Welcome, Guest | Register

You are here : Research » Road Tests » Fiat Grande Punto : Making a Grand(e) entry

Fiat Grande Punto first drive : Making a Grand(e) entry

CarWale Team, 22-Jun-2009

Read Page : 1 2

The Grande Punto will turn heads everywhere it goes.

    Fiat’s been around a while – we know that. They make brilliant cars – we’ve found that out time and again. They still haven’t cracked the code for India yet, but they’re certainly making a big effort now. Fiat India Automobiles Limited has had a new lease of life with the stylish and well-priced Linea, and their latest offering in this new vein is the Grande Punto.
   At first glance, the Punto looks like a hatchback version of the Linea, which it essentially is, but look closely and you’ll find that there are subtle differences like the headlamps that lack the second bulb for high beam – but the car looks smashing nonetheless. We didn’t like the rear as much as we did the front, and we’re already in love with the alloy wheels. The proportions make for a lovely silhouette – this is one car everyone who is in the market for a big hatch will want to own.
   The interior also reminds one of the Linea, but the space inside doesn’t seem to be so much when compared to the space the car occupies on the outside. For example, two six-footers sitting behind one another will be a little short on knee room. The dash sports an mp3 player and a climate control system, and the top-end Emotion Pack variant gets the Microsoft-developed ‘Blue & me’ technology that enables an occupant to synchronise their phone with the car to make and receive calls, and have the car read out SMSes to the driver. It’s a very useful addition to a car, but other things surprise the user and not in a pleasant way, like the hard-to-find USB port in the glovebox. There are a number of places to stow things, but some of them aren’t very useful, like the door pockets, which will hold only small bottles. There are cup holders in front of and behind the gearshift lever, but they’re quite shallow.
   Fit and finish seem to be improving with every car that Fiat launches, but it still isn’t up to the standards of the leaders in the segment – some bits of the car weren’t up to the standards we’ve come to expect from a car today. We’ll reserve final judgement on this point when we get a car for a full road-test. The driving position is comfortable, but the space for the footrest isn’t enough if the driver’s got large feet.
   Three engine options will be available to the Fiat customer: two petrols displacing 1.2 and 1.4 litres, and the omnipresent 1.3-litre multijet. We managed to get our hands on the 1.4 petrol and the multijet, and despite our petrolhead tendencies, we’d pick the diesel. The petrol is a vibe-free unit that sounds glorious when nearing the redline, but wakes up only post 4000rpm, which makes it hard work to drive quickly. The diesel offers a better torque spread, but still needs to be revved over 2000rpm to make quick progress. We suspect that the Punto has been geared and tuned for economy, not performance, but only a full road-test will tell us the story. The gearshift is positive, with our only complaint being the travel from fourth to fifth – quick downshifting from fifth was something we didn’t get used to for a while.
   We’re very impressed with the ride and handling of this car. It absorbed all that NH1 had to throw its way without transmitting much shock to the cabin. Small bumps were dismissed with a muted thump and no loss of composure at all. For all the comfort the suspension offered we still made the tyres sing when we got to the twisties. There is a fair bit of body roll, but the car’s composure is very good. Steering feel is lacking in the petrol version, but the diesel’s steering weighed up nicely in the bends – probably that extra weight and firmed up suspension in the front helping things.
   We think that the Punto is a great product – it looks good, is practical and even offers features like Blue & Me which are a first for the segment. The pricing makes it a very good value proposition, beginning at Rs 3.99 lakh for the base petrol variant and going on to Rs 6.11 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi for the top-end diesel variant. Our first impression is one filled with hope – this car could revive Fiat’s fortunes in India, just like it did worldwide. We have our fingers crossed.

Styling, ride and handling

Interior space, power delivery

View Page : 1 2

Comments on this first drive (Latest 10 are shown)

Ravi

on 15 Jan, 2010 at 09:13 AM

Ananya, I bought the Punto for exactly the same reasons as you.

The car is fantastic and we love it.

My earlier complaints were more about the workmanship of Tata/Fiat dealership in Coimbatore. You can see pictures at http://**********

After fixing a leaking AC hose and drying the carpet

The rear seat was fitted 2 inches away from where it should have been. It was no where near the latch that keeps the seat upright. The only time any one can appreciate this mistake is when you travel with 2 & 4 year old kids in the back seat and a 40kg bag in the boot. Every time you press the brake the seat is forced down and pushes the kids from the seat.

Broken plastic trims. The car was one week old when we dropped for service. The service guys knew it was broken but kept quiet.

Floor mat not flat. Same as above.

Initially they requested us to drop the car for 1 day then extended it to 4 days for such a simple task.

I'm an NRI who has lived in Australia for 14 years. None of the above issues will be tolerated here. I see such poor service common practice in India not only in the automobile industry but in many other places. Indians should wake up and demand better service and make suppliers lift their game.

Again, I wish to reiterate that Punto is a FANTASTIC car. We love it. We returned the car to Tata/Fiat service and all issues have been fixed now TO OUR TASTE.

Regards

Ravi

*****INDIA - Wake up! Chinese are building better roads inside occupied (Indian) territory and faster tahn we are building national highways!*****

Ravi: Don't post external website address / links in violation of forum rules. Next violation results in deletion of all your posts including sanitized ones - MODS

Krishna

on 15 Jan, 2010 at 07:39 AM

Whoa!! What a superb first post that was!

Ananya, it was nice reading the logic behind your purchase. Should help many, when they refer this thread for help. Thanks, and keep participating!

Ananya

on 15 Jan, 2010 at 12:48 AM

Hi all to clear your all doubts, I like to share my experience of FIAT GRANDE PUNTO of last few months. I drove this car (DIESEL, Active) 5600KM till date had couple of KERALA trip from bangalore and lots and lots of week end short trips.

Before buying this car I was concerned about quality, Service, milage, resale etc. The top of these wes the service as lot of people says about Fiat service are bad etc etc..

I kept my choice open for Swift DDIS, Ritz DDIS, FORD IKON TDCI, SKODA FABIA, I20 CRDI.

Now selection:

Swift -- No No coz every xyz drives that car now, and I don't want spend my money behind 4 years old craze model. Old 3rd Generation Diesel engine.

Ritz -- Plus point same FIAT GP 4 th generation Diesel engine, negetive point too ugly to choose, till date no one said it looks good at first instance.

IKON -- 10 years old chasis and interrior, not really a head turner anymore, though engine is good.

Fabia -- Old generation TDI diesel engine, Brand name only sales.

Thus choice left I20 CRDI and FIAT Grande punto..

I20 little bit over priced for a small car and By that time heard that TATA has taken over the FIAT service.

Still took a test drive for both... man FIAT win my heart straight way by it's look and handling... And more over I was saving a good 1 Lac over 1 20 diesel.

Now I am a proud owner of Fiat Grande punto.... Honest feedback TATA/FIAT service is great, this time FIAT want's to romove bad remark about service, but in other way of pain... every time someone or other from FIAT calls you and ask " how's you car, if anything required" etc etc... Trust me sometime it feels good that company cares for the customers. And if you take the punto to any TATA/Fiat service station you receives a grand honour + customer service from the service center personal.

Service interval.... hehe I laugh over the friends who gone for Conventional MARUTI.. hehe they goes for every 3-6 months for 1st,2nd service.. .. etc.... This car has serive interval of 15000 KM.. you can imagine the confidence FIAT has this time in their car.

More over as Maruti is using FIAT's engine in their Swift and Ritz why not go from OEM(FIAT) itself for their most advanced diesel 4th generation engine.

Never the less the head turning factor is what I still enjoy a lot... Last month I was in Germany found lot n lot of same Grande punto running on their free way... If give me a good feeling the same car I have back in Bangalore..

Last word..I am happy...with my choice...

One point do NOT go for what people says about FIAT service any more... either they are giving you a old data...before TATA took over the service or they are passing just someones comment..Ask any FIAT GP owner for latest feedback.

The first day itself I received a only service adress book from TATA fiat joint service stations across county. Thus no question about service anymore....

Sujit

on 02 Nov, 2009 at 11:29 AM

@ Centaur

You have made very simplistic statement saying Punto is better than i20 Asta.

Yes Punto has 1400 cc engine compared to 1200 cc of i20 and hence will be more powerful. But how about

cabin space specially rare seat spacing
Quality of interiors – specially plastic quality of Punto
Gears and handling stability.

All these points do matter a lot along with ASS.

May be this can be discussed separately as this is review section of Punto.

Binoy Thomas

on 02 Nov, 2009 at 05:27 AM

Ravi-sorry to know about the issues post service.

Has the problems been fixed?

Ravi

on 30 Oct, 2009 at 03:46 AM

Hi All

Bought a Punto Emotion Diesel (from TAFE Coimbatore) and drove around for 600Kms.

PRO's: Very nice car, spacious enough cabin for a 5'6" adult in the rear seat. Shock absorbers are very good for indian roads. Boot space is low but remember this is a hatchback. The cup holders are shallow (unusable. usable only if you buy cups from Fiat).

CON'S: Condensation water from A/C was leaking on carpet inside car, noticed after 10 days at 600kms. I had to leave the car with dealer (TAFE Coimbatore) for three days as they had to remove seats and some trim, then dry the carpet under sunlight for a day.

The service quality from TAFE Coimbatore was below average.

Issues after A/C water leak fix:

1) The carpet on driver side floor was not laid flat

2) Plastic panel on front passenger seat broken (retaining clip) and was hanging on seat belt.

3) Screws holding one floor panel on passenger side cross threaded, sticking out 5mm.

4) Rear seat fitted 2 inched forward (yes two inches, see photos through link below) and back rest was missing latch by an inch.

5) Rear seat belt buckles stuck under seat.

6) Clips on plastic panel above rear seat damaged.

Photos are available here: http://*********

I'm and NRI living in Australia for past 15 years and owned Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Nissan Maxima and a Mazda Astina 323.

Bought the punto for children and parents use. This is the first time I have taken a car back for a warranty issue in my 250,000+ kms driving history.

Please check your A/C hoses on passenger side within the first 100kms and get any leaks fixed immediately. Otherwise TAFE's well qualified and trained technicians will ruin your car.

1. Don't post in bold unless you want moderator attention
2. Don't post personal external website addresses/links - it is against forum rules
- MODs

Sridhar

on 27 Jun, 2009 at 06:34 PM

if you leave out the ASS part it will definitely be a better buy. ASS from FIAT is not bad but its still not a match to Hyundai. Rest it has all the features of the i20 and is more powerfull. Apart from that its slightly cheaper also. It will perform better than the i20

Amit

on 27 Jun, 2009 at 01:24 AM

Is Punto 1.4 L Emotional pk a better buy than i20 Asta Ritz Zxi and Jazz (base)?

Sridhar

on 23 Jun, 2009 at 10:13 AM

i too agree with AMI on this. I am also aware that carwale is still in the stages of development but then these are small opening in which we can be at par or more than other sites. Sorry to make this statement but I have seen TBHP ahead ALWAYS. I did not intend to be offensive with that statement but then my point is carwale too can be at par or better than other websites. Maybe one day we will. Cheers!

Ami

on 22 Jun, 2009 at 07:01 PM

Charles,

Thanks for the quick preview. :)

Couple of points to make:

1. A better locale for the background would have been good.

2. A few more shots could have been added.

-------

OT: I am not sure if I am asking too much.

I've noticed that most of the sites have already posted full fledged reviews. eg, NDTV, TBHP, Zigwheels(on the launch day itself). TBHP has mentioned that they were invited to the event.

Then how come we could only get a 'preview' while others could manage a full 'review'. The same applies to Jazz where CW was also invited.

So I would say that the Title is not fully justified.

PS: Please dont take this as offensive. It is something where I felt we need to really improve.

Discuss this first drive in forum

Fiat Grande Punto first drive : Making a Grand(e) entry

Comments on this first drive (Latest 10 are shown)

Other Popular Road Tests