Fiat Punto gets Grander

Photography - Kunal Khadse

Try till you succeed, that has most certainly been Fiat's motto in India. Been around in the Indian market for ages this gritty Italian manufacturer has certainly defied a lot of odds to still make its presence felt in the Indian car market. The Grande Punto when launched had a lot riding on its shoulders and would decide Fiat's future in India. And it did it in style. Great looks, a decent line-up of engines and some very good pricing made it one of the most practical buys in its segment. But with a slew of new launches recently from Ford, VW and Chevrolet, the Punto was suddenly toppled of its 'fresh kid on the block' spot. To get back into the game Fiat recently unveiled the Punto 1.2 litre variant in Dynamic and Emotion trim. For the uninitiated, the Punto 1.2 until now was only available in the very basic Active variant.

Design and Style:

Even though it's been almost year since the Punto was launched, it is still one of the best looking cars in its segment thus warranting no exterior changes front whatsoever. It retains the signature split grille flanked by those teardrop shaped head lights gives it an individuality that can only come from an Italian. Then there are the protruding wheel arches and that muscular waistline which lends it a brawny image as well. The only thing sorely lacking are those brilliant 12-spoke alloy wheels. To keep costs down the 1.2 Emotion gets shod with plain-jane hub caps.

On the Inside:

On the inside though there are a host of new additions. The steering wheel is now tilt adjustable and rolling the windows down is no more a laborious affair thanks to the inclusion of power windows. While the Emotion variant gets an integrated music system, fog lamps, electric mirrors, dual tone dashboard and split seats as standard, Fiat is also offering an enticing introductory offer by offering a music system free in the lower Dynamic variant. Smart move we say.

Under the hood:

Like the competition, the Punto also gets a 1.2 litre engine to benefit from the excise duties. But unlike the competition, the specs look the least promising of the lot. The Fully Integrated Robotized Engine or F.I.R.E as Fiat calls it puts out a meager 68 PS@ 6000 rpm and maximum torque of 96 Nm@ 2500 rpm. With all of the competition pushing out in excess of 75 PS, the Punto is a pretty dull performer. Thanks to a dated SOHC eight-valve head, acceleration from 0-100 takes a yawning 19.06 seconds. In-gear acceleration also suffers due to the heavy kerb weight and the underpowered engine. The only saving grace is that the Punto?s max torque is generated at a much lower 2500 rpm making city driving a comfortable affair. Gear shift requirements are minimal and the Punto easily chugs around in higher gears. But call for sudden acceleration and you will be disappointed.

Fuel Efficiency:

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Smaller engines equate to great fuel efficiency figures is nothing but a myth, and the Punto 1.2 just confirms it. The engine is kept pretty busy all the time and even at a 100 km/h in top gear the rev counter is stuck at 4k rpm throwing any possibilities of relaxed cruising out of the window. Overtaking also has to be a well planned affair and downshifting to a lower gear only makes it guzzle more fuel without yielding any quick progress. Driving around town, the Punto 1.2 returned 10 kmpl while on the highway, the figure was bettered marginally with 12 kmpl giving the Punto an overall figure of 10.5 kmpl. These figures are only marginally better than the 1.4 petrol variant which additionally also offers some very good performance.

Verdict:

At Rs. 4.57 and 4.87 lakh ex-showroom Delhi respectively for the Dynamic and Emotion variants, the Punto is a pretty viable option for those looking well mannered, good looking hatch. However with the recent splurge of competition offering so much more, Fiat will have to up its ante even further.