2006 Fiat Grande Punto Multijet Sporting review from UK and Ireland

None.

I bought the Sporting Grande Punto on Monday 3 July, and so far have covered more than 500 miles, mainly commuting back and forth to Talacharn (50 miles away from Swansea).

The car is very quick and puts its power on the road very progressively. It pulls strongly in all gears, and economy is decent for a tight engine (40mpg+), considering I travel rather fast on the motorway.

The seats are superb and all controls are logically placed. The car has airconditioning and an electric sunroof, both have seen plenty of use since day one without giving me any trouble.

The bluetooth system is incredibly easy to use, while the onboard computer can be addictive! The stereo is brilliant, steering is the best electric system I have ever driven, much better than the Punto mk2.

The cabin is roomy and the driving position comfortable. The materials used in the cabin are not top quality, however they seem to be put together nicely. So far no creaks have been heard. The glovebox is small and illumination-free though, the cup-holders rather impractical and storage room for my clatter is rather lacking.

The handling is confident, the vehicle is equipped with ESP just in case, but I have yet to use it. The fat tyres (205) are gripping the road nicely, whereas road noise is kept to reasonable levels.

In town driving the ride can be crashy at times, although 90% of the time it seems to be more than adequate. It certainly rides well on the motorway and makes my daily commute a joy.

The local Swansea dealer seems to care a lot about my experience with the car, and that only adds up to an enjoyable experience so far.

I would very much recommend this car to anybody who's after an economical, well-equipped, roomy stylish supermini, with serious performance and long service intervals (every 18,000 miles, no interim services)