Instant desirability is a commodity in short supply in the family hatch sector. These cars major on common sense rather than sassiness but the new Fiat Bravo offers some real eye candy. Team that with massively improved build quality and some great powerplants and you have what looks to be a very strong proposition.

Styling will only get you so far if the car drives poorly. Several manufacturers have found this to their cost but the new Bravo comes up trumps on that score. It's not far off the class leaders when it comes to sharp handling through a series of twisties and the selection of engines is, by and large, better than the more obvious Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra offerings. Petrol engines first. The range opens with a 90bhp normally aspirated 1.4-litre unit. Most buyers however, will go for the responsive T-Jet turbocharged versions of this engine in either 120 or 150bhp guise. These use the latest turbocharger technology to offer punchy performance with decent fuel economy and low exhaust emissions.

The diesel engines are also a big draw, Fiat leveraging its experience to great effect. Two 1.6-litre MultiJet diesels are offered, with either 105 or 120bhp, plus a 1.9-litre unit with 150bhp. In the Active and Dynamic trim levels, the 1.6 Multijet engine is also available in an Eco option, reducing the engine's CO2 emissions from 129g/km to 119g/km and boosts the Bravo's combined fuel consumption from 57.6 to 62.8 mpg. The more powerful 1.9-litre diesel has some real muscle to it, getting the Bravo from rest to 62mph in 9.0 seconds and topping 130mph. With 305Nm of torque available, it's not going to have any problem putting irksome white van men in their place, that torque output superior to something like a Subaru Impreza WRX.

It's easy to forgive the Bravo any minor shortcomings when you walk round the car, taking in its beautifully integrated detailing and elegant proportions. Many five door hatches are about as beguiling as the prospect of an evening spent creosoting your mother-in-law's fence, but the Bravo is different. Just as the Grande Punto added a touch of the exotic to the supermini class, so the new Bravo does the same for cars the next size up. Though this isn't the largest car in the class, there's a decent amount of luggage space in that curved rump.

The interior feels very well built. Bright finish plastics lift the cabin and the controls are easy to figure out without recourse to the manual. It all looks agreeably Italianate as well. Fiat has really got the hang of the whole soft-touch dashboard moulding in recent years and the new Bravo's supple, textured finish wouldn't look out of place in an Audi.

"The Italians could be onto something here."

There's no shortage of equipment either. The big draw for family buyers is undoubtedly the amount of safety gear Fiat has packed into the new Bravo. Winner of a coveted five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating, the Bravo sits squarely at the top of its category with a total of 33 points on the NCAP scorecard. The Bravo is the product of over 60 crash tests, 15,000 hours of computer simulations, 150 simulations with a crash sled and more than 100 crash tests on components and subsystems. The Bravo features two front airbags, two front side bags, two window bags and a knee airbag for the driver.

ABS anti-lock braking with electronic brakeforce distribution and the latest generation ESP stability control system should prevent the worst coming to the worst. The ESP system includes functions such as anti-slip regulation (ASR) to limit wheelspin in slippery conditions, and engine torque regulation which prevents the driven wheels locking up during rapid downshifts. Hydraulic brake assist boosts pedal pressure in emergency situations and there's even a hill-holder function to take the faff out of hill starts. Pricing looks highly competitive with mainstream rivals

Prices start at £10,995 for the entry-level 1.4-litre petrol model, with the diesels priced from £13,855. These low upfront prices allied with improving Fiat brand residuals create a car that's very class competitive in terms of that crucial pence per mile figure after a typical three year ownership period. Economy figures naturally vary according to which model you choose, but both petrol and diesel versions really are worth looking out for, even if you're not a penny pincher. There's a lot to like about a 150bhp diesel Bravo, with storming mid-range acceleration, yet which will nevertheless average over 50mpg.

Overall, the Bravo looks to be Fiat's strongest offering in this sector for some years, and I'd be more than happy to twitch the curtains and see that shape sitting outside my house. What it certainly represents is a rather beautiful alternative to the more lumpen offerings we've become used to. It's there or thereabouts in most of the dynamics areas and is decently packaged. Given that on most objective scorecards it makes the numbers, it might come down to styling. Fiat is confident. The Italians could be onto something here...

TOP 5 BRAVO DEALS

The results below show the top BRAVO deals on buyacar

	Fiat Bravo 1.6 Multijet Dynamic Eco 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £228	Saving £2,756	Price £12,439
	Fiat Bravo 1.4 T-Jet Sport 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £220	Saving £3,129	Price £11,921
	Fiat Bravo 1.4 T-Jet 120 Active Sport 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £204	Saving £2,857	Price £11,093
	Fiat Bravo 1.6 Multijet Active Eco 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £213	Saving £2,534	Price £11,661
	Fiat Bravo 1.4 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £163	Saving £1,915	Price £9,075

typical 13.02% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000