New Fiat Punto Evo review, test drive

Ride and handling remain the forte of the Punto. The Evo carries over the same superbly weighted hydraulic steering and grip levels are simply amazing. And apart from some body-roll due to the massive SUV-like 195mm on the petrol Punto and 185mm on the diesel, the Evo stays surefooted. The 195/55 tyres and well-judged suspension mean the worst of roads don’t faze the Punto; a boon on our roads. So while it isn’t the quickest hatch, the fact that you don’t have to slow down much for every crack on the road means it’s a great tool for covering distances quickly.

By the end of the day, it was clear that the Punto Evo has retained the traditional strengths of the Punto and improved upon almost all of its shortcomings. So, the Punto in Evo avatar looks hot from the outside, quite swanky on the inside and rides superbly well. It’s also reasonably good to drive if outright performance is not high on your agenda. However, what it’s not is the most spacious, premium or best equipped of the hatchbacks. While it’s hard to ignore the Punto Evo’s less strong points, it’s equally hard to argue against the Punto’s sheer appeal. 

Now, the price. The new Fiat Punto Evo petrol starts at a competitive Rs 4.55 lakh and goes up to Rs 6.66 lakh for the top-spec variant that also packs a more powerful 1.4-litre engine (in place of the 1.2-litre motor). The diesel Punto starts at Rs 5.27 lakh and goes up to a Rs 7.2 lakh for the more powerful 89bhp Sport trim. While the top-trims may look a bit on the pricier side, the Punto Evo’s stylish design does well to justify the price tag. We only wish the engines packed a bit more punch.