FIAT has, in recent years, worked hard on reviving its strengths of former decades. The company from Turin seems to have achieved this to a degree with well-received offerings such as the Panda, Grande Punto and the 500 (just voted European Car of the Year), which arrives in SA during 2008. But to take on the VW Golf, Ford Focus and other illustrious B-segment competitors, it needed to really push the envelope. The Stilo didn’t crack it, but now we have the Bravo. Yes, we know it is based on the Stilo, but what has been achieved here is like chalk and cheese when compared to the previous offering.
For starters, Bravo really looks gorgeous. It has elements of the Grande Punto up front, with that Maserati-type appearance, and at the rear it uses similarly styled tail-lights to the previous Bravo, which didn’t make it to our shores. The wedge-shaped sides are bold and sleek, and somehow the complete package blends together to create one of the best lookers on the road. In fact, it is streets better than its (admittedly rather boring) rivals. So, the first round goes to the newcomer.
Moving inside, does the interior also appeal? Well, the ambience of the Sport version we tested stands out from the norm, with a semi soft-touch facia, having carbon fibre-look embellishments, and the top and doorsills finished in a black fabric. The seats are upholstered in three materials, Alcantara for edges, headrests and seat backs, a rich blue/black sheen cloth for side bolsters, and a breathable weave cloth for the main seating area. Care has also gone into the shape of the pads to make the seats look quite striking. The blue/black theme (a red/ black is also available) is continued on the door armrests, and blue stitching is used on the leather-bound steering wheel, the gear-knob and the handbrake lever.
Driver comfort is acceptable, but some testers battled to achieve a happy compromise between arm and leg positioning, and the pedals are a bit too close to each other. Steering is reach- and rake-adjustable. The cabin is quite spacious, but legroom in the back is restricted if the driver is tall. The view to the rear is restricted due to large C-pillars and the curved-in shape of the rear window.
A boost gauge can be brought up as part of the fuel consumption/ trip computer, displayed between the deeply set dials. Information provided includes average and instantaneous fuel consumption figures as well as range to empty. The speedometer is difficult to read in daylight, and there are some reflections that could be eliminated by extending the instrument binnacle hood. At night, red backlighting matches the display illumination.
This car has some interesting features. One is the double armrest set-up where, if the lower one is raised, a catch prevents the upper one from being opened and spilling its contents. The lower armrest takes a water bottle that can be chilled via the air-conditioning system.
Another noteworthy item is the instrument lighting. As usual, if the headlamps are switched on, the backlighting is dimmed, but in the Bravo, if the lights are switched on during the day, a sensor detects this and keeps the illumination at the higher level to improve the clarity of the displays.
A third feature worth a special mention is the clever cornering lights. These do double duty as the foglamps, and are switched on if the headlamps are on and the steering wheel is turned, but also if you activate the indicators and the speed is below 40 km/h.
All windows are one-touch up and down and windows can be opened or closed using the remote key fob.
The boot is well-designed with 352 dm3 of space and 1 096 dm3 of utility volume – and there’s a full-size steel spare under the boot board. The rear hatch opens by pressing on the Fiat badge or using the button on the remote fob. There is no handle to lift the hatch: instead, you have to put your fingers under the leading edge and pull. This can be messy and may, over time, lead to fingernail scratches on the paint. Similarly, the attractive side skirts are also vulnerable to scuffing.
The T-Jet Sport is, by definition, the sportiest of the range, with a few extra goodies over and above the already well-specced Dynamic version. It has the same power output of 110 kW from the small, turbocharged 1,4-litre engine, but the Sport allows additional boost for a limited period to increase the maximum torque from 206 to 230 N.m. While we battled to detect the difference (there is a Sport button on the facia to engage the overboost mode), the fact is that the kick that one gets from as low as 1 700 r/min is very satisfying. The engine is silky smooth, and acceleration is accompanied by a soft whistle. The slick gearbox action feels nearly as good as the class-leading Golf’s, and offers six ratios, adding to driving enjoyment.
The sprint time to 100 km/h is 8,86 seconds, which is quicker than most rivals, but this was tricky to achieve as wheelspin was difficult to contain once the turbo came on boost. Best results were achieved by feeding in, rather than stamping on, the accelerator. The fuel index on the Bravo worked out at 8,6 litres/100 km, which is pretty decent for the 110 kW output.
Handling and ride quality are both above average. The ride is firm, but well-tuned for the nature of this model, and the Bravo manages to absorb bumps and poor road conditions without feeling uncomfortable. The steering uses electrical power assistance and, typically, is not perfect, but there is reasonable weighting and feedback, so overall it is better than most.
The Sport model is supplied with attractive charcoal and aluminium-coloured 17-inch wheels, with 225/45 section tyres, traction and stability control that includes a hill holder function, and a rear spoiler. Six airbags plus all of the obligatory safety requirements helped the Bravo to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating.
TEST SUMMARY
Super-stylish, and packed with features, including some not usually found at the R200 000 level, the Bravo also boasts a smooth, responsive engine with an intoxicating turbo-rush, decent fuel economy and a well-sized boot, plus a full-size spare wheel. A five-year service plan adds to a surprisingly attractive package. Sure, the resale value might be a problem, but if that worries you, you are automatically limited to Toyota or VW. Performance is not quite in the Golf GTI or Focus ST category, but it’s not too far off for a saving of about R50 000 on those hot hatches. None of the Bravo’s direct rivals includes features such as hill hold, stability control, one touch windows all round, or cornering lights as standard, so value for money is a plus. While being conscious of Fiat SA’s recent poor customer back up, we cannot deny the new crop of products is good, the Bravo being a prime example.
