Fiat Bravo Range
Instant desirability is a commodity in short supply in the family hatch sector. These cars major on common sense rather than sassiness but the new Fiat Bravo offers some real eye candy. Team that with massively improved build quality and some great powerplants and you have what looks to be a very strong proposition.
Styling will only get you so far if the car drives poorly. Several manufacturers have found this to their cost but the new Bravo comes up trumps on that score. Its not far off the class leaders when it comes to sharp handling through a series of twisties and the selection of engines is, by and large, better than the more obvious Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra offerings. Petrol engines first.
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The diesel engines are also a big draw, Fiat leveraging its experience to great effect. Two 1.6-litre MultiJet diesels are offered, with either 105 or 120bhp, plus a 1.9-litre unit with 150bhp.
The more powerful 1.9-litre diesel has some real muscle to it, getting the Bravo from rest to 62mph in 9.0 seconds and topping 130mph. With 305Nm of torque available, its not going to have any problem putting irksome white van men in their place, that torque output superior to something like a Subaru Impreza WRX.
Its easy to forgive the Bravo any minor shortcomings when you walk round the car, taking in its beautifully integrated detailing and elegant proportions. Many five door hatches are about as beguiling as the prospect of an evening spent creosoting your mother-in-laws fence, but the Bravo is different. Just as the Grande Punto added a touch of the exotic to the supermini class, so the new Bravo does the same for cars the next size up. Though this isnt the largest car in the class, theres a decent amount of luggage space in that curved rump.
The interior feels very well built. Bright finish plastics lift the cabin and the controls are easy to figure out without recourse to the manual. It all looks agreeably Italianate as well. Fiat has really got the hang of the whole soft-touch dashboard moulding in recent years and the new Bravos supple, textured finish wouldnt look out of place in an Audi.
"The Italians could be onto something here"
Theres no shortage of equipment either. The big draw for family buyers is undoubtedly the amount of safety gear Fiat has packed into the new Bravo. Winner of a coveted five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating, the Bravo sits squarely at the top of its category with a total of 33 points on the NCAP scorecard. The Bravo is the product of over 60 crash tests, 15,000 hours of computer simulations, 150 simulations with a crash sled and more than 100 crash tests on components and subsystems.
The Bravo features two front airbags, two front side bags, two window bags and a knee airbag for the driver. ABS anti-lock braking with electronic brakeforce distribution and the latest generation ESP stability control system should prevent the worst coming to the worst. The ESP system includes functions such as anti-slip regulation (ASR) to limit wheelspin in slippery conditions, and engine torque regulation which prevents the driven wheels locking up during rapid downshifts. Hydraulic brake assist boosts pedal pressure in emergency situations and theres even a hill-holder function to take the faff out of hill starts.
Pricing looks highly competitive with mainstream rivals Prices start at £10,995 for the entry-level 1.4-litre petrol model, with the diesels priced from £13,795. These low upfront prices allied with improving Fiat brand residuals create a car thats very class competitive in terms of that crucial pence per mile figure after a typical three year ownership period. Economy figures naturally vary according to which model you choose, but both petrol and diesel versions really are worth looking out for, even if youre not a penny pincher.
Theres a lot to like about a 150bhp diesel Bravo, with storming mid-range acceleration, yet which will nevertheless average over 50mpg. Overall, the Bravo looks to be Fiats strongest offering in this sector for some years, and Id be more than happy to twitch the curtains and see that shape sitting outside my house. What it certainly represents is a rather beautiful alternative to the more lumpen offerings weve become used to. Its there or thereabouts in most of the dynamics areas and is decently packaged.
Given that on most objective scorecards it makes the numbers, it might come down to styling. Fiat is confident. The Italians could be onto something here..
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Fiat Bravo range
PRICES: £10,995-£15,995 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 139-167g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.9 MultiJet 150] 0-62mph 9.0s / Max Speed 130mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.9 MultiJet 150] (urban) 37.2mpg /(extra urban) 62.8mpg / (combined) 50.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: twin front/side/window airbags, drivers knee airbag, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4336/1792/1498mm
