We review the Fiat Punto Evo from price to economy and all its features
IT was my very own Italian job.
I not only had an Italian supermini, but also an Italian aircraft carrier to test it on.
The warship had me immediately thinking “Top Gun” and the next thing I knew I was in a pilot’s uniform and ready for action.
I even got as far as the controls of an attack helicopter before a real pilot turned up and reality started to kick in.
But I did have a mission and that was to test Fiat’s stylish new Punto Evo.
This was the start of the most bizarre test drive of my motoring career — exploding out of the back of a helicopter on to the carrier deck. It was nothing like driving on a P&O ferry.
The Cavour carrier is the pride of the Italian navy and is a floating piece of high technology manned by a crew of 1,200.
Everything about it is big — it is 800ft long, has a 590ft runway with a “ski launch” for jets to take off and enough power to light 6,000 homes.
It is powered by four monster Fiat gas turbines capable of propelling the Cavour at a speed of more than 30 knots.
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Although the new Punto Evo may be dwarfed in size, the little Fiat has some impressive figures of its own.
Since the original was launched in 1993, Fiat have sold seven million, making it their best-selling model ever.
The Punto also likes to think of itself as a hi-tech trendsetter, thanks to two new Multi-Jet diesel and MultiAir petrol engines that boost fuel consumption by ten per cent, slash CO2 and you get MORE power.
The good news about testing a car on a ship is that there are no traffic jams and no speed cameras — the only thing I was likely to bump into was a landing helicopter or jet!
I did some high-speed formation driving down the main runway but my test came to an abrupt end when I ran out of road at the top of the ship’s ski launch.
Super stylish ... Fiat Punto Evo
So I accepted it was time for a more traditional road test.
This meant I got to use the ship’s giant lift that normally takes jets down to the hangar deck. It transported me and the Punto down and off the Cavour and back on to terra firma.
Back on the road, I quickly found that Fiat’s confidence in their new engines was justified.
The original 1.3 Multi-Jet set new standards for small diesels, but this version is smoother, more refined and quicker. The fuel economy is also up to over 67mpg. It is a perfect illustration of why you don’t really need a big engine any more.
The Punto will cruise all day at well in excess of the motorway speed limit and it’s now a lot quieter due to major sound insulation work by Fiat.
There are two different power versions of the diesel engine — the smaller 75bhp is for those who prefer economy to power, but the bigger 90bhp unit is quicker.
Fiat have high hopes for their new MultiAir 1.4litre petrol, which they claim cuts CO2 by between ten and 25 per cent, reduces fuel consumption by ten per cent but actually gives more power through the gears and does around 50mpg.
I had only a limited drive in the 1.3litre petrol and it was very refined.
But I’m not sure it was enough to get me out of the diesel. I would need a longer drive to finally decide.
The handling felt crisp and responsive, with the option of a manual or semi-automatic gear box that works well in heavy city traffic.
But the Punto Evo’s strongest point is its styling. This is without doubt the classiest small car on the road.
The Evo is, as the name suggests, an evolution of the Grande Punto it replaces, although the Grande will continue as an entry level model.
And although the styling changes are subtle they are significant, especially the re-worked nose that features a new grille, smoother headlights and a bigger badge on the chrome bonnet strip. The rear has also had changes, including a sharp new light cluster with LED running lights and lower bumper treatment, too.
On the inside the Evo takes a big jump forward with a cabin featuring new instruments which look good enough for a sporty coupe.
There are new seats that have been shaped to give better support and more comfort on long journeys, while the quality feel of the plastics and trim is a marked improvement.
This helps to put the Fiat up among the best in this class The Punto also has a fair amount of leg and headroom space for a small car.
Fiat have invested more than 220million euros on the Punto Evo and it has made the model, once again, a major contender.
But superminis are judged on price and the Punto Evo will be competitive from £10,995, especially as they will continue to sell the Grande Punto from £7,195.