Fiat Punto Evo review: prettier Grande or cleaner Evo?

A facelift may be a superficial matter, but was one really necessary for the Punto? The neat Grande Punto has long ranked among the most attractive city cars and, subjective though styling is, this updated Punto Evo seems slightly less handsome.

Punto Evo styling and exterior changes

Fiat appears to have tried to give the Punto the same playful expression as the 500. In doing so, its designers have fitted the Evo with a wide-open grille and two chrome ‘whiskers’, creating the rather disturbing look of an Evil Kitten Clown. It is far from ugly, yet some of the original model’s elegant, mini-Maserati character has undoubtedly disappeared.

Fortunately, much remains to like beneath that more intimidating nose. Along with a marginally firmer chassis, better sound insulation and additional safety equipment, the Punto Evo receives the same 133bhp MultiAir turbo petrol engine tested last month in the Alfa Mito. MultiAir is an extremely complex development of variable-valve technology, incorporating features such as ‘balancer poppets’ and ‘throttle-independent intake valves’ to provide more advanced variable timing, benefiting performance, fuel economy and emissions. The 133bhp MultiAir Punto - also available with 104bhp - reaches 62mph in 8.5secs, returns 51mpg and emits 129g/km of CO2.

Punto Evo MultiAir engine and driving manners

These figures are strong, and the MultiAir motor is equally convincing on the road. It reacts keenly to throttle inputs and produces plenty of torque even at low engine speeds. Not every aspect of the Punto Evo is as polished, however. The steering feels too light before the ultra-light ‘city’ setting is even selected, while the five-speed gearbox is vaguer than a spin-dried ewe. Oddly, the 95bhp MultiJet diesel Punto we drove offered a far cleaner six-speed transmission and more precise steering.

Neither the petrol nor diesel Punto responds as sharply as a Ford Fiesta. The Ford turns in more eagerly and holds on with greater determination, whereas the Punto defaults to understeer and distressed tyre noise. Still, even fitted with 17-inch wheels, it rides comfortably, deals effectively with rough surfaces and keeps road noise well contained.

Cabin quality and Grande Punto choice

The updated interior represents a major improvement, particularly in higher-specification ‘Sport’ models. These gain numerous soft-touch trims and even some stitched leather, delivering a standard of luxury comfortably beyond that of the Fiesta. More encouragingly, Fiat says the Punto Evo will cost no more than the existing Grande Punto when sales begin in January, which is generous of it.

There is, though, an unusual complication. Fiat intends to keep selling the previous Grande Punto, complete with its old Grande Punto engines, alongside the Punto Evo for the next couple of years, probably in genuinely budget-conscious student specification. For anyone determined to buy a Punto, that presents a difficult choice: the cleaner, quicker, quieter but less attractive Evo, or the dirtier, slower, noisier yet prettier Grande? Are we wrong to be undecided?