Fiat PUNTO 1.9 JTD RANGE
Compact Diesel Engines Dont Come A Lot Better Than The JTD Unit Fitted To Fiats Punto. Andy Enright Reports
The Punto JTD has long been one of the better offerings in the premium diesel supermini sector, especially for those drivers who place an emphasis on driving satisfaction rather than grinding penny pinching. Big engine in small car has always been a good idea and the Punto JTD was Fiats very successful take on this theme. Now, however, theres a new kid on the block in the shape of Fiats Multijet technology. A step on in the rapid progression of diesel engines, its stolen quite a lot of the JTDs thunder but the old warhorse is still a very viable proposition.
Capable of accelerating to 60mph in 12.2 seconds flat, the Puntos JTD is not lacking in brio. Better still, the torque figure of 145lb/ft equals that of a
Ford Focus ST170, so you can imagine what mid-range acceleration you can call upon. Available only with plush Eleganza trim in either three or five door form at prices which start at £11,395, the Punto JTD squares up well against mainstream rivals.
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"The Italians have injected this Asti with a little more Spumante."
Fuel economy remains as competitive as ever,
Fiat claiming a respectable average that nudges 58mpg, and emissions are excellent for the amount of performance on tap, 130g/km representing a competitive tax liability. If that were the sole extent of the Punto JTD, wed mark it down as a worthwhile offering, but in the face of fierce competition the Italians have injected this Asti with a little more Spumante. Both three and five door versions are available in Eleganza trim a designation thats second only to HGT in terms of scope. The Eleganza gets single slot CD player with steering wheel controls, front foglights, 14" alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, remote central locking and improved safety features for rear
seat passengers to the tune of a third head restraint and three-point central seat belt. There are also side and curtain airbags to go with the driver and passenger bags that come as standard. Like all Puntos the Eleganza 1.9 JTD features thoughtful design features such as headlamps that stay on for a few seconds at night after you switch them off in order to guide you safely to you front door.
And a really natty City button that works in conjunction with the standard power steering. Pressing it immediately lightens the steering for easy low speed manoeuvring. As soon as you get up to speed, the assistance automatically reverts to its normal setting. A convenient Punto feature is the Fix and Go puncture repair kit which consists of a compressor utility unit and a powerful puncture repair liquid dispenser, all contained in a kit which is stored in the boot.
This removes the need for the dreaded space-saver wheel, consequently increasing boot space and reducing the weight of the car. Other benefits derived from the feature include less time spent at the roadside and no need for a car jack. Otherwise, the recipe is much as before, with a look that still feels forward thinking and, in 3-door or 5-door form - is clearly Spirito di Punto. Most will notice the larger clear-lensed headlamps and the three-part under-bumper grille that have received mixed reviews and the rather neater treatment to the rear end.
This is still one of the biggest cars in its class, one of the only superminis large enough to provide a realistic reason not to buy a larger family hatchback. Thats why it remains a regular fixture in the Top Ten bestsellers list. Don't get us wrong: this is no
Ford Focus but it does provide enough space inside - at least in five-door form - to make longer family trips a reasonably pleasant proposition. Three can sit across the split-folding back seat, while the five-door's large boot remains one of the best yet seen on a Supermini. Even the three-door's slightly smaller capacity is more than reasonable. But space alone will not be enough. Small car users in Britain rarely travel more than two-up. They do however, like their cars to perform, both under the posterior and against the clock.
The original Punto did badly on the first count, crashing its way through potholes like Ben Hur's chariot. Thanks to a revised front and rear suspension set-up the latest car is very different, with a quality of ride that adds to the temptation to embark on longer journeys. The qualities many diesel drivers traditionally wanted, stolidity and low cost have long hampered the development of cars like the Punto JTD. Now that younger buyers and those with a spark of life still unextinguished have come to appreciate the attractions of small diesels, maybe its time has come.
It may not make any headlines but it might be right for you.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Fiat Punto 1.9JTD range
PRICES: £11,395-£11,945 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 6-7
CO2 EMISSIONS: 130g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12s / Max Speed 105mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (average) 57.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, side and curtain airbags / seatbelt pre-tensioners / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height [3dr] 3800/1660/1480mm
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