Fiat stuck a 'Grande' in front of its latest Punto supermini in a bid to emphasise the car's generous size and spaciousness. It bodes well for the Grande Punto's commercial vehicle conversion but will the supermini's other qualities make the transition into van guise an effective one?

Fiat's Punto has been a leading supermini in the UK market for a number of years and those superminis have usually been offered to businesses in van form. The problem in the past was that the qualities which made the Punto a good supermini didn't necessarily make it a good van. The passenger car Punto has traditionally sold on its vibrant Italian design and sparky driving experience whereas the robust build quality and reliability that operators look for in their small vans has sometimes been lacking. Initially, the latest Grande Punto looks a far better commercial vehicle bet, retaining the flair of Punto generations past while upping the quality anti a few notches. With Fiat's excellent diesel engines still in attendance, it promises to make quite a van.

The engine installed is a four-cylinder 75bhp 1.3-litre Multijet unit that has also seen LCV service in Fiat's Doblo Cargo van. It was Fiat that originally developed the common-rail diesel engine technology that has proliferated across the automotive world so the firm's engineers know a thing or two about squashing oil and it shows here. The headline figure is the 62.8mpg fuel economy that the Grande Punto Van can achieve on the combined cycle, making it one of the most fuel efficient light commercial vehicles you can buy. Performance isn't brutal and if you're caught out of the engine's prime torque band, the van can flounder slightly but with peak torque of 190Nm available from 1,750rpm, that isn't a regular occurrence. Keep the engine on the boil and it's possible to make sprightly progress in the Grande Punto with the firm suspension providing just enough suppleness on poor roads.

"Fiat's Grande Punto lives up to its billing with a spacious interior"

The power-assisted steering is well weighted under normal circumstances and allows for some accuracy when turning into corners. Hit the dash mounted 'City' button, however, and the wheel lightens up allowing you to twirl your way through tricky manoeuvres with a feather touch. It's a unique feature in a light van and one that definitely adds to the Grande Punto package. On the open road, where the figures suggest the van might attain as much as 80mpg, wind noise is well controlled and the engine sounds smooth at cruising speeds. It does get a bit thrashy at the top of its rev-range but most will be content to stay away from that and enjoy the fuel economy. The Grande PuntoVan will do the 0-60mph sprint in 13.6s and hit a 103mph top speed on a good day.

Giorgetto Giugiaro doesn't design too many vans but he did do this one and if prettiness is top of your priorities when choosing a commercial vehicle, you may just have met your match. The great man's work on the Grande Punto passenger car is carried across unmolested to the van. The rear windows are replaced with grooved panels but otherwise the sleek, curving lines of the Punto remain intact. Lift the tailgate and the load area presents itself. The rear seats are gone and there's a large and usefully square space ready to take the tools of your trade.

Climb inside and the Grande Punto cab area instantly impresses. We've grown used to some questionable build quality on Fiat products over the years but the Grande definitely inspires confidence. The centre console's clean design makes the ventilation and stereo systems extremely easy to use and there's a solidity that's common to all of the controls with the possible exception of the indicator stalk. The seating is firm and supportive with strong side bolsters and plenty of adjustment for even the very tall to get a good driving position. The unusually shaped steering wheel feels great in the hands and the creative choice of trim materials is preferable to the overwhelming grey you get in some rivals.

The Grande Punto is one of the better load-luggers in the supermini-derived van sector with its 1m3 load volume. This capacity is obviously well down on vans that are built for the purpose but Fiat have done a thorough job converting the Grande Punto supermini with a full-height mesh bulkhead and a handy soft load cover that can be extended across to shield your cargo from prying eyes. The floor is lined with tough matting, although there's quite a lip to be negotiated while loading, the tailgate aperture is nice and wide.

As tends to be the case in car-derived vans, storage space in the cab area is very limited. Even the owner's manual has to settle for a place in the door pocket as the promisingly wide glovebox lid reveals only a very small area. There are small cubbies in front of the gearlever and the general spaciousness of the Grande Punto means that the passenger seat can be slid forward to create a storage opportunity behind. Failing that, larger Items that won't go in the back may have to be plonked in the passenger foot well.

Standard equipment levels include a CD stereo, remote central locking, electric wing mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering column and the dual drive electric power steering. Externally, the car keeps up appearances with body-coloured bumpers, body-coloured side panels and a natty set of wheel trims. Climate control air-conditioning, alloy wheels, front fog lights and reverse parking sensors are available from the options list but ABS with EBD is standard on all models.

The Grande Punto needs to convince the supermini-derived van market of its merits in the face of competition from the likes of Vauxhall's Corsavan, Ford's Fiesta Sport Van and Peugeot's 207 Van. A key strength is the way it looks but it's very competitive in terms of load and cabin space and none can beat the economy of its engine. The UK market for vans based on supermini passenger cars is limited simply because of their limited carrying capacity but their manoeuvrability, low running costs and appealing driving dynamics attract enough customers to convince these leading brands that it's worth fighting over a slice of the pie.

You'd expect a van based on a small Italian car to be vibrant and stylish but what about the qualities that commercial vehicle operators really look for? Fiat's Grande Punto lives up to its billing with a spacious interior split into a comfortable cabin and a practical loadbay. The quality of materials and construction is way better than the manufacturer's reputation might lead some people to expect and the economical 1.3-litre diesel engine keeps running costs manageable.

The abundant space in the front could have been better utilised to lay-on additional storage options and the enjoyable driving experience is hampered somewhat by an awkward gearchange but otherwise, the Grande Punto van does a commendable job. Supermini-derived vans won't meet everyone's requirement but if you can live with the limited carrying capacity, this fun little Fiat is well worth a look.