Fiat Punto Owner Reviews: MPG, Problems & Reliability

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I bought the car used in 2007 with 2,000 miles on the clock. Since then we only had a problem with the power steering sensor which we replaced (2014) and a few week ago with a dead factory-installed battery (2016). In all the car is reliable and doesn't break down although I don't drive it a lot (it's got only 18,000 miles). The engine does suffer from lack of performance and is insufficient for high speed accelerations and sudden bursts of power but it does pull like a train if needed to. With 4 of us and some luggage you can feel the lack of power but it can sustain a certain tempo on the highway. The interior is a bit cramped and seats aren't very comfortable and offer very limited side grip. The steering is precise and to the point but feedback is limited because it's electrically assisted. Gearbox is very light and can change gears in an instant but does sometimes float out of gear. Brakes are very much sensitive and can catch you off guard if you are not expecting it but they do their job to the max. Storage space is typical for city cars but it serves the purpose. My car is rust-free but still it is parked in a garage and rarely driven. In all the only fault I can find is the lack of power from the 1.4 but it's still a city car. If you want performance from this engine type, I suggest you dive into your finances and find a grand or two for some power mods but still this car is not made for the Autobahn type chases. In all I am very happy with the car and as it seems she will stay with me for at least 10 more years.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Loved it from day one. Nippy little car, fun to drive, good visibility, great steering, quiet engine, easy parking. Replaced clutch once, apart from that no problems with it. Quite spacious for a small car, good size boot. Have punto grande now, not as nippy.

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Fiats seem to run forever,i have never been recovered in it

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No Red thumbs down

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hAD PROBLEMS starting the car, so a friend who vlives next door to me is a mechanic he gave me a new battery. After fitting the car was fine for a few days rhen problems started again. Next thing a friend helped me fit a new alternator to the car and car has been fine. Cost me Ł30 from a later fiat punto model but was relitively easy to fit. The car was somesone daughter before mine so theiir dad was very conscious the car was in good order full service history and oil filter were changed regularly. I have had enjoyment in servicing the car myself changing oil etc.

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No Red thumbs down

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Had the car 5 years now, great car for me, geta me where I need to go with no issues

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No Red thumbs down

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A couple of minor niggles nothing serious.

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I haven't owned it for long. Replaced the exhaust.

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always starts first time,has not broken down,gives a nice smooth ride.

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Parts occasionally need replacing.

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No Red thumbs down

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Absolutely reliable,no one problem on the road

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Yes Green thumbs up

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This is the 3rd car of the same model, never had problems with any.

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in 1st year, bearing in gearbox failed.

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No Red thumbs down

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No Red thumbs down

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never broken down on me yet.

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No Red thumbs down

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No breakdowns but two warranty claims. EGR valve and heater fan

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My car starts first time every time. Drives smoothly and only goes to the garage for its preventative maintenance.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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It's a Fiat - enough said!

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No Red thumbs down

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As a second hand purchase, my punto has far exeeded my expectations. For the size of the car, the practicality, styling and performance it gives it still puts a smile on my face! It is also happy at speed or cruising and has many extras you would expect to find on more expensive cars. Even though it is a 10 yr old vehicle some of the costs in terms of service or repair have been higher than normal and friends have told me to change it as they think fiats are money pits but if you look after them properly they are not, because i know of what it's capable of and it's quite solid reliable robust engine i swallow the cost. It is still a pleasure to drive ever since day one and starts first time every time. To sum it's character ?, To coin a phrase 'it's ferrari performance for fish and chip shop money'.

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I love my punto City parking button easy to manouver nippy at times and very practical

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Does what it says on the tin

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For the price, this car takes some beating.

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I bought this car for it's reputation as the most eco friendly car in europe. The jury is still out on this question, but for all that it is an amazing vehicle and i am completely satisfied with my purchase.

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Car has been a great little car for me to communte and the ocasional long drive to scotland from leeds and also down somerset only main problem i have had was when the gear box cable link broke after 52000 miles

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Practical, nippy, nice to drive, but had a string of problems crop up at service. It's not broken down, but at service have needed 2 radiators, new cam belt, reset electrics, new exhaust pipe.

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No Red thumbs down

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Its been very reliable other than a dodgy fuel injection unit

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Ideal car for town or distance driving (best car i,ve owned )

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My car gets me from a to b but would like a better car to go forward with

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Bought to for 3 childred to learn to drive, has proved very reliable and practical. Better value for money than offerings from other manufacturers. Easy/cheep to insure and run

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Value for money ,future classic

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Very good

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Great. Love it

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Not a bad little runner, prefer the 5 door though!

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No Red thumbs down

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Has been very reliable for ten years - unfortunately steering went and cost almost £800 to repair = common fault on this model & cost of repair exessive for value of vehicle

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Good economy run around

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No Red thumbs down

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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I purchased my Punto whilst the government scrapage scheme was running in 2009 and paid just over £7K for it brand new, this price included metallic paint! What an absolute bargain it has proven to be, cheap to insure, over 50mpg on a run and I still get mid 40s across town. The 77bhp engine is willing and nippy enough, it is also quiet and refined to boot, I can easily drop into 5th at 25mph. There is some body roll in tight corners but you would have to be pushing on quite hard to notice this. I don't find the handling bad at all, it would certainly not be a problem with normal driving. The brakes are good with a nice progressive feel, unlike some French cars. Interior space is generous for a supermini, it can easily accommodate 4 large adults with ease. I test drove a 2009 Fiesta prior to driving this car and found the steering very slightly sharper along with the handling. The difference in handling between the Fiesta/Punto was minor but I believe most would appreciate the smoother more refined & quieter Punto. You may save yourself a couple of grand as well. The review on Carbuyer is biased as regards to the Punto, but don't take my word for it, book a test drive consider the price difference between a Punto/Fiesta & make you own mind up.

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Its a very good car in general

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Have'nt had it long but it seems fine, so far.

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Although the car is relatively new I have covered 9500miles in 7 months with no issues at all except new tyres on the front. Discs had to be replaced which was done under warranty.

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fiat electrics have played up a lot and dealt with a lot of rust issues

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No Red thumbs down

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Not a days problem, excellent vehicle

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No problems yet

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Never had any problems. Feel as though it may start to as it gets older.

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No Red thumbs down

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Bargain, nice little runner with low milage and good economy getting me essentially from a-b (usually just backwards and forwards from work). Only owned the car for 1 week incidentally.

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No Red thumbs down

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It takes me from home to work and shopping. Next time i will buy something to do a bit more travelling in, around the country to visit family and friends etc.

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Fun to look at but unreliable.

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Constant overheating, central locking, handles bad but so good looking you just have to put it past you.

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Simple, no frills motoring

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Served its purpose when first bought, now need something with a little more power (3.2 v6 to be more precise!)

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No Red thumbs down

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No Red thumbs down

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Yes Green thumbs up

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This car is amazing, for a 1.2 you can have real fun putting your foot down on an open road and just enjoying the smooth comfortable journey. It’s good on fuel consumption, £45/50 gets you a tank full and will take you 535 miles.

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Great car, reliable, albeit basic, but this means there's less to go wrong, I work in the motor Industry and this little car puts a lot of other over priced hatchbacks to shame. Mine has only had a few minor niggles since new, the cost of main dealer service is also very reasonable, low insurance costs, it will be a shame when fiat finally stops making this model.

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Perfect in gas consumption, comes equipped with lots of options that make its driving experience pleasant enough compared to its price. Stability is truly AMAZING, but wait! You will need to deal with horrible handling on speeds of 130km/h and above. Acceleration is a bit weak compared to same price options, yet not that weak for a 1.4 engine. If am going to mark it down, it will be for the Dual-Logic transmission idea as a whole, it makes the car truly vulnerable as any little human error using the gear box might cost around $2, 500 for changing it. Yet it gives the comfort-driving experience of automatic cars with fuel consumption of manual cars, plus you do not need to keep depressing the brake pedal to have the car still when you are on "D" shift, because technically speaking there is no "D" shift in a Dual-Logic car! Only N / M and R. Finishing quality on both interior and exterior levels is really good. Overall, this car is a good choice for gentle drivers who is NOT looking for very high performance.

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Nothing's broken.

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No Red thumbs down

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No Red thumbs down

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Only had it 2 weeks

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In 18 months and 25,000 miles only had to replace a sidelight bulb.

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No problems with anything

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The car has failed to start once during snow and ice; I believe there is a problem with the electrics although it cannot be fixed...!

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No Red thumbs down

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apart from a small steering lock problem nothing has gone wrong

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Only failed 3 times, once for an exhaust, once for a dead battery fault and another when I left the stereo front in and it flattened the battery!!

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Never had a problem

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Had some niggling faults, but nothing that stopped it being used every day

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Very reliable in the 8 months I've had it

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Yes Green thumbs up

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It is very economical with good performance, build quality ie body creaks leaves a bit to be desired. Just awaiting decision on warranty paintwork rust appeared in the boot lid, but overall i am very satisfied with the vehicle

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No Red thumbs down

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An excellent practical car which suits me perfectly.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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My car is very reliable and has had no major problems since purchasing it, it has done around 20,000 miles in three years and is still working extremely well if not better.

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No Red thumbs down

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May be small but it shouts 'superb value for money, reliable, practical, very economical and agile' lurv it

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Suits my requirements, will be happy to pass it on to my daughter as her first car.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Does what i need, knew it was a basic model, gets me where i need to be.....

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No Red thumbs down

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Very surprising as the fiat punto is deemed unreliable and down on the scale for ownership. It is economical and easy to drive with it's city switch which makes the steering lighter. I have replaced the gearbox and clutch both front suspension and now the car feels like new. The only problem is it blows the headlamp every month but i just replace the bulb. This car is cheap to insure and run. Overall i have been a happy customer and will buy another fiat. This has converted my opinion as i have always bought german cars in the past.

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No Red thumbs down

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Yes Green thumbs up

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I love my little car

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Bargain second hand buy. very cheap to run, comfortable, practical for size, handles well, reliable

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Absolutely great car I love it only complaint is that it's a 1.2 8v so it's very slow but does its job only problems I've had with the car is the dash lights you sometimes have to hit the dashboard for them to come on and the heater stopped working which was a wire which had melt and the cover which covers the part next to the streeing wheel breaks very easy but other then that best punto I've had and I wouldn't mind having another one!

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No Red thumbs down

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Owned my bright orange 1.4 sporting for 2 years, start with the positives... it's roomy, lovely inside even the sports seats are comfortable, cheap to run (tax and insurance) which I was surprised to say a sporting, 43mpg usually short journeys, very happy nippy engine. Sadly quite a few problems coming up to 70k have started —electric windows motor, seat belt sensor, steering bushes, steering column which was £560, lots of rattles in side panels, rubber under bonnet keeps slipping, front grill slipping. However mostly problems and parts have been easy to fix, and it has been amazing in the snow and ice really handled well in 4-5 inches of snow where 4x4 struggled!! Again for a low sporting I was shocked. Lively engine which is nice and sweet. I feel generally it was made cheaply but is a good economical car.

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Yes Green thumbs up