| PERFORMANCE AND FUEL EFFICIENCY The power ratings suggest otherwise but the engine seems far more capable than what the meagre 68PS suggests. She tops out at 152kmph which is faster than the diesel variant and identical to the 1.4 petrol. Compared to the Swift and the i20 the Punto is slower but the difference is marginal. Her acceleration times when compared to the bigger petrol variant are also impressive and the 1.2-litre engine takes 18.79sec to 100kmph, slower by only 0.6 of a second compared to the 1.4 Punto. The time is over five seconds slower than the Swift and the i20 (but only 1sec slower than the Fabia) but you have to remember that the Punto, at 1120kg, is one of the heaviest hatches in the country - something we’ve noted on the first drive and road tests stages of both the other engine variants. With a linear torque curve we were expecting quick roll on times. The gear ratios are well matched to the engine which explain the impressive top speed and roll-on times. In third gear she takes 17.5sec from 20 to 80kmph. In fourth gear from 40 to 100kmph she takes 23.88sec and 29.73sec for the same speed in fifth. The Punto runs 257mm ventilated discs in the front and 276mm drums at the rear. ABS is not even an option and the tyres (14-inch 165-section tyres) lock quite easily under hard braking. She still maintains a straight line though and takes 4.05s and 53.65m to standstill from 100kmph and 33.69m from 80kmph to standstill. The gearing and efficient nature of the engine also endows the Punto with excellent fuel efficiency. In the city she returned 15kmpl while on the highway she returned an excellent 19.5kmpl when driven at a constant 80kmph. With an overall fuel efficiency of 16.12kmpl, the 1.2 is more frugal than both the Swift, Fabia and i20. |
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| fiat punto grande gpunto 1.2 car |
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