Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 83%

The Fiat Grande Punto is – as its name suggests – bigger than previous Puntos. But that's not to say it's lost its youthful charm.

With its increased size, the Grande Punto has increased its good looks, character and fun factor. In fact the only thing not to grow huge is its price.

We took a range-topping Sporting model to the road to find out if there really is ability beneath its pretty face.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

The Fiat Grande Punto is surely the prettiest supermini on the road. Its front is reminiscent of the Aston Martin DB7, which can only be a good thing, while the rear and sides carry on the curvy theme. There are plenty of neat touches around the Grande Punto, especially on the Sporting model we tested – that gets gorgeous 17-inch alloys, a discreet boot spoiler, chrome exhaust and badging bearing the monikers Multijet (the engine's name) and Giugiaro (the car's designer). But even the base models look great, testament to the Punto's design flare.

9/10

2. Looks inside

So often interiors fail to live up to the expectations set by the bodywork. Not so with the Grande Punto. The Sporting model we tested gets racy white dials, but it's not festooned with alloy-look bits. Instead it gets a very pretty satin finish which frames the centre console and runs across to the passenger side. Other models in the range get colour-coded dashboards, which are a world away from the grey plastics in most other superminis. The seats are very supportive and hold occupants' hips firm under fast cornering, and feature strange patterns of nine bumps – like soft studs from a football boot.

8/10

3. Practicality

As the Fiat Grande Punto has grown since its predecessor, so has its levels of practicality. There's lots of room in the front, and all but the tallest of rear passengers can fit in the back fairly easily. At four metres in length, Fiat says the Grande Punto is the biggest in its class, although at 275 litres, its boot is slightly smaller than the Vauxhall Corsa but larger than the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris. The 17-inch alloys fitted to our test car means an equivalent-sized spare wheel won’t fit in the boot, so is replaced by a pump and tyre foam system. There's plenty of storage space in reach of the driver, although it's tricky to place drink cans in the centre console-mounted cupholders.

8/10

4. Ride and Handling

The Fiat Grande Punto feels sure-footed and composed at speed, which has a lot to do with the extra width of the larger car. The steering is precise, although not so razor sharp as other models in the supermini class. The steering feels very light at low speeds although it gets heavier as the car gets faster, allowing more resistance and more 'feel'. The Grande Punto features Fiat's 'City' mode, which when activated lightens the steering further to make it easier to park and make tight urban turns.

8/10

5. Performance

Fiat is renowned for its diesel engines, and the 130bhp 1.9 Multijet fitted to our test car is a gem. It feels punchy, refined and loves to rev, unlike most diesels which run out of puff around 3,000rpm. The engine transmits its power through a six-speed manual gearbox, which is a joy to use. Fiat say the Sporting will accelerate to 62mph in 9.5 seconds, but it feels much faster. Top speed is a license-losing 124mph. It's currently the hottest model in the range, but other models include two 1.3-litre diesels offering 75bhp and 90bhp, along with a lower power 120bhp version of the 1.9-litre Multijet. Petrol choices include 65bhp 1.2-litre and a 77bhp or 95bhp 1.4-litre.

9/10

6. Running Costs

With prices starting from around £7,500, the Grande Punto is an exceptionally cheap machine. Even our top-of-the-range test car weighs in at well under £13,000; and that has plenty of bells and whistles. Huge demand (the Punto is one of the 20 most searched for car on autotrader.co.uk) keeps second-hand values healthy. We managed to keep our diesel-engined Sporting model on the right side of 41mpg, despite a tortuous commute along fast A roads and through London's urban crawl. Fiat claims an average of 48mpg, which could be easily achieved on clearer roads. Insurance is low for a hot hatch at group 6, while emissions of 154g/km place it in tax Band D, currently costing £140 per year. Fiat will only need to see the Grande Punto once every 18,000 miles and when the engine oil and filter light comes on (which is dependant on how the car is driven).

9/10

7. Reliability

Fiat has been working tirelessly to iron out the niggling little problems which used to beset its vehicles and the Grande Punto seems as well built as anything else from Europe. The engines and transmissions in the range are mostly proven mechanicals, with few common faults. The Reliability Index for the cost and frequency of breakdowns rates the Punto far better than average.

8/10

8. Safety

Scoring a full five star rating in the EuroNCAP crash test programme is commonplace, so its no surprise the Grande Punto has followed suit. All models feature ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and six airbags on all but the basic model. Models equipped with the 1.4 Sporting or 1.9 Multijet engines also get electronic stability programme with Hill Holder, which keeps the car stationary on slopes, giving the driver time to move from the brake to the accelerator without rolling backwards.

8/10

9. Equipment

With its low price tag rivalling much slower opposition from the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris, the Sporting model we tested has an impressive level of kit. All models receive electric front windows, remote central locking and 'follow me home' headlights which stay on after the car is locked. Higher spec models get air-con or climate control, alloy wheels, Fiat's Blue&Me Bluetooth hands free system with USB port, electric mirrors and MP3-compatible CD player. The range-topping Sporting adds larger 17-inch alloys, chrome exhaust, cruise control, sporty bucket seats and a trip computer.

8/10

10. X-Factor

The Grande Punto oozes style from every angle. It's great fun to drive, especially in the 1.9 Sporting guise. But best of all is its tremendous value for money.

8/10