Introduction
The Punto has been around as a car since 1994 and has done very well for itself, selling more than 300,000 to date in the UK alone. In fact, helped by a comprehensive facelift last year, this Fiat has become the second best selling car in Europe. The old-style van (tested by CM in 1996) has now run its course and the CV version of the new Punto has been launched. It looks quite different, too: the rear hatch slopes inwards, angular light clusters sit high on the rear pillars and the front bumper threatens to eat the road in front of it.
As well as the body workout, the Punto has changed in other respects. Payload and power are both up, for instance, and a selectable two-level power steering system is standard, while ABS is a welcome addition to the options list.
Product Profile
Buyers can choose between two Punto van variants: a 1.9-litre naturally aspirated diesel and a 1.2-litre petrol version, costing £7,495 and £7,195 respectively (delivery adds £421).
The specifications do not stretch to a high-output common-rail turbo-diesel, however; the direct-injection naturally aspirated diesel develops just 60hp at 4,500rpm. Mind you, that’s four horsepower more than its 1.7-litre predecessor. (despite having a catalytic converter and EGR), while torque is up by 20%, from 98Nm to 118Nm at 2,250rpm.
The petrol engine matches the diesel’s power but, as you’d expect, torque is lower, peaking at 102Nm at 2,500rpm.
Standard equipment and trim levels on car-derived vans can be pretty generous, mainly because it simply isn’t cost effective to change the car’s specification for a relatively low-volume commercial cousin. The Punto is no exception to this rule and comes with a height adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat, a driver’s-side airbag, cup holders, washable tufted carpet and height-adjustable seat-belts.
CM is intrigued by the deep grooves in the side panels which replace the windows found in the car version: they look a little like Venetian blinds. The panels look very purposeful with their go-faster grooves, but it’s another question whether they have an influence over fuel consumption.
Options for buyers include ABS for £298, air conditioning for £596 and electric windows and central locking for £275 the pair. If you want your passenger to have an airbag it will cost you another £166.
Productivity
Out laden fuel figure of 48.7mpg around the Kent test route is an improvement over the last Punto we tested – which returned 47.2mpg – and is good enough for a vehicle of this size. Oddly enough, it’s close to the 49.6mpg that Fiat quotes for the EC combined test cycle.
Payload is increased in the new Punto by 60kg to 453kg – pretty good for a hatchback-derived van – and this is the same for both petrol and diesel versions: the diesel is 140kg heavier than the petrol, but it has a higher gross weight to compensate. Without driving the two back to back, it’s impossible to say what effect this has on their respective handling and performance.
The Punto’s load volume is 1,0m, which is typical for the hatchvan class but, disappointingly, a little less than its predecessor’s. One observer remarked that the load volume would improve if the rear door were not concave, at the expense of those rakish curves. Incidentally the rear end of the Fiat appears on the front of the van’s brochure, so you can see how proud its designers are of it. A far nicer rump than the Clio’s.
The loading sill is pretty high, but this is no surprise on a hatchback-derived van. Most users will be carrying relatively light loads, but please keep this limitation in mind; we wouldn’t want you to slip a disc. The load hatch can be opened from inside the cabin, which might seem unnecessary but does seem to save time. The Punto comes with a non-slip PCC load mat, a pair of tie-down points and a full-height mesh partition as standard, which can help prevent the driver from being squashed (this can seriously delay a parcel delivery).
One downside of the little fiat is that the oil and filter changes come thick and fast, at every 6,000 miles – a bit of a pain, to say the least, and a far cry from the 18,000-mile service intervals of some of the latest vans.
The standard warranty is an impressive three-year, 1000,000-mile deal (comprising a one-year manufacturer’s warranty and two years’ dealer cover) with a year’s AA cover which includes load continuation. Galvanised panels throughout allow Fiat to offer an eight-year anti-corrosion warranty.
