Fiat Punto (2010-2018) Review

Once upon a time, drivers that wanted a small, affordable car might turn to their local Fiat dealer and take a test drive in the Punto. The perky hatchback was the equivalent of pizza, with a cheery disposition and likeable personality that meant it would, generally, hit the spot when you needed a new car.

Fiat made a mistake, though. The company kept the car in showrooms for far too long. So what was once considered a staple fix for drivers soon took on the appearance of days-old, cold, congealed pizza in the window of a pizza parlour. Unsurprisingly, people walked on by and sales dried up.

The final nail in the Punto’s coffin was an extremely poor set of results in independent crash tests, performed in 2018 by Euro NCAP, which saw the car become the first to be given a zero rating – out of a maximum potential of five stars.

It means there are better compact hatchbacks available to used car buyers. And not just a few; the majority of competitor cars were significantly better in every area, by the end of the Punto’s life.

Just how long was that life? The final, 2018 model had its roots in a car first launched in 2005, as Grande Punto some 13 years before. Most car companies replace a model after around six to seven years.

To be fair, Fiat facelifted the Punto. Not just once, but twice, first for the Punto Evo and then for the plainly named Punto, reviewed here.

The Punto has many rivals including the Volkswagen Polo, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia, Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio, Hyundai i20, Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio and Peugeot 208. All are worth considering over the Punto.

Let’s start with the Punto’s good points. As a used car, it’s pretty cheap – after just two years, a new car would have lost half its original value. And although beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it’s quite good-looking too. Also, later in life, Fiat fitted plenty of equipment as standard, such as air-conditioning, Bluetooth for smartphones and alloy wheels.

However, over time, the Punto was shown up by rivals that boasted modern features. A touchscreen entertainment system and safety innovations such as automatic emergency braking (the main reason why the Punto performed so badly in crash tests) were sorely missing.

The other big downside of the Punto is its poor engine range. For the final, 2012 to 2018 model, Fiat started with a wide choice of five petrol and one diesel engines. Within a year it dropped most of them and left drivers with the choice of two mediocre petrol engines. There were just two trim levels, too.

Inside there’s a good driving position, but the quality of the interior is nothing special, with lots of hard plastics in evidence, creating the impression that you’re in a cheap car. At least the cabin was relatively roomy, with space for four adults, and there was a choice of either three- or five-door body styles. The boot is quite large and well shaped, and holds up to 275-litres of luggage, but there is rather a pronounced lip to lift shopping over, while on all bar the entry-level Pop+ model, the folding seat back could be split 60/40.

The driving experience is nothing to write home about. The suspension gives a reasonable ride, which helps isolate potholes and bumps around town well, but the downside is this softness means the car wallows around a lot and leans in corners. In no way could it be described as fun to drive, and in that area, its key rival, the Ford Fiesta, is light years ahead.

In all, there are far better used hatchbacks that will better cater for drivers and their family or friends. So unless you can be certain of a bargain, consider investing your hard-earned money elsewhere.

 

Key facts

Warranty	Three years/100,000 miles (two-year manufacturer + one-year dealer)
Boot size	275 litres
Width	1,687mm
Length	4,065mm
Height	1,490mm
Tax (min to max)	£110 to £130

Best Fiat Punto for...

Best for Economy – Fiat Punto 0.9 TwinAir Easy+ 3dr

There’s not a great deal of difference in the fuel economy of the various Fiat Punto versions, but the 0.9-litre, two-cylinder TwinAir engine can return up to 67mpg and is exempt from road tax. However, in daily driving conditions, owners reported being disappointed by the engine’s lack of efficiency.

Best for Families – Fiat Punto 1.4 Easy+ 5dr

If you have kids, or regularly carry passengers, pick the five-door Punto over the three-door. You’ll definitely want the stronger 1.4-litre engine and better-equipped Easy+ trim level, too.

Best for Performance – Fiat Punto 1.4 Easy+ 3dr

There used to be a mildly sporty version of the Punto, fitted with the 135hp, 1.4-litre MultiAir petrol engine, but that was quickly discontinued. So the most ‘sporty’ and widely available Punto was the three-door, Easy+’s with the 1.4-litre petrol engine.

One to Avoid – Fiat Punto 1.2 Pop+ 3dr

This version of the Punto combines the least powerful engine with the most humble trim level. We’d give it a miss.

History

Understanding Fiat Punto names

Engine 1.4

Although previously available with diesel power, the post-2012 Punto was only offered in the UK with 0.9, 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol engines.

Trim Easy+

The trim levels – or versions – of the Punto consisted of just two options: Pop+ and Easy+.

Fiat Punto Engines

Fiat Punto Trims

Fiat Punto Reliability and warranty

Used Fiat Punto