Review for Fiat Grande Punto Multijet India

Negatives:
Low quality interior plastics with poorly designed storage spaces
Interior parts falling off
Sad turning radius
Uninspiring performance especially on highway
Engine feels underpowered but that can be because of car not completing run in period hence may be engine is not free enough.
After sales service is a question mark.
Cramped rear seat
Crap stereo
Lacks the overall bit of extra feel provided by I20.

Build Quality:
As with all fiats, the body is heavy and solid and makes the Ritz look like tin can in comparison. The way the doors shut-in 3 stages, gives you a feeling of sturdiness and security. In fact, the chassis on which it is based is over engineered to withstand the abuse of European countries as well as 3rd world countries, where also the Punto is sold.

Chassis Engineering:
The Fiat Grande Punto is again designed with a new chassis that dates back to fall 2005 under the codename project 199 and is based on SCCS (Small Common Components and Systems) platform shared with Opel, an advantage as far as dynamics are concerned.
The key to its superior handling is the use of independent Mcpherson struts, Helical springs, Double Acting Telescopic Dampers With Stabilizer Bar in front and Torsion beam, Helical Springs And Double Acting Telescopic Dampers And Stabilizer Bar at the rear aimed to improve stability at high speeds with a hydraulic steering.

Interior Design:
Clearly, stylistically the punto wins again as the dashboard really wraps around the driver for that "cockpit like effect" at night aided by the black and silver dashboard and integrated audio with HVAC controls. Amazing Dials and amazing steering wheel design are another stylistic touches. The Doorpad design also matches the contours of the dashboard with the "tilt and slant" look, very exciting, very italian and the contours of the seats are again almost perfect. The "P" logo looks superb on the front seats.

Interior Quality:
The punto is clearly outclassed as far as interior quality of plastics are concerned. Should I say, even the Ritz has pretty better plastics as compared to the Punto. The punto has pretty big panel gaps on the steering column, seat console flimsy enough to break apart, broken rear parcel tray lock. Also there is no complete rubber on the doors as well. However, the major concern is the lack of precision of interiors being screwed up together. In the demo car barely clocked 575 kms, the screw fastner of the passenger seat fell off mysteriously and that part of the plastic also cracked (shown in the pic). Some plastics are hardwearing no doubt, but these small niggles are simply intolerable in a car costing as much as 6,11,000 in Delhi.