Test drive Fiat Punto Evo 3 doors since 2009 hatchback
The third "point"
We tortured him for a month. And in the cold and in the thaw; And in ice and on dry asphalt. It's time to put an end to the story about the point. After all, Punto, translated from Italian, means point. That is something small, but important. So he was 15 years ago. Today Punto has grown, which is also talking about the Grande prefix. And not least at his expense, the result of sales of Fiat cars in the Russian market grew up. Approximately every tenth of the Fiat Grande Punto sold in our country. We tested two versions with a semi -automatic KP, on which we actually swept for a month, and then we completed the test with a hot modification with the Sport prefix in the name. But first things first. To the handle, to the point
The small -sized front -wheel drive Punto, which debuted in 1993, became a real bestseller in Europe. He replaced the Fiat Uno model. During the production, Punto was not subjected to noticeable modernization and restyling, but power units were repeatedly updated. The car was produced with three body types: 5 and 3-door hatchback, as well as a convertible that appeared in 1994.
Punto I was equipped with a 1.1 liter engine with a capacity of 55 hp, endowed with central injection, low -power, but economical: the engine spent 7 liters per 100 km. Sports versions had a 1.6-liter 88-horsepower or 1.4-liter 133-horsepower engine under the hood. They, of course, will please the ambitious driver with excellent dynamics, but they also have more fuel consumption. The golden middle can be called a 1.24-liter engine with a capacity of 74 hp. This power unit with distributed injection combines acceptable dynamics with economy.
The first generation lasted on the conveyor until 1999. Its total circulation amounted to more than 3 million copies. He was replaced by Fiat Punto II. Created on the new platform, it is largely different from the first generation model. The designers were eliminated all the weaknesses of the predecessor, and, according to statistics, the car has become much more reliable. By the way, the warranty for the body from through corrosion is 8 years. Inside the second Fiat Punto was much more spacious than it might seem from the outside.
Since the spring of 2003, sales of updated Punto began in Europe. In addition to the advanced styling, modernized hatchbacks distinguish new decoration materials, a steering wheel, a combination of devices and an aluminum -finished central console. Well, in 2006, as you know, Punto III appeared on the market.
Tertiary
Here it is, silver, stands in front of the forest, to me backwards, on the site for Sollers representation on the Minsk highway. I just passed the test-500 test (see the previous newspaper number), but now I need to get home to what? Yes, on this very Grande Punto, which should become for a month of the workhorse of the editorial office.
First glance, the new Punto really has become larger, and its front -line now resembles Ferrari rather than a car for economical buyers, as it was before. True, the advertising booklet promised something more: elegant and at the same time daring, rapid lines, dynamism and sophistication in Grande Punto unmistakably guessed the style of the Italian designers of the studio Georgetto Dzhujaro. The best Italian traditions of automobile design are reflected in the nature of this harmonious car. In real life, I personally would calmly pass this dynamics in the metal, not paying much attention to it. On the other hand, an undoubted plus in terms of theft or vandalism. However, pretty spitefulness. We will go around this machine around.
The front end is quite friendly, the radiator grille is designed quite modern in the middle of the bumper insert (in the color of the body), on which, in fact, the license plate is attached. This technique for increasing static aggression has long been using, for example, Audi. I also wanted to mention the Chevrolet Aveo, but then I remembered that Grande Punto had gone for the third year, and the updated Aveo stood on the conveyor last spring.
If you look at the ANFAS, the GP case can be, I will write in abbreviation, do not confuse with batteries! noticeably two -stage. Massive lower (up to the lower cut of lateral glazing), less wide, slightly pointed upward. Fun eyes of anterior lighting equipment, fog lights like dimples on cheeks. I can’t help but note the design of the back: it has become more logical, or something, when compared with the Punto of previous generations. A kind of Zhuir turned out to be the side of its GP resembles most European Golf Class cars from Peugeot to the same Golf. The desire for ostentatious power increased dubborn arches, under which 15-inch wheels with cast discs. In the top versions there may be 17-inch wheels of a very exquisite design, but in front of me is a clear middle peasant with a 77-horsepower engine of 1.4 liters. Fabric and plastic
And enough again! Stop walking around the bush! On the street is almost minus 15, you need to warm up. So, I climb into the salon of the handle of Grande Punto under the reverse grip, and the lock opens with a key fob.
It's dark inside. Literally. And it's not a little tinted glass. Just seats are covered with black embossed fabric, which is slightly diluted with light inserts. Practical, although boring. The dashboard is also black. Large circles of the speedometer and tachometer in stylish chrome arcs, the indicators of the fuel level and the temperature of the coolant in the thirds of the circle, between the speedometer and the odometer in the upper part of the panel. In the lower red symbols of the triple.
Asceticism is the first thing that comes to mind when viewing the salon of this average version of Grande Punto. There is a glove box, but it is not enough, mirrors with an electric drive, but they could have folded. But what caused rejection of triangular windows in the front doors. This, excuse me, is not a minivan, and there is no view in these triangular glasses.
The adjustment of the seats is naturally manual (for this version). At first, the back profile seemed to me not too comfortable bending in the middle. But, having traveled a week or two, and we took the car with almost zero mileage, she was surprisingly rushed in the right places and the seat instantly became quite comfortable. Yes, and adjustable both in height and by departure of the steering column allow you to quickly find the right and comfortable landing.
Between the seats a huge armrest. If you just go for a long, long time, you can rest on it with your right hand. Yes, and in the city, maneuvering a robotic machine gun, you can not tear off the elbow from it. A small compartment lurked in the same armrest for different small things, although certain problems can arise with the placement of such luggles. Firstly, because the cup holders under the central console are not large and, say, a plastic bottle of water with a volume of 0.5 liters is not placed there. Secondly, the pockets in the doors are small and narrow. They can only be placed in them several CDs. By the way, the audio system reproduces MP3 files, and thanks to the Blue & Me interface and the presence of a USB input in the lower part of the central console, you can connect an MP3 player or just a flash drive with music files to the system.
In the back seats, surprisingly spacious. And this is perhaps all that can be said about them. The trunk is not particularly large, but if you fold the rear seats, its volume can be increased to 1030 liters. Well, perhaps, that's all. You can start
Not in the quarry
The engine started immediately and rumbled not without pleasantness. I remove the car from the handbrake, I transfer the robot selector from neutral to position A, and you can go. I go out onto the track and try to get speed. But then the robotic box does not rush from the place in the quarry. Later, I specially looked at the passport of the car acceleration to hundreds takes more than 13 seconds. This is not a sprinter, for sure. In addition, with each change of steps, a push is clearly felt. Especially if switching occurs at almost maximum speed. However, this is the problem of the vast majority of such mechanisms, regardless of the manufacturer. But to the honor of Fiat, we can say that in traffic jams, when you drag at almost idle speeds, jerks are not so noticeable.
And if you switch manually? To do this, the KP lever is pushing to the left, and on the screen of the triple-computer appears an indication of the transmission turned on at the moment. This is a completely different matter! Yes, the dynamics practically does not change, but if, with every push of the lever, to discard the gas a little, simulating the clutch, the robot becomes much more flexible, and unpleasant jerks can be avoided completely. As a result, after a couple of days, synchronism appears, which sharply reduces gear shift time and, accordingly, significantly increases comfort and improves dynamics. So, holding in the stream becomes much easier and, especially pleasant, when braking, the electronics itself switches to a low gear, when the tachometer arrow drops to 1000 rpm. But when the maximum revolutions are reached, the electronics will not include increased, and the motor will hang on the cut -off. The correct approach, especially taking into account the settings of suspensions and the absence of a stabilization system. So, the rolls of the body in vihi are tangible only if you enter this very turn completely on the redistribution. In other cases, the suspensions are quite elastic, but energy intensive. They make it possible to clearly feel what is happening with the car and immediately feel their limit, as well as the limit of the adverse properties of the tires.
By the way, it should be noted that the suspensions are quite sporty, in truly Italian traditions. At critical moments, Grande Punto demonstrates almost excessive rotation, boldly wagging its tail for discharge or insufficient gas supply. If you tear off the front drive wheels into a slip, then, like on any other front -wheel drive car, the car’s nose goes outside the turn. As a result, this allows an experienced driver to independently adjust the character of the machine and, for example, make the body slide sideways on a simple counter-mixing, without the help of a handbrake. But just remember that the machine has no stabilization system on your own. And in this regard, I would like to complain to a very light lamb, even in standard mode. Of course, it is slightly heavy with an increase in speed, but to transparency and absolutely clear feedback is still far away. But there is also the City button, you will press and the steering wheel becomes just a fluff. I will like it, I suppose to the ladies.
Before ending the story about the running qualities of Fiat Grande Punto 1.4, which generally left a very pleasant impressions, I will note good brakes. The pedal force is dosed clearly, and even if there is an ABS, electronics allows short -term wheels lock, which once again indicates the sports character of the car. However, if we are talking about sports, then for this there is a special version with Sport prefix in the Grande Punto range.
Werewolf In many respects, Grande Punto Sport is the exact opposite of the usual GP. You understand this almost immediately.
First, appearance. A barely noticeable aerodynamic body kit, a different, more aggressive shape of the front bumper, a chrome muffler pipe, 17-inch cast discs and only a 3-door body. And if you choose a white machine and with a transparent optional glass roof, then the appearance is even more expressive black top, light bottom.
Secondly, filling. Inside the Grande Punto Sport, everything is stylistically the same, but some details unequivocally hint that you are driving a not quite a civilian car. First of all, the seats. Hard, with pronounced lateral support, you can hardly move. They are similar to racing, good are endowed with all the necessary adjustments. And the bagel? Its diameter is the same, but perforated leather and red spit, as on the tangle of the mechanical 5-speed KP, coupled with white dials on the panel instantly tuned in a combat? One but the ICP lever is located too close to the right knee. Therefore, including the first sometimes you hit yourself on the leg. There are no other complaints about ergonomics.
Under the hood of Grande Punto Sport is the same 1.4-liter gasoline engine, but with four valves on the cylinder and turbocharged. As a result, its power is increased to 120 hp, and the maximum torque reaches 206 nm, which are available at 1750 rpm. Given the fact that the mass of the car is a little more than a ton, this guarantees a very dynamic movement. You are convinced of this right away, you should move off. On a slippery coating, the stabilization lamp begins to flash, which is installed in the standard in the Sport version and, alas, does not turn off. But it does not interfere. The threshold of its operation, apparently deliberately, is slightly shifted in favor of sports, and therefore typically Italian temperament can be fully tasted.
At your disposal, there is always a necessary supply of traction and, say, in sluggishly current traffic jams, you can move in second or third gear, as on a machine gun. On the highway, you can afford dashing overtaking, although at some points, upon reaching maximum speed, it seemed to me that the sixth gear would clearly not hurt the car. In addition, the clutch pedal is quite long, and the ICP lever could not be so sophisticated. True, there are no problems with selectivity, and the steering here is much more informative and heavier. This is fully applied to pendants. Grande Punto Sport's springs are almost shorter, shock absorbers are noticeably tougher. Together with 17-inch wheels, this practically guarantees complete unity with the machine, although someone can not like the clear track of the road profile and the practice of even small irregularities may not like it.
It remains to add that in accordance with the dynamic potential, the brakes are configured.
No need to spoil! Just a week later, Grande Punto operation in our park happened: a knock was heard in the motor compartment. Sharp, metal. Something with the motor? I don’t know: with a hood raised, I could not determine anything. By ear too. Is the suspension really? Everything turned out to be much easier.
During the visit to the service station, it turned out: the whole point is that the protection of the crankcase is poorly fixed. True, Fiat is not guilty of this. In Italy, as well as in Europe, protection is not put at all. And for Russia, the St. Petersburg company sheriff makes it, and makes it extremely unsuccessful for Fiat. The bolts are not wrapped to the end, and so that the protection does not thunder, it is necessary to insert rubber liners. So on the test car and the bolts were unfinished, and there were no rubber tabs.
The list of problems ended on this.
Pros and cons
Well, you can summarize.
Over the past year, Sollers, which offers Fiat cars in the Russian market, has succeeded. For example, more than double the sales. Of course, Fiat did not get into the top ten leaders, but still.
As mentioned above, Fiat Grande Punto is not striking, contrary to the efforts of J. Dzhujaro. But he did not become worse from this. Well, yes, a dark discreet salon. But it’s convenient, practical and considerable. Yes, the trunk is small but for a dozen office boxes, for the top three suitcases, it is enough with excess. And if you need to transport a long -meter, not a problem.
Are the speed qualities of the usual Grande Punto not impressive? Yes, they are not impressive. But he is not an ambulance. In traffic jams, Grande Punto behaves predictably and quite comfortable for both the driver and passengers, especially if there are no more than three.
Is the motor weak? But the appetite is moderate (the average consumption for the test was about 8 liters per hundred) that today, when a decrease in fuel prices is many times behind the reduction of oil prices, it is important. Yes, and, by and large, the relics are enough to confidently move the car weighing a little more than a ton. So, as you can see, there is no minus that could not have changed polarity.
Another important factor price. It starts with 422 thousand rubles, which allows Grande Punto to stay in the segment of economy class cars today, when there is little to find little euros for 10 thousand euros.
As for the Sport version, it is relatively available from 625,000 rubles.
Dmitry Semenov
