Auto Driven: Fiat Bravo car reviews

Overall, Fiat has achieved considerable success in meeting their big aims with the Bravo - beauty, safety and performance

Want a family hatchback? There couldn't be a better time to buy one with a huge amount of quality cars on the market.

Now there’s another, with the Fiat Bravo on sale in the UK from June 30.

Web Editor Adrian Higgins drove one at the UK launch to find out whether it deserves a round of applause.

British buyers hunting for a family hatch are spoilt for choice.

The Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra dominate the market.

But then there’s the mighty VW Golf, Toyota’s newly-launched Auris and Honda’s sexy Civic to choose from, not to mention the Peugeot 307, Citroen C4, Seat Leon, Kia Cee’d, Dodge Caliber… need we go on?

Now Fiat has unveiled the Bravo to compete in an already crowded market - which can only be good news for the consumer.
 
The first thing you’d expect from a Fiat is for it to be a bit of a looker - and its no surprise the Italian company sees this as one of the Bravo’s strongest selling points.

Fiat reckons the number one reason Europeans go for Fiat is style, asserting: “This is a car for people who want to get noticed” – and we certainly wouldn’t argue with that.

The Bravo is stylish, and comes in the midst of something of an Italian renaissance (groan) for Fiat, which is enjoying success on the back of good sales of the Grande Punto and excitement surrounding the return of the Fiat 500.

The car’s profile and Maserati-inspired front get the thumbs up and sport the updated red Fiat logo.

We drove a white model at launch and this really showed off the car’s curves and lines.

Step inside and raised expectations are met with a natty interior, tilted towards the driver with all the controls laid out functionally but, here’s that word again, stylishly.

So what else has it got? Well Fiat, claim the Bravo is an accessible car - meaning you get more for your money than from some of the more established players.

Buyers can choose between three petrol engines, the 1.4-litre T-Jet 120bhp model, 1.4-litre T-Jet 150 bhp model and a 90bhp model due later in the year. Diesel fans can choose between a 120bhp and 150bhp 1.9-litre model.

Fiat has also chosen the opportunity to unveil its new generation of turbocharged petrol engines designed to enhance performance while improving economy and keeping emissions down - which it says means its models have the edge over larger-engined rivals.

The five available trim levels also provide great value for money.

The entry-level Bravo offers electric front windows, radio/CD, trip computer and front and side driver and passenger airbags as well as drivers’ aids including anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution.

Active trim adds air conditioning, foglights and curtain airbags, while more expensive models also throw in leather steering wheel, 16 and 17 inch alloys and cruise control.

There is also the same Blue & Me functionality unveiled on the Grande Punto and developed with Microsoft which adds features including voice control for phone and stereo use, USB port and the ability for text messages to be read aloud.

The model achieved to a maximum five star rating following EuroNCAP safety tests.

Our two-hour test drive featured a combination of motorway driving, A roads and B roads and we were impressed by our journey’s comfortable ride in the higher-powered diesel model.

The Bravo boasts a nice environment with good headroom and plenty of room for five (and luggage, the 400-litre boot is the biggest in its class) but it’s still a fun car which offers decent enough handling when the fancy takes you.

Though one feature we’d have liked to have seen would have been a place to plant the left leg when not operating the clutch – taking the strain out of longer cruises.

The diesel model we drove can hit 62mph from a standstill in nine seconds and go on to a top speed of 130mph, while still returning an average of a little over 50mpg.

Overall, Fiat has achieved considerable success in meeting their big aims with the Bravo - beauty, safety and performance.

It’s both a stylish and safe car which offers value for money and will ensure the driver stands out among more ubiquitous models.

And in terms of building on the good work begun with last year’s launch of the Grande Punto - the Bravo looks set to be a winner.

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