Am a proud owner of Fiat grande punto .
The car really feels great to drive . The italian design and solid build .
punto surely takes the cake here in this segment.
i also bought after a long 6 months study(considering technical features, future maintainance and value for money)
I got punto active 1.3 multijet diesel .till now I have driven roughly 5000 km’s and ready for first check(at 5000) though service is at 15000 km’s.
i got first milage around 17 with ac. As diesel engine takes little time to open up, I checked the milage 15 days ago by full to full method, and getting 18.9 km’s with 80% city 20% highway driving.
Features are also great for a base model(display information like trip reading, trip average, trip driving time, distance to empty, service reminders, speed limit beep set, steering tilt) Which you can’t even dream to have in base models in this segment(like swift).
swift is no doubt a good car but driving pleasure is not comparable to punto .
There were some issues regarding fiat after sales services, but they have improved allot now . I reside in chandigarh, no problem so far . I hv been attended responsibly each time I have gone to dealers . One thing I felt is plastics used in car are bit cheap, but the build quality and performance is marvelous . its steering response and stability on higher speeds is really exellent . on other hand I use to drive my dad’s swift dezire too, which I feel scared sometimes on high speeds like near turns etc, while punto road grip is great on high speeds due to better engine to self load ratio .
once punto get in third gear, its multiple injection system comes in action and car responses great, the delayed injection system is the success of this engine .
No doubt swift has the same engine but they have adjusted the torque levels accordingly, but fiat is using its engine in same settings it has been designed for.
so I feel punto is a great car in looks and performance. Maintenance is also not an issue . Every diesel car needs bit care as comp to petrol cars . but now a days diesel engines are really refined and great . time has gone when people use to start there diesel cars for hours before leaving for places.
Fiat punto uses synthetic oils which are little costly but 15000km’s of interval service is great feature. Almost once in a year. These oils cost around 5000 when changed but once in year or 15000 km’s. Almost nil maintenance in between. Other brands like hyundai, skoda, ford are almost equal when compared in spares and services. fiat spares are at par with other competitors, even with swift.
every diesel car needs care, not like old ones but few things if one take care, one could get a good milage . moreover driving style varies from person to person which does matter in getting gud milage.
Few of my known are getting only 12-13 km’s per litre milage from punto diesel.
Also one who is going for alloys and want gud milage too, should get in alloys after few thousand km’s when engine opens up and to default size tyres . adding heavy alloys and big tyres to new car wud surely drop the milage .
But one who’s first preference is not mileage wud go for alloys and tyres . as fiat punto looks killer with good alloys and tyres.
I hope the review helps people out there .
Thanks