The Fiat Bravo II (Type 198), launched in 2007 to replace the Stilo, marks Fiat's return to a Latin and emotional design, penned by the Centro Stile Fiat. Developed in record time (18 months) thanks to virtual engineering, it is based on an evolution of the Stilo platform. Over the 2007-2010 period (before the slight facelift), it stood out with the introduction of the excellent 1.6 Multijet diesel engines and the turbocharged T-Jet petrol blocks. Although shunned on the used market compared to German or French benchmarks, it offers a very attractive price-to-performance ratio. Its overall reliability is good, particularly on the diesel engines (the core target), although it is marred by a few peripheral weaknesses (M32 gearbox on certain versions, comfort electronics).
The Fiat Bravo II is an excellent deal on the used market, provided you choose the right version. The diesel engines (Multijet) are among the most robust of their generation, often surpassing their French or German counterparts in terms of engine block longevity. The ideal choice is the 1.6 Multijet 120 hp, which offers the best performance/reliability compromise while avoiding the problematic M32 gearbox. If you opt for a 1.9 Multijet or a 1.4 T-Jet 150, demand a clear history regarding the gearbox. Avoid models with malfunctioning automatic climate control or a flashing odometer, otherwise you risk repair costs that are disproportionate to the vehicle's value.