The Fiat Grande Punto (Type 199) marked a major turning point for the Italian manufacturer. Designed by Giugiaro, it introduced generous dimensions for the city car category (over 4 meters) and shares its platform (SCCS) with the Opel Corsa D. While its design, interior space, and road handling were praised, its overall reliability was heavily marred by early issues, particularly with electronics and build quality. The FIRE family petrol engines remain the safest choices, contrasting with temperamental MultiJet diesels in urban use and inconsistent manufacturing quality. It was facelifted in 2009 to become the Punto Evo.
The Fiat Grande Punto is a paradoxical car. On one hand, it offers a successful design, good interior space, and petrol engines (1.2 and 1.4 FIRE) of great mechanical robustness. On the other hand, it is plagued by mediocre build quality, fragile electronics, and catastrophic reliability scores (TÜV, ADAC, What Car?). Purchase is only recommended for simple petrol versions (1.2 8V or 1.4 8V), provided the vehicle has a clear service history (timing belt up to date) and is thoroughly inspected for rust and electrical faults (especially the power steering). Diesels and versions equipped with the M32 gearbox are to be avoided or require great caution.