Abarth Grande Punto Hatchback (08-10) - Review Review by Simon Harris on 23 November 2007 Last Updated: 27 October 2009 It's a long time since Fiat has been in a position to claim class honours in the hot hatch sector. The 130bhp Punto HGT, discontinued in 2006, struggled both on paper and on the road at a time when the class leaders were offering up to 180bhp. All this has changed, and Fiat has dusted off a famous and illustrious brand to lead its charge into enemy territory. Abarth was last seen as a badge-engineered 'warm' version of the unpopular Stilo, and fans of the iconic marque with decades of racing and tuning heritage would be justified in feeling nervous. But Fiat has bestowed Abarth status as a brand in its own right, alongside Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Maserati in its automotive stable. The 155bhp hatchback (180bhp with factory-approved dealer modifications) is impressive on the road and is good value, plus it should remain exclusive as a result of the small network of specialist dealers. 4.5 out of 5 Other Abarth reviews Summary Facts & Figures Equipment Driving & Performance Comfort Costs Safety & Reliability Buying & Selling Also Consider Company Car Info Owners' Reviews Gallery 3 out of 5 Comfort While the Grande Punto is large for a small car, it isn't the best packaged car of its size and has less legroom in the rear than you might expect. Front-seat occupants have plenty of room, however, and the Abarth has electric windows and air conditioning as standard. The large wheels generate quite a bit of road noise, especially the 18-inch alloys on the 'esseesse' model. The exhaust note on this high-performance version is also rather prominent, but owners will probably be happy to compromise because of its racy quality. View full gallery 4 out of 5 Practicality The Grande Punto has a decent sized boot, although it's a few litres short of the new Clio at 275 litres with the rear seats in place. It expands to more than 1000 litres to roof level with the rear seats folded. The cabin has a few storage areas and a boot organiser can be bought as an accessory which also raises the floor of the boot so it becomes flat with the rear seats folded and it also acts as a box to hide valuables. Get a Abarth Grande Punto Hatchback valuation View full gallery How does the boot space compare? Renault Clio Renaultsport (06 on) 288 litres Vauxhall Corsa VXR (07 on) 285 litres Abarth Grande Punto Hatchback (08-10) 275 litres SEAT Ibiza FR (09 on) 236 litres 4 out of 5 Behind the wheel The interior of the Abarth Grande Punto is a bit smarter than the Fiat version of the car, with some soft-touch materials on the dashboard and bespoke instrument designs. Customers upgrading to the 'esseesse' have a body-coloured plastic trim piece across the dashboard which makes it feel a bit more special. The steering adjusts for height and reach and the driver's seat is height adjustable but the thick windscreen pillars can obscure visibility at the front. View full gallery Car Valuations Find used car prices with Parkers accurate car valuations. Find out more Abarth Grande Punto cars for sale We have 3 models like this for sale. Find Abarth Grande Punto cars for sale Previous: Driving & Performance Next: Costs