Fiat Bravo MultiAir 140 Sport road test

Picking a company car isn't easy, and it's often tempting to go for obvious choices like Volkswagen's Golf.

If you do want something different, however, then you could do worse than to consider the Fiat Bravo. It's a rival to the likes of the Ford Focus, the aforementioned Volkswagen Golf and the Vauxhall Astra.

It's certainly a stylish, and more interesting, option. This particular example, the petrol 1.4-litre MultiAir 140 Sport with stop/start, has a P11d value of £17,730. With emissions of 132g/km of CO2, it falls into the 16% BIK company car tax band. That means you'll pay £47 per month if you're in the 20% band, and £95 in the 40% band. 

That might sound high, but it's less than both the petrol 1.6-litre 125 Zetec Focus and the petrol 1.4-litre TSI 122 S Golf. Those cost £52 or £56 a month respectively, for 20% tax payers, while those in the 40% bracket will pay £104 or £112.

Although it's cheaper, the Bravo doesn't compromise with regards to performance. The 1.4-litre engine is turbocharged, allowing it to deliver 140bhp and 230Nm of pulling power. This grants the Bravo the ability to sprint from 0-62mph in a brisk 8.5 seconds. Its top speed is 127mph. In both cases, it outperforms the equivalent Focus and Golf.

It's not all good news on the facts and figures front, unfortunately. Fiat claims that the MultiAir can average almost 50mpg. During testing, a mix of motorway cruising and cross-country driving, we returned 34mpg. That's some way off the quoted average, although we expect slightly more diligent driving may return closer to 40mpg.

A saving grace is that it has quite a large fuel tank, capable of holding 58 litres. If you achieved the factory figures then you'd cover more than 600 miles between refills. Even if you did only average 34mpg, you'd still get more than 400 miles to a tank.

The Fiat, in 'Sport' trim, comes with a substantial amount of equipment as well. Included is air-con, a slick six-speed gearbox, a USB connection, cruise control, hill start assist, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, electric heated mirrors, a CD player and 17-inch alloys. You also get some sport extras such as alloy pedals, uprated suspension and different interior finishes. The options list includes the usual suspects such as climate control, leather trim, heated seats, parking sensors and Bi-Xenon lights.

Inside, the Bravo is relatively comfortable. It's certainly not as cossetting as a Focus or Golf on longer trips, as the seats are rather firm and unsupportive, but it's quiet on the motorways and there's plenty of room. A range of seat adjustments are on offer and the steering wheel adjust for both reach and height, allowing most drivers to get comfortable with ease. Rear passengers are well catered for as well, with a decent amount of leg and headroom and a central armrest with integrated cupholders.

Don't fall foul of the usual Fiat misconceptions either, as the Bravo feels well-built and uses some surprisingly high-quality and tactile materials in places. There are some issues, though. For those driving long distances, the lack of footrest next to the clutch will be a major bugbear. Some of the controls are also rather illogically placed, the steering wheel slightly uncomfortable, and the windscreen wiper and cruise control stalks can be rather fiddly.

It's a good car to drive, though, and it's quite quick for what looks like a relatively standard hatchback. The engine is definitely what sets this apart from its competitors, however. It pulls surprisingly well, even at motorway speeds, and has a pleasingly potent exhaust note. A 'Sport' button livens things up further, for when you're finally free from inner-city congestion and hit the country roads.

The ride quality is generally good too, even with the stiffer suspension, although it does border on the overly firm. Electric power steering is standard and features variable assistance. This does cut down on feedback a little, and it can feel slightly dull, but it's well weighted and the variable assistance is a worthwhile compromise. Effectively the steering feels firm and reassured when doing 70mph, yet becomes almost finger-light at parking speeds.

So, if you're looking for a company car that has a little more character and engagement than the conventional options, try the Fiat Bravo 1.4-litre MultiAir 140 Sport. It's available to order now, with P11d values starting at £17,730.

Also consider:

Ford Focus

The Focus is about as good as it gets. It's comfortable, refined, good to drive and a cost-effective choice. It's also available with a range of modern options.

Volkswagen Golf

A super-frugal Bluemotion Golf makes a great company car choice, but there are punchy turbocharged TSI models on offer for those who want more pace.

SEAT Leon

With Golf underpinnings, the SEAT's an equally sensible - yet slightly more stylish - option. A range of petrol and diesel engines are available.