Fiat Punto Evo Abarth 1.4 16v MultiAir 3dr Car Review - February 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £16,857
Tax Band: F
Insurance Group: 30
MPG: 47.1
CO2: 142
0-62 Mph: 7.9 secs
BHP: 165 BHP
Range: 466 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4/5
For those interested in the Punto Evo range, the Abarth 1.4 16v MultiAir is most likely going to appeal to those who consider performance a priority. The strong power output offers an impressive top speed and quick acceleration but a lack of environmental and economical benefits means the standard diesel version may be a better option for families on a tight budget.

PROS:  Impressive power output gives this sporty model a much quicker acceleration than the standard diesel variants and appeals to serious drivers with a love of speed and power.

CONS:  Economy is compromised with insurance premiums rising fairly steeply in comparison to other models. Green credentials are poor, meaning road tax is higher and unsurprisingly the petrol model fails to match the diesel versions for fuel efficiency.

Behind the Wheel

When it comes to performance, there is no argument that the petrol-powered Abarth 1.4 is the resounding winner. Power output reaches 165 bhp at 55000 rpm with torque figures of 184 lb-ft at 2250 rpm. This gives the car impressive acceleration, reaching 0-62 mph in well under 10 seconds (7.9 seconds to be precise). A top speed of 132 mph means the car continues to deliver high performance levels and easily outperforms the 103 mph top speed offered by the standard diesel versions.

Unfortunately, fuel efficiency is not a strong point for this sporty model and, as it achieves just 47.1 mpg on a combined cycle it fails to match the highly impressive 68.9 mpg figure quoted for the standard diesel cars.

The six speed manual transmission gearbox is fluid and steering is fairly light. Suspension differs between different levels and this sportier version offers a more responsive and firm control on the road.

The petrol engine of the Punto Evo is quiet and non-intrusive to drivers, making the car a pleasure to drive. Noise from the road and wind is audible but not excessive, making the overall experience fairly smooth.

Looks & Equipment

With a sleek and sophisticated exterior, the appearance of the Punto Evo is one of its main selling points. Inside the car, the cabin is well laid out and fairly spacious given the overall size of the car. View is not overly restricted through windows and both the seats and steering column are adjustable to increase comfort. The only area which suffers is leg room, with the foot well feeling cramped – especially for those sat in the back.

Just like the basic model of the Punto Evo, this upgraded sporty version comes with a range of standard equipment including power steering, central locking, stability control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, Bluetooth connectivity and an advanced stereo system with MP3 connectivity.

Additional features fitted as standard include air conditioning, front side airbags, alloy wheels and cruise control.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

As stated, the interior comfort of the Punto Evo is of a high standard and there is a practical use of space throughout. Aimed at small families, the boot capacity is reasonable, offering 275 litres with the seats up and 1,030 litres with the seats down. Split-folding rear seats become available on this model, offering a benefit which is missing from the basic car. Whilst leg room can be a little restricted it is still possible to reach the full five adult seating capacity comfortably - although rear seats typically only have two headrests rather than three.

In terms of safety, the Punto Evo offers a great range of standard safety features. Driver and passenger airbags are all standard features with stability control improving handling and a fitted immobiliser helping to deter thieves. This trim level also gets front side airbags as standard rather than incurring the addition £300 cost needed with the basic model.

Reliability is considered fairly average with mixed opinions received from owners. The quality of the interior is high to enhance comfort and gives a greater feeling of security.

Unfortunately, the model lacks some common features found in rival models – such as deadlocks and anti-whiplash head restraints – which could put it at a disadvantage.

Value for Money

Overall, the Punto Evo Abarth 1.4 is an impressive car which delivers much higher performance than its diesel-powered brothers. With a purchase price of £16,852 this is one of the dearer Punto Evo models but is still fairly reasonable for a sporty model.

Unfortunately, whilst the 1.4 Abarth offers additional performance features it lacks the economic benefits found in the standard models. This means running costs are higher, with insurance premiums bumped into insurance bracket 30 whilst road tax costs jump a considerable amount – from tax band B in the standard model to band F for this sporty version. This is caused by poor green credentials which put the carbon emissions of the Abarth at 142 g/km rather than the 108 g/km offered by the standard Punto Evos.

Whilst additional comfort and performance is offered by this model, the higher running costs make the additional purchase price unjustified. Families interested in long-term ownership of a reliable and economical vehicle would therefore be better off with the Punto Evo Dynamic 1.3 MultiJet variant instead.

Fiat Punto Evo Abarth 1.4 16v MultiAir 3dr Car Review - by 
All Fiat Punto Evo Reviews
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For a small family hatchback, the Fiat Punto Evo Active 1.3 MultiJet offers adequate levels of performance and low running costs. This is a good, reasonably priced car for a small family.
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Fiat Punto Evo Dynamic 1.3 MultiJet 5dr - February 2012
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Small Family Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Small Family cars that you can then compare to the Fiat Punto Evo. Here are some popular Fiat Punto Evo alternatives:

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