Last year, my significant other purchased a Grande Punto. It wasn’t a hard sell, because “you know who” thought it was absolutely gorgeous and, I quote, “Love the steering wheel buttons”. Now the fashionable little Fiat light car range’s had an update and fortunately for some, there are minor changes inside, but big ones under the bonnet.The Grande Punto’s front end (some say it looks like a baby Maserati, others suggest a miniaturized Aston Martin hatchback) and cute-as-a-button rear are major selling points. I also appreciated the fact that the car came with a 5-year/90 000 km service plan as standard and 30 000 km(!) service intervals. On the downside though, the 8-valve 1,4-litre engine feels a bit listless – the Punto’s Grande dimensions, no doubt, blunt its performance and I shudder to think to what extent the 1,2 models struggle at Reef altitudes. For the range’s 2007 model year update, Fiat Auto SA has dropped the 1,2, added a 1,4-litre 16-valve Starjet model (with Dynamic Spec) and replaced the 1,3-litre diesel model with a 66 kW Multijet fitted with a variable geometry turbocharger.
The models’ Press launch took place at the Highveld and, as a result, the 1,4-litre 16-valve version didn’t really shine in the rarefied atmosphere. The unit, mated with a six-speed manual transmission, is certainly eager to rev, but it didn’t seem remarkably more powerful than the power hike over the 8-valve motor (70 kW from 57 kW) suggested. I really enjoyed the Multijet model, however, and if you’re based at the Reef (as most South African motorists are), it’s arguably the pick of the bunch. At the price of R150 900, it competes head on with the R151 390 Ford Fiesta 1,6 TDCi, but offers two more doors, the service plan, 30 000 km service intervals and only 4 N.m less in terms of peak torque output. It’s more powerful than the other 1,4- and 1,5-litre diesel units out there, responsive, reasonably refined and, moreover, to quote my significant other, “gorgeous”.
I’d like to retry the Starjet when a test unit arrives in Cape Town; I’m almost certain that the 1,4-litre 16 valve might be the better choice if you live along the Coast. As for the interior updates, there’s little to mention apart from the adoption of more textured fabrics, new colours, trim options and bits of aluminium-look trim about the cabin. Certainly, the interior sports elements of bling to match the Grande’s flashy exterior.
How do these additions bode for the future sales success of the Grande Punto in South Africa? Well, it goes without saying that it’s the most impressive offering in Fiat Auto SA’s passenger car lineup, perhaps since the Italian marque made a full return to the local market.
My significant other’s beloved Grande has chewed up five door locks (which made it impossible to open affected doors from the inside – they were all duly replaced, but the glitches were somewhat of a drag). Furthermore, the car was recently subjected to a Fiat Auto-sanctioned precautionary inspection to its steering column, which Fiat Auto SA boss Giorgio Gorelli explained at the launch was “to check whether the affected models’ columns would develop a noise when the cars were steered”… Good thing there was no danger of steering wheels detaching while the cars were on the move, then.
However, irritating teething troubles aside, the Grande Punto’s the best looking small car in South Africa and, given its good levels of specification and extended intervals of its standard-issue service plan, Fiat Auto’s best hope for sales success. The Italian marque improved its sales by 38 per cent from 2005 to 2006, but that was from a relatively low base.
Still, the desirability of the Grande Punto has never been in doubt, now if the Italian manufacturer can successfully streamline its parts supply and further improve owners’ after-sales satisfaction levels, this model can spearhead Fiat Auto SA’s revival.
Click here for a gallery of Fiat Grande Punto MY07