Published: Commercial Motor, 24 May 2001
Punto Bellissimo!by: Peter Lawton
Italians pride themselves on their flair, and you can rarely fault the style that they give to their vehicles. But from Ferraris to Ducatis, the practical details can tend to suffer. Fiat's latest Punto hatchback has style in spades, from its jaunty rear to its purposeful front bumper. but can it also earn its keep as a practical van? We think it can.
Verdict
The Punto is a crackling little van with excellent fuel economy and more-than-adequate performance. Its build quality is excellent - like its predecessor, it feels more solid than some small hatchbacks - and Fiat's warranty is as good as any.
Only the short service interals let it down: hard working couriers could be visiting the garage every few weeks.
So it looks like the Italians have cracked it: head-turning style and a seriously practical design in one vehicle. If you're in the market for a small van (and these hatchbacks are very small) you really ought to take a second look at the Punto.
Vehicle Specifications
Fiat Punto 1.9D
| Fuel Consumption: | 48.7mpg(5.8lit/100km) |
| Average speed: | 64.4km/h |
| Gross weight as tested: | 1,570kg |
| Net payload: | 435kg |
| Load Space Volume: | 1.0m3 |
| Price as tested: | £8,830(ex-VAT) |
