Fiat Punto Van (2007 – 2014) Review

Fiat Punto Van (2007 – 2014) At A Glance

3/5

+Tight turning circle and compact dimensions makes it ideal for town, cheap to run with economical MultiJet diesel engine.

-Not as accomplished as the Ford Fiesta Van, interior doesn't feel very durable.

The Punto Van took over from the Grande Punto Van in 2012 and although it's still essentially the same model, the changes are more than just the name. On the outside the Punto Van gets fully colour-coded front and rear bumpers while the cabin features new seat fabrics and on the SX version there is a new dashboard with soft touch materials.

It certainly takes on the qualities of the Punto car with neat handling and a comfortable driving position while the ride quality is better than the car version too, especially when unladen. It gets good engines too with three different versions of the economical 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel, the most frugal of which can average a claimed 80.7mpg with CO2 emissions of just 90g/km.

As this is a car-derived van it's not subject to LCV speed limit restrictions yet it's still reasonably van-like when it comes to carrying ability with a 1.0m3 load capacity and a maximum payload of 520kg which is more than the Ford Fiesta Van. The rubber-lined load area is usefully square and there's a mesh bulkhead to protect the driver.

Standard equipment on all versions includes ESP Electronic Stability Programme, BAS Brake Assistance System, remote central locking, electric front windows, electrically adjustable and heated body coloured mirrors, a trip computer, driver and passenger airbags, a CD stereo, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel and a height-adjustable driver’s seat.