Fiat Grande Punto (06-10) - Review

Review by Simon Harris on
Last Updated: 02 November 2009
It's fair to say Fiat has a good reputation for style and driver appeal but an unfavourable one for reliability and build quality. That's fast changing however and the Grande Punto is a perfect example. Neatly styled, good to drive and solidly constructed it's a much better long term prospect than Fiat's of old and comes with a good choice of engines including the excellent MultiJet diesels. The inside is neat and well laid out but does lack the quality feel of some rivals while the slack gearchange also lets it down. However it's great value for money and typically around £1400 less than rivals like the Renault Clio or Toyota Yaris.
4 out of 5

Other Fiat reviews

4 out of 5

Safety

The Grande Punto achieved a maximum five-star rating for occupant protection in the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), as well as a class-best three stars for pedestrian protection. However, the five-star rating applies to left-hand drive versions. It was discovered in October 2006 that right-hand drive versions were not fitted with a component that reduced the risk of serious knee injuries to the driver. It prompted Fiat to recall cars sold in the UK up to that take to make them safer, and so that the five-star rating could be applied to right-hand drive versions of the car. It also scored three out of four stars in the child protection element which analyses the performance of the recommended child seat. An electronic stability programme is standard on more powerful models.

NCAP Test

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Provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.

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  • Adult Occupant Rating

    5 out of 5

  • Child Protection Rating

    3 out of 5

  • Pedestrian Test Rating

    3 out of 5
3.5 out of 5

Reliability

The engines are developments of proven engines in the Fiat range and should be mechanically robust. Fiat is also working to improve quality and reduce the number of niggling faults found with its vehicles.

Car check problem points

Body

No problems reported.

Engine/Gearbox

No problems reported.

Other

Fiat announced a recall on Grande Punto in the UK in October 2006 to fit a safety feature present on left-hand drive cars that reduces the risk on knee injuries to drivers. Ensure this work has been carried out by a Fiat dealer.