There are two new cars on the CompleteCar.ie long-term fleet. One is an Audi A3 TDI and this is the second, a Fiat Punto Evo, which we collected at the end of the summer.
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This replaced our previous 8v Grande Punto, which was an honest little car, but lacked any real grunt and to say that this new Evo is different is a massive understatement.
The styling, as the name suggests, is an evolution rather than a revolution, but it is a better looking car now as a result. But we really can't get over how much is on offer in this car for so little money. It has climate control, Bluetooth, cruise control and in our model there is even a dashboard mounted TomTom system.
But the really clever changes are under the bonnet where this car features the excellent 105hp MultiAir 1.4-litre petrol engine, which has transformed the way this car drives. Power has jumped 40hp from the previous car, from 65- to 105hp, while torque is up 28Nm to 130Nm - this has done plenty for the performance. While it took the 8v Grande Punto 14.5 seconds to get to 100km/h, this new one gets there is just 10.8 seconds.
Remember that this car costs €16,595, which is incredible value for a car that is dripping with standard equipment. This is a world away from the last version in every regards. We will be bringing you updates over the coming months on how this car performs, but our initial impressions are of one of the best value cars on Ireland's roads right now.
The Stats:
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Car: Fiat Punto Evo 1.4 16v 105hp S&S MultiAir Dynamic
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Colour: Blue
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Price as tested: €16,595
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Specs: Front-wheel drive, 1.4-litre in-line four-cylinder petrol engine putting out 105hp at 6,500rpm; 130Nm at 4,000rpm
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Performance: Maximum speed 185km/h, 0-100km/h: 10.8 seconds
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Fuel economy (combined cycle): 5.6 litres/100km
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Our average fuel economy: 7.5 litres/100km (mostly motorway and urban driving)
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Emissions: 134g/km
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Motor tax band: B
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Annual road tax: €156
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Cost of a fill up: About €50
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Usual range: About 700km
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Options fitted: TomTom in-car device
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Mileage on car: 6,050km