ll trickle along in town on a breath of throttle – but it also likes to rev and sounds hearty, too. It feeds through a six-speed gearbox – a plus in the class and at the price. Stop-Start comes on Evos as standard and works as most similar systems do: put the gears to neutral, let up the clutch and the engine stops. Dip the pedal again and it fires.

We also tried the ‘standard’ 77bhp 1.4, which is fine if you’re tootling but struggles to push the car along with much verve. Unless you must have an entry model, the 105bhp Multiair is leaps better on every count.

Should you buy one? Sure. First impressions are that this Evo hasn’t the measure of Volkswagen’s Polo, currently the best in this market segment. But it’s not far off and it’s a good-looking character-packed alternative. It’s keenly priced, too. We’re fans.

To read the motors.co.uk review of the Grande Punto, click here
To view and buy new and second-hand Puntos on motors.co.uk, click here

• Engines1.4 litre petrol
• Power105bhp
• 0-60 mph10.8secs
• Economy49.6mpg
• CO2g/km134
• Insurance groups
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags7
• Seats5

Motors.co.uk value verdict: