Fiat Punto Van

Our Rating: 3.5/5

Pros:

  • Cheap to run
  • ESC is standard
  • Excellent driving experience
  • Great turning circle

Cons:

  • Load space hard to access
  • Not as polished as Fiesta van

Fiat Punto Van is ideal for small loads

Launched in 2012 at the Commercial Van show, the Fiat Punto Van replaced the firm’s Grande Punto Van.

The new version is a huge step forward in many respects with lots of improvements for what is a converted Fiat Punto.

The competitive car-derived van market is being led by people wanting a car like abilities to shift smaller loads in urban environments and the Punto Van is an excellent addition to the sector.

However, like many of its rivals the van itself has had the rear seat removed from the car and replaced by a floor and in this case the rear sill is still in place which makes loading awkward. This means that owners will have to lift the load up and over the sill and into the van.

To help choice, there’s only one single body style but it is quite stylish and there’s just the one engine with three different power outputs to choose from too.

Essentially, there are just two versions of the Punto Van: The Base is the entry-level but it’s not quite as basic some of its rivals while the SX is a more comfortable vehicle to drive in for many hours a day.

 

Reasons to buy

Leaving aside the awkwardness in loading the Fiat Punto Van for a moment, the van itself is a decent production; it has a load capacity of 1 metre cubed and maximum payload of 530kg.

This new model combines the better aspects of the previous Fiat Grande Punto and has added in the comfortable aspects of its passenger car sibling to help create a decent little van.

In addition, unlike many of its rivals, the Punto Van has electronic stability control fitted as standard which is a huge boon for most owners and along with this economy and nippy performance, the van is an enjoyable one to drive.

However, some rivals also have the ability to carry heavier cargoes and with the awkward loading space means the Punto Van is limited for its uses but for many people carrying parcels and small items, the van will make for a great choice.

 

If you like the Fiat Punto Van, then have a look at the Ford Fiesta Van, Vauxhall Corsavan or the Citroen Nemo.

Running Costs

The Fiat Punto Van only has one diesel engine in the shape of the firm’s impressive and award-winning 1.3 MultiJet II diesel with three power outputs.

The 75hp variant will return around 67mpg on the combined fuel cycle while having CO2 emissions of 112g/km.

Opt for the 85hp unit and economy is 81mpg with CO2 emissions of 90g/km while the 95hp engine will return 67mpg while having CO2 emissions of 110g/km. These two engines also utilise ‘start&stop’ technology to boost economy.

Servicing intervals for the Fiat Punto Van are set at 24 months or 21,000 miles and it’s one of the longest servicing periods for any of its rivals.

Load Space

With the rear seats removed from the Fiat Punto Van there’s 1,000 litres of space and the van can carry up to 530kg.

While rivals may have longer load spaces, the Punto has the widest in its class.

There’s also a full height mesh bulkhead fitted as standard in the van

Technology & Safety

There’s a decent list of standard safety equipment included on the Fiat Punto Van including electronic stability control, a brake assistance system as well as passenger and driver airbags.

 

Fiat have also fitted a hill-holder function to prevent the van from rolling back on a hill and fog lights which will corner with the car to improve visibility of the road edge.

Some models of the Punto Van also come with seven airbags and the vehicle body is crush-proof and there are anti-submarining front and rear seats.

Performance

The Fiat Punto Van comes with the firm’s excellent 1.3 MultiJet diesel engine and the 75hp variant has 190 Nm of torque; the 85hp and the 95hp have 200Nm of torque.

The driver’s seat and steering wheel are height adjustable for rake and comfort.

While the Punto Van doesn’t have the same dynamic driving performance of the Ford Fiesta Van it still does offer a fun and responsive drive.

In addition, there’s also the firm’s eco:Drive system which analyses the driver’s driving style and helps to give help and assistance to improve economy.

Essentially, the Fiat Punto Van is a great vehicle to drive with responsive engines and decent handling; it’s a good performer on corners and the handling is true to help make it a very good delivery van. However, when pitched head-to-head with the Ford Fiesta Van the differences between the chassis become apparent but it’s still a good handler.

And even with a full load, the engines pull well and there’s enough torque for it to be a good performer in built-up areas.

Specification

Standard kit on the Fiat Punto Van is quite impressive and includes electric front windows, remote central locking, trip computer and electric power steering. The SX trim adds manual air con and a driver’s knee airbag.

Fiat have also added its Blue&Me TomTom Live Navigator which in addition to being a very good satnav enables the driver to manage mobile phone calls and use the touchscreen to access various information.

The bottom line is that the Fiat Punto Van is a comfortable place to be for long journeys on the road, its car like handling and comfort levels make it an excellent choice for a small van.

 

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