I have a Punto eco loan car from the dealers while mine is sorted.

Here are my thoughts.

It is a 1.4 8v Stop/Start engine, which @ 70 is quite noisy, for a 1.4 its not very pokey, a couple of older 1.2 Corsas got away from the lights quicker, even with me reactivating the engine just as the lights touched amber, & I wasnt pushing it.

The Stop Start system can be quite disconcerting, but you soon get used to it. When you pull up, engage neutral & lift your foot of the clutch it shuts off, as soon as the clutch is depressed it sounds like someone is turning the key to start the car, however what is surprising you can actually move off without holding up traffic behind you.

Steering like my 500 is well thought out, light round town, but heavies up at speed, & to be honest you dont notice the change. It handles the bumps in the road very well, hardly noticeable.

It feels quite spacious, the interior is pleasant, but thats all i can say, there is none of this false brushed aluminium, & can seem a bit dark, specially trying to read the radio station, Also in bright sunlight & wearing sunglasses the dials are not easily read, specially the fuel & temp gauge. My brother in laws driving school punto is far brighter inside.

These eco cars tend to have a change up indicator, this is not much use as it has not been positioned in such a way as to catch your attention to change up.

The driver seat is height adjustable, & the whole seat moves, not like the 500 where the base just tilts back/down, the back of he seat has fine adjust wheel for recline & not ratchet. Sitting in these seats remind me of the Citroen BX i had, squishy, & very little support going round corners.

The steering wheel has the same controls for the radio, blue & me etc as my 500, howver the wheel itself feels cheap & no where near as chunky / solid as my 500.

The newer car looks nicer than its predecessor on the outside, but the interior design is very poor compared to the 500, dull & proorly laid out.

My summary

Dark interior

Not very supportive seats.

Rides quite nicely

Engine not particularly suitable to NSL journeys( would become tiresome on long journey ).

I personally wouldnt buy one even though it looks nice on the outside. - Nice try FIAT, should have taken some styling cues from the popular 500

I have a Punto eco loan car from the dealers while mine is sorted.

Here are my thoughts.

It is a 1.4 8v Stop/Start engine, which @ 70 is quite noisy, for a 1.4 its not very pokey, a couple of older 1.2 Corsas got away from the lights quicker, even with me reactivating the engine just as the lights touched amber, & I wasnt pushing it.

The Stop Start system can be quite disconcerting, but you soon get used to it. When you pull up, engage neutral & lift your foot of the clutch it shuts off, as soon as the clutch is depressed it sounds like someone is turning the key to start the car, however what is surprising you can actually move off without holding up traffic behind you.

Steering like my 500 is well thought out, light round town, but heavies up at speed, & to be honest you dont notice the change. It handles the bumps in the road very well, hardly noticeable.

It feels quite spacious, the interior is pleasant, but thats all i can say, there is none of this false brushed aluminium, & can seem a bit dark, specially trying to read the radio station, Also in bright sunlight & wearing sunglasses the dials are not easily read, specially the fuel & temp gauge. My brother in laws driving school punto is far brighter inside.

These eco cars tend to have a change up indicator, this is not much use as it has not been positioned in such a way as to catch your attention to change up.

The driver seat is height adjustable, & the whole seat moves, not like the 500 where the base just tilts back/down, the back of he seat has fine adjust wheel for recline & not ratchet. Sitting in these seats remind me of the Citroen BX i had, squishy, & very little support going round corners.

The steering wheel has the same controls for the radio, blue & me etc as my 500, howver the wheel itself feels cheap & no where near as chunky / solid as my 500.

The newer car looks nicer than its predecessor on the outside, but the interior design is very poor compared to the 500, dull & proorly laid out.

My summary

Dark interior

Not very supportive seats.

Rides quite nicely

Engine not particularly suitable to NSL journeys( would become tiresome on long journey ).

I personally wouldnt buy one even though it looks nice on the outside. - Nice try FIAT, should have taken some styling cues from the popular 500

Interesting article Steve: I quite like the Punto but would only consider one with a Multiair under the hood. I don't know what the atrmo version is like though as only driven it in 170 BHP form in the Alfa. I think old motors like the 1.4 8 valve will soon be history. I'm really keen to try the new 85 BHP Twinair. I've seen videos on it on Youtube: engine sounds great: like a parallel twin bike(although I guess that will put others off) and it seems to go very well.