Fiat Grande Punto (06-10) - Review

Roominess has long been a hallmark of the Punto and as the size of small cars has grown, the Punto has kept pace with expectations. The new model is no exception with plenty of room for four adults - the only concern being knee-room for taller rear passengers when the front seats are set for six-footers. Electric front windows are standard across the range, while air conditioning is standard on all except Active and Active Sport models. The Punto rides comfortably and manages to keep engine, wind and road noise to a minimum.

The Grande Punto has a decent sized boot, although at 275 litres it's not quite as large as similar-sized cars like the Renault Clio. However with the rear seats folded this expands to more than 1000 litres. The cabin has a few storage areas plus there is a luggage organiser which can be bought as an accessory - this raises the floor of the boot so it becomes flat with the rear seats folded and also acts as a box to hide valuables. Split rear seats are not standard on the cheaper models aimed at younger buyers.

Fiat seems to be bucking the trend toward more soft-touch materials inside cars as a way of making them more upmarket. However, the Grande Punto still feels well made and although the hard plastics aren't that nice to touch, they look quite attractive and can be chosen with some vibrant colour schemes to add a sense of fun to the interior. Finding the ideal driving position is easy thanks to the great range of steering and seat adjustment but the thick two-pronged windscreen pillars can obscure visibility at the front.