Fiat Grande Punto Review (2006 to date)

Quick Summary

Recommending a used Fiat was once a sure fire way to surrender credibility as a motoring journalist. Thankfully that's no longer the case and the Grand Punto is a constituent part of the reason why. Successfully blending classic Italian style with some tried and tested mechanicals, it's well worth a punt.

Overall:

Models Covered: Grande Punto – 2006-to date, three and five-door hatchbacks (1.2, 1.4 8v, 1.4 16v, 1.4 16v T-Jet petrol, 1.3 75bhp, 1.3 90bhp, 1.9 diesel [Active, Active Sport, Dynamic, Sporting, Eleganza, Abarth )

SECONDGRANDE BARGAIN?

The premise that the smaller the Fiat, the better it is has worked quite well until recently. The Multipla and, to a certain extent, the Sedici have bucked that trend but it was the 2006 launch of the Grande Punto that finally saw big mean beautiful in the Fiat stable. No other supermini looks like it and none have its effortless style, spawning demand for used examples that's very strong. Find out here which makes the best buy second time round.
Used Fiat Grande Punto for sale

History of the Grande Punto

From conception to a production reality in less than 22 months, the Grande Punto was evidence of Fiat getting its act together and doing it fast. No expense was spared at the model's Turin international launch in 2005, the company wheeling out Luca di Montezemolo, CEO Sergio Marchionne and even Michael Schumacher put in a cameo appearance. The message was clear. This car was crucially important. Fortunately European customers have embraced the Grande Punto and the model also garnered some critical acclaim in press reviews. Based on the same platform as the MK3 Vauxhall Corsa, the tentative but ultimately aborted relationship between General Motors and Fiat produced a very good car in the Grande Punto. A turbocharged petrol-powered 1.4-litre T-Jet 120 variant was added to the range in August 2007.
Used Fiat Grande Punto for sale

Fiat Grande Punto Road Test

From launch, there were three petrol engine options - a 1.2-litre 8v with 65bhp, a 1.4-ltre 8v with 77bhp and a 1.4-litre 16v with 95bhp. A turbocharged petrol-powered 1.4-litre T-Jet 120 variant was added to the range in August 2007. Fiat offered three turbodiesels. These comprised a 1.3-litre 16v MultiJet (75bhp or 90bhp) plus a 1.9-litre MultiJet with 130bhp. To be frank, the two less powerful petrol engines don't really have the torque to move the Grande Punto really quickly and the diesels are by far the more satisfying choice. A high performance version of the 1.4 T-Jet is available in the Grande Punto Abarth model which produces 152bhp. If you want even more power this can be further upgraded to give 177bhp with a performance pack. To put this into perspective, the 1.4-litre 8v petrol will need over 13 seconds to get the car to 60mph. There are some downsides to being Grande, you see.Like the MK2 Punto, the Grande version features the 'City' button which reduces steering effort when parking to fingertip levels. With the City mode disabled, the steering gains a bit more feel although the Punto has never been a car with a particularly natural and feelsome helm. Refinement however, represents a big improvement on previous Puntos, Fiat having added a significant amount of sound deadening material to the Grande and worked on reducing vibration in the engine bay. The result is that the car is far more hushed at motorway speeds, helping to reinforce that all-important perception of quality.It also scores well in terms of safety. Fiat claimed at launch that it was one of the three safest cars it was then possible to buy and the Grande was designed from the outset to bag a prestigious (and almost mandatory these days) Euro NCAP five-star award. With a massively rigid chassis and airbags that seem able to sprout from any compass bearing, the Grande Punto will look after you if you drive it into the scenery.
Used Fiat Grande Punto for sale

Buying a Fiat Grande Punto

Though there are still a few places where it's obvious that Fiat have built down to a price, the Grande Punto feels very well screwed together. The cabin is well appointed but not without the odd squeak here and there; it's still not quite on a par with Volkswagen. Still, used values for this car are only a little below Volkswagen's and in terms of value for money, it's tough to fault this Italian take on supermini motoring. Diesel-engined variants are especially rugged mechanically. Ensure that you check all of the electronic systems as electric windows have been known to freeze.
Used Fiat Grande Punto for sale

Fiat Grande Punto Typical Pricing

In sharp contrast to the used market's reception to the facelifted old Punto, the Grande Punto's pricing seems to be holding firm. Industry experts predict a 43% retention of value after three years for the entry-level 1.2-litre car which compares favourably to the 36 per cent for a Ford Fiesta or the 39 per cent for the Renault Clio. In real terms, this means that bargains are hard to come by for used customers with a 1.2-litre Active five-door available from around £5,300 on the 06 plate or £5,500 on the later 56 plate. Opt instead for a diesel and a three-door 1.3 Multijet Dynamic with the 75bhp engine will retail at around £5,975.
Used Fiat Grande Punto for sale

Fiat Grande Punto Parts

(approx based on an 1.2 Active inc VAT) An alternator is around £78, front brake pads are around £35 for a set, a rear exhaust section should be about £61 and a headlamp is around £82. Expect to pay around £7 for an air filter and about £15 for a fuel filter, about £6 for an oil filter and about £4 for spark plugs.
Used Fiat Grande Punto for sale