Review of the new Fiat Punto Evo range

Evolution and its stockier associate 'Evo' usually spell serious pace and sporting intent when tagged onto the end of a car's name. The BMW M3 Evolution, Lancia Delta Integrale Evolution and various Mitsubishi Lancer Evo models have all been high performance highlights of their day. The Fiat Punto Evo isn't. At this point, interest levels will be falling amongst track day fans and schoolboys with a poster vacancy next to the Bugatti Veyron on their bedroom walls, but motorists who fancy buying into Fiat's long history of fun, affordable small cars should be paying closer attention.

Fiat's naming strategy where its Punto supermini is concerned can be less than transparent. We'd just got used to calling the car the Grande Punto under the Italian marque's insistence. Now, following a reasonably thorough facelift, we're expected to drop that and refer to it as the Punto Evo. The Grande Punto continues as a budget alternative to the Evo, so it's not as Grande as it once was.

According to the accompanying PR bumf, the Punto Evo "highlights a level of evolution in car design that is capable of satisfying customers who are increasingly demanding in terms of technology, driveability and respect for the environment." From that, we can read that it's not merely a Grande Punto with different light clusters and bumpers. It does have different light clusters and bumpers, of course, but there are also efficiency and safety improvements, desirable infotainment options and some very interesting upgrades to the engine range.

The contents of the Punto Evo's engine bay could be its strongest suit. The powerplants are compact but the range-topping units make up for any lack of capacity with some cutting edge technology. The 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre 8-valve petrol engines are reasonably solid and contribute to the Punto Evo's attractive upfront pricing. They develop 65 and 77bhp respectively but for a fully rounded and capable Punto Evo, it's far better to spend a little extra on one of the more advanced powerplants.

"There will be disappointment in some quarters when news filters through that the Punto Evo is not some lunatic performance hatchback."

The 1.4-litre MultiAir engine is a highlight of the Punto Evo range. It's available in 105bhp guise or with 135bhp thanks to the addition of a turbocharger. The clever bit is the MultiAir's electrohydraulic valve management system that will sound like gobbledegook to most but works to optimise the amounts of air entering the combustion system by controlling the engine intake valves independently of the throttle. The result is improvements in things that motorists tend to like - performance, economy and refinement.

On the diesel side, there's more innovation in the shape of the second generation of Fiat's ever-popular 1.3-litre Multijet diesel. Available in 75bhp and 95bhp guises, this compact common-rail diesel engine is a perfect fit in a small car like the Punto Evo. A finely controlled combustion process produces high levels of economy and plenty of torque. The 95bhp engine, which features a variable geometry turbocharger, can cover the 0-62mph sprint in 11.7s. If you want more pace than that, there's the 1.6-litre Multijet diesel with 120bhp and a 9.7-second 0-62mph time.

The clean, classy looks of the Grande Punto were a definite strongpoint: whether Fiat has managed to retain this with the Punto Evo is something you'll need to decide for yourself. Certainly, the latest look packs in a shade more aggression, with the indicators relocated outside the main headlight clusters and the grille dropped lower down the nose, but the effect is fussier than before. At the rear, the tail light design is attractive and the bumper insert mirrors the shape made by the grille and intake at the front. The Punto remains a handsome supermini but it'll be interesting to see if customers still judge it to be one of the most stylish cars in the sector.

Inside, this car makes a far more obvious step forward. The quality of the plastics and fabrics used is very impressive and the two tone colour schemes on the plusher models work well. The dashboard is sculpted around its consoles and air vents with chrome and gloss black inserts adding to the upmarket ambience. The control systems are easy to work out and particular mention should go to the nicely shaped steering wheel. The Punto is one of the larger cars in the supermini sector and with its lengthy wheelbase comes a spacious interior. The 275-litre boot isn't outstanding for the class but rear leg and headroom is very good indeed.

Fiat hasn't been shy in piling technological features into the Punto Evo. All models come with a comprehensive safety specification that includes a full complement of airbags including a driver's knee airbag. The Dualogic robotised gearbox is available with selected engine options and depending on the trim level, the car can also come with daytime running lights, adaptive cornering fog lights, a hill holder function, the Sky Dome electric sunroof and some tempting infotainment options.

Fiat is particularly proud of its award-winning Blue&Me system which incorporates, Bluetooth wireless technology with voice recognition, a USB and MP3 compatible stereo and Blue&Me TomTom satellite navigation. In partnership with leading manufacturer TomTom, Fiat is offering a removable satellite navigation unit that integrates seamlessly with the car's other system and can be controlled via voice recognition or buttons on the steering wheel. Clever stuff!

No car can afford to leave the environmental base uncovered in this day and age but the Punto Evo goes further than most in attempting to reduce running costs and harmful emissions. Fiat's Start&Stop technology is available on the models with 1.3 and 1.4-litre engines while the second generation Multijet diesels also get a particulate filter, as does the 1.6-litre range-topping diesel unit. All this helps the 75bhp Multijet model to 67mpg combined cycle economy, with the 105bhp 1.4-litre MultiAir petrol managing 50mpg with 134g/km emissions.

A further innovation is the eco:Drive system which collects information about your driving style that can then be downloaded and transferred to a computer on a USB stick. Punto Evo owners can then get tips on driving in a more eco-friendly manner that Fiat claims can improve fuel economy by as much as 15%.

There will be disappointment in some quarters when news filters through that the Punto Evo is not some lunatic performance hatchback. In the case of this facelifted successor to Fiat's Grande Punto, the Evo branding is meant to a convey a progression in terms of technology, quality and environmental responsibility rather than the supersized spoilers and turbochargers it's become associated with elsewhere. What's important is that Fiat looks to have done a thorough job of evolving its popular supermini, with the interior and engine technology standing out in particular.

TOP 5 PUNTO EVO DEALS

The results below show the top PUNTO EVO deals on buyacar

Fiat Punto EVO 1.4 Multiair 16V GP 3dr Hatchback
Price £11,023 Read Punto EVO Reviews	Save £1,972
Fiat Punto EVO 1.4 Multiair 16V Dynamic 3dr Hatchback
Price £10,623 Read Punto EVO Reviews	Save £1,872
Fiat Punto EVO 1.4 Multiair 16V GP 5dr Hatchback
Price £11,503 Read Punto EVO Reviews	Save £2,092
Fiat Punto EVO 1.4 Multiair 16V Dynamic 5dr Hatchback
Price £11,103 Read Punto EVO Reviews	Save £1,992
Fiat Punto EVO 1.2 MyLife 5dr Hatchback Special Editions
Price £10,210 Read Punto EVO Reviews	Save £1,740
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