If there was EVER an award for most talent but far too little glory, then Fiat India would certainly be a winner. The company has always delivered cars that are ideal for Indian conditions but failed to achieve even half the sales that rivals, with comparatively compromised cars, have managed.

All that could well be history with the arrival of the aptly named Grande Punto (it translates into ‘grand point’). It promises to be everything that small-car buyers want. For starters, it’s got the same 1.3 Multijet diesel engine that has legions of buyers waiting for months for the Maruti Swift and Swift Dzire. Interested?

STYLE FILE

One look at the Punto will assure you that Italians are indeed great at design. The Punto’s silhouette is well balanced no matter which angle you look at it from. The big lights up front and the long nose look sporty and give it plenty of character.

The rear gets compact lights mounted high up on the pillars. And the big wheels complete the purposeful stance. Fiat owns Ferrari and Maserati — easy to figure out once you look at the Grande Punto’s design.

INSIDE STORY

Fiats have always been known for their tough and robust build quality and the Punto is no different. The first thing you’ll notice when you step into the cabin is the manner in which the doors shut with a solid ‘thunk’. This sound is found on more expensive saloons and there’s no tin-like, built-to-a-price feel that most rivals exude.

The next thing you’ll notice, though, is that the rear seats aren’t really as impressive as the generous external dimensions of the car suggest. Three occupants will fit nicely, thanks to the width, but legroom is just about adequate and similar to most rivals. However, the high-set seats themselves are very comfortable and both under-thigh and back support is very good.

But front seat passengers won’t have any reason to complain, with seats being wide and with generous legroom. The driver’s seat is height-adjustable but the steering only adjusts for rake, not reach, so finding the ideal driving position can be a little tricky.

The dials are similar to the ones found on the Linea, except that they’re in black. Fiat oddly hasn’t marked a redline on the rpm gauges. The dashboard controls are easily reachable and are intuitive to use. One irritating trait though is that the indicator stalks are placed on the left.

Fiat hasn’t followed the beige interior trend that most rivals have made the norm now. The dark grey-black cabin can be a bit tiring to look at after a long drive. Another grouse is the inconsistent quality of plastics. Though the dashboard is made from relatively dense material, some bits let it down.

Another area that Fiat hasn’t been paying attention to is the usability of the cabin. There aren’t too many places where you can put that takeaway cup of iced tea or even your cellphone for that matter. It’s a shame considering many rivals are getting stronger on practicality.

The boot, at 280 litres, is again the norm in its class rather than a standout feature. The suspension towers intrude into it, limiting its usability. The high sill doesn’t help loading either.

What you will appreciate, though, is the number of features on offer. The Grande Punto’s top-end Emotion variant comes with features like ABS and twin airbags, a voice-activated Bluetooth pairing for phones (dubbed Blue & Me), climate control, alloys, an iPod dock and more.

UNDER THE HOOD

There are three engine options on sale. The cheapest is the small 1.2-litre petrol, which develops 68bhp. Fiat didn’t offer this for a test drive, so I reserve judgement on this model.

A 1.4-litre petrol motor with 89bhp is the other one. This engine is refined and revs till its redline without fuss. It lacks outright punch but is more than adequate for city driving. There isn’t much in terms of power low in the rev range, so you’ll have to push the revs up for a rewarding drive. Its fuel-efficiency figures of 10.2kpl in the city and 14.6kpl on the highway are decent for the car’s size and weight.

The third engine is the familiar 1.3 Multijet diesel that’s in the Swift and the Swift Dzire. Start it up and there’s a familiar diesel clatter from a cold start. If you’ve driven a Swift, you’ll notice that the Punto isn’t as refined and there’s plenty of engine noise entering the cabin.

The engine is slow to respond to throttle inputs below the 2000rpm mark. But even after crossing that mark, it fails to inspire. While the Swift diesel leaps forward like a cat chasing a mouse, the Punto only moves progressively. As for as fuel efficiency, the 1.3 diesel delivers 13.7kpl in the city and 17.5kpl on the highway. However, the gearbox isn’t as slick as the ones in the Swift or the Fabia.

DRIVER’S DEAL

Fiat’s new Punto excels in the ride and handling department. It manages to damp out road undulations really well, tackling most bad roads adroitly. Ride quality improves as speeds increase and there’s always a reassuring feel to the suspension, even at faster highway speeds. The steering offers plenty of communication from the front tyres. Body roll is minimal and the grippy tyres aid handling further. The Punto is willing to be pushed into corners at faster speeds, always following a predictable and composed line.

FINAL VERDICT

Overall the Punto is near the top of the small car pecking order and will be adequate for families. It’s solidly built, well priced, has a comfortable ride and decent fuel economy figures. But it fails to match class leaders in terms of driving pleasure.

SPec check

Fiat Grande Punto

Engine size: 1.2/1.4/1.3 (P/P/D)
Price from: Rs 3.99 lakh
Power: 68/89/75bhp
0-100kph: NA/16.58/17.84 seconds
Fuel economy: NA/ 10.2/14.6; 13.7/17.5kpl (city/highway)