Will the FIAT Grande Punto make enough noise to be heard in the crowded hatchback segment of India? Sarmad Kadiri has the answer
Photography: Sarmad Kadiri
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I drove the Grande Punto from Delhi all the way to Himachal Pradesh. The Italian firm’s new hatch is based on the Linea platform and hence several gizmos and goodies from the sedan can be seen in the Punto. The hatch is designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and features subtle lines and solid looks coupled with a Maserati inspired front grille. The teardrop headlamps accentuate the car’s aggressive stance which is balanced by the mild wheel arches and the soft curves of the bumper. The rear of the car sports trademark FIAT tail lamps that are placed high and pushed as far apart as possible making the boot lid wider. Compared to the other offerings in this segment, this is perhaps the only hatch that can boast of a having a super car nose.
Inside, the car carries the same black and grey dashboard with a hint of chrome interiors from the Linea which is great but the fit, finish and material could have been given some more thought. The Blaupunkt music system has FIAT’s cutting edge Blue&Me technology from Microsoft but to our dismay, there is no USB port. The front seats are comfortable with all-round support, however, the rear seat might seem cramped for six footers. Long drives with three adults in the back seat might not be great idea. The car’s pedals are a letdown as they are not positioned well. I had trouble getting my foot out every time I rested it on the footrest next to the clutch. The steering is light and ideal for city driving with a nicely carved slot to rest your thumbs in.
The ride quality of the car gets a thumbs up as the Punto remained well composed on the highway and the hills alike. If I have to be critical, I would point out that some noise from the engine does penetrate through the cabin at high revs. The cabin is well appointed and the doors shut with an assuring sturdy thud. FIAT has three engines on offer for Indian buyers – the two petrol engines: a 1.2 and a 1.4 FIRE and a diesel 1.3 Multijet motor, all with a five-speed manual transmission. The 1.2 petrol engine variant is competitively priced and will be an attractive option for potential hatch buyers, though we haven’t driven it yet. The 1.4 FIRE mill is aimed at buyers looking for a sporty hatch but during the drive, the engine did not perform up as we expected. To top it the fuel economy of less that 10kmpl was also a big letdown. We stopped for lunch midway and switched to the 1.3 Multijet motor. The diesel Punto is refined and we preferred it to the petrol variant. Keep the Multijet between the 2000 to 3500rpm band and you’ll get the best of performance and fuel economy. We managed close to 15kmpl although we were not treating the car that well.
Internationally, the Grande Punto has done wonders for the FIAT’s fortune and has already sold 1.6 million units globally. The Italian super hatch does live up to its name for the most part in terms of style, space and driving pleasure. With prices starting just below the Rs 4 lakh mark, the Punto might just turn FIAT India in the right direction – up!
