FIAT PUNTOUSED-CARS

The Fiat Punto is up against major competition in the supermini class. The Ford Fiesta, Peugeot’s 208 and Opel Corsa have set the pace and Fiat has the onerous task of trying to keep up on underpinnings that date back to 2005.  It would appear that Fiat believe that ‘performance and cosmetic tweaks’ are the main routes by which the Fiat Punto is aiming to keep pace with its rivals. This might be the case as the styling features have undergone a series of overhauls, some more effective than others, but the additions to the engine bay have been more consistently successful.

The current range runs from entry-level Pop, through Easy to

the top spec Sporting model. 

Engine-wise, there are the 1.2 and 1.4-litre 8-valve units (very

lack-lustre) but its recommended stretching the budget for the impressive 900cc Twin Air 2-

cylinder or the 1.4-litre MultiAir.  

In general, decent safety credentials, some strong engines

and a smooth ride fail to compensate for the Punto’s dowdy handling and dated

underpinnings.

This is the third generation of the Fiat Punto and despite a series of face-lifts things remain largely

unchanged since it first emerged as the Grande Punto in 2006.

 New headlights or a few extra paint choices can’t

disguise its dated design and the Punto looks bland next to more head-turning rivals like the Ford

Fiesta and Kia Rio. 

The Punto’s drab personality continues inside. Cheap plastics, a tiny gear-lever and the cabin’s overall flimsiness make the cheaper Fiat Panda

look like a luxury car.

 Fiat SA offer as standard a 150 000 km or 5 year warranty across the Punto range.

 Whichever model you choose, make sure you shop around, because big discounts are available. Our

Target Price gives a good indication of how much you should expect to save, but even bigger discounts are available online.

 

All said than done, the Fiat Punto is an option in South Africa's B-segment and has been priced favourably when compared to other vehicles such as the Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Polo.