Fiat Punto Diesel

Gaadi Road Test Verdict

Fiat is no stranger to the Indian market. It has been in India for a long time yet it first tasted success with the Palio hatchback. It was unlike anything else on our roads at that time- solid build, great looks and a 1.6 litre engine. That car was an instant success but after sometime rivals were getting fresher and more competent and the Palio\'s age started to show. Fiat needed something new and exciting in the small car segment. In 2009 it did just that by launching the Grande Punto. It was a great looking car that had all the ingredients for a success. It was successful initially but later it waned slightly thanks to a influx of hugely capable small cars. When its competitors were racing ahead and notching up impressive sales figures month after month, the Grande Punto was left behind. Now however Fiat wants to change all that with the 2012 model line-up. This is a small update to make the Punto even more tempting and offer more value for money. That optimism has reaped rewards somewhat as in January 2012 Fiat sold 1600 Punto\'s. So is the 2012 Punto a great buy? Gaadi.com\'s Somnath Chatterjee drove both the diesel and petrol to find out.