Fiat has always designed småbiler, which was so attractive to look at and inspiring to drive, as through the fingers with the errors that can make your life as the owner of an Italian car for a review. Just look at the Grande Punto – minibilernes response to an Armani suit. It was introduced in 2005, but the Giugiaros design is so sleek and timeless, to the Grande Punto appears just as fresh today as it was six years ago.
But when you jump on board a Grande Punto, will the first disappointment enough to sign up. The interior is admittedly simple and smart with a dashboard, but the quality of the trays. There are lots of shiny plastic and flimsy parts, and the dashboard is sensitive to scratches.
top marks in crash tests
in turn, live Punto up to the middle of the Grande by to be inclusive, in fact, it is an honest family car. The boot of 275 litres is also decent, but unfortunately with an annoying high læssekant.
in terms of equipment, you could get the Grande Punto as Active, Dynamic and Sport, and you should go for a Dynamic to get the f.ex. remote central locking, the car came, electric door mirrors and height adjustable driver’s seat.
for Safety you should be aware that the ESC stabiliseringssystemet not be available to the Active version and was only optional on the Dynamic version. Fortunately, Grande Punto, incidentally, is one of the safest in its class and achieved five stars out of five possible in the Euro NCAP’s crash tests.
Go for the 1.4 litre
the Grande Punto has through the years been available with three petrol engines. All benzinmotorerne is older, proven cases, that causes the big problems, but it can be recommended to go for a 1.4-liter, since the power is more appropriate for a car of this size.
CHECKLIST
Engine/transmission
Benzinmotorerne of 1.2 – and 1.4-litres are generally proven and reliable, but they run with the timing belt that must be replaced every three years or at 90,000 miles. A tandremsskifte typically costs in the neighborhood of 3000 kr. On the popular 1.3-liter diesel engine you can get out for a faulty EGR valve or faulty turbocharger. The gearboxes are solid, even if they do not feel that way with their limp switch.
Undercarriage
in addition to replacement of common wear parts such as brake discs and pads, you should not fear errors or defects on the Grande Punto. It is solid and simple structured, but listen anyway after the ‘klonk’-sound, as some have experienced faulty tårnlejer. There have also been errors on the steering, which should be addressed in the context of a recall. Check if the specific car has been inside and got it rectified.
Interior
It appears stylish and simple, but plastickvaliteten drawers and gives the interior a cheap feel. It is delicate to scratches, and some owners complain of squeaks and share that with the time passing the fix. Check out all the electronic in the passenger compartment, since the electronics are the Grande Puntos biggest weakness.
Bodywork
Fiat has never been among the busiest, with regard to rustbekyttelse, and it also applies to Grande Punto. It is not hulrumsbeskyttet with wax in some places, and the edges on the bonnet, tailgate and doors are only sealed where the edges are the most exposed. There are no plates between the wheel arches and the engine compartment, where only inderskærme in plastic to protect the engine from gravel and mud that might splash up from the front wheels.
