No Budget Reviews: 2009 Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 Active - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

-One 2009 Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 Active
-One Mobile Phone
-No Fancy Outfits
-No Obscure In-Jokes
-No DSLRs
-No Shotgun Microphones
-No Fluid Head Tripods
-No Idea about Exposure
-No Budget Whatsoever

It is time for the newest instalment in that beloved cinematic automotive YouTube experience where we film practical cars that can be bought for less than £1,000 in a manner befitting of their inexpensive value! This may go horribly wrong (and frequently does)...

This time, as we test a 2009 Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 Active, we become thankful for incremental upgrades, deal with some very nasty speed bumps, look at a high load lip and and drone on about very little of any importance at all. Nothing untoward, then...

As an independent vehicle consultant, I take potential buyers through the whole car buying process from choosing a make and model to a vehicle handover and road tax. In addition to information on this service, I also have a selection of written and video reviews of cars that I have owned, hired, borrowed or have somehow come into my possession. Please use the Contact Me page on my website to get in touch, visit my Facebook page for latest updates and share this video if you like it! Thank you for watching.

[Andy-eomq]

After more than 8 and a half years, I still absolutely love my Grande Punto Eleganza. I've always loved the Giugiaro styling, the design of the interior is great, the seats are fantastically comfortable, and the spec is exactly what I'd want. I still enjoy driving it, I preferred the driving experience of my Grande to that of the 2004 Punto Active I used to own, and I think the 1.4 8v engine is actually pretty good tbh. Apart from the fact it doesn't like Cotswold hills when rather heavily laden, I find it goes plenty well enough, is a surprisingly good long distance cruiser, and capable of 50mpg on a longer journey. I'll be absolutely gutted when the day comes I have to part with it tbh!!

[camperlustig]

Good Evening Sir, I think at the time of manufacture the Punto was the best looking super mini. Definitely underrated.

[karlwood]

Thanks again Joseph - much prefer this one to the rather battered 1.2 model I owned 12 months ago. And it drives a lot better than the T reg Mk1 Punto I owned a few years back. 20 years ago I had a brand new Mk2 Punto for a few weeks as a hire car - that drove almost as well as this one. Wouldn’t mind a Mk2 HGT, if I can find one that hasn’t been thrashed to death or driven through a hedge or something…

[scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Lady Wife's uncle down near Slough has one or had one of these from new, remember going getting picked up from Slough Station in it and was quite impressed with it, a much nicer looking car than the previous Punto.

Excellent Review as always Sir.

[richardhowlett]

Excellent review of a car I kind of like ! This Grande Punto and the Corsa D of 2006 were very closely related.

[seancooke]

I did like the styling of the Grande Punto and the five door packaging is very spacious and practical. Headroom in the rear seems fine despite the drop in the roof line.
That 1.4 engine is a good improvement on the 1.2 as far as torque and pickup are concerned. Indeed it was quite sporty when introduced into the Fiat Uno as the Uno 75. If you could find one of those you would be very impressed with the performance, as the Uno had an extremely low kerb weight. The Grande Punto is certainly no poor relation to the Corsa, Fiesta, Polo or Clio.

[frothe]

I like this particular Fiat!
The front grill reminds me of Ford models, the Fiesta or Focus.
Good basic motoring!

[mattw]

Fiat really excelled in the supermini class since the 1970s but seem to have lost it's sparkle by the time the Grande Punto was launched. The Maserati influenced front end styling help matters but I preferred the look of the previous generation Punto, they look their best in that metallic copper/burnt orange colour

[alaricbragg]

Thanks for this video! These cars look awesome! 1.4 motors seem a typical Punto powerplant even on the high performance ones! Looks a lot like a Fiesta. Mind you that was a direct market competitor to the Opels that it was based on!

[andyand]

Thanks been looking at 1.4 16v any good? Or should I get fabia 1.4 16v 100hp ?

[johnedwards]

Alas sir I think such cars were specifically designed to get bumped and harshly treated on the stradas and piazzas of Italia... Cars are low priced weapons for the gladiators that beep their horns gleefully and rub your bumper as a sign of disatisfaction with you very rudely following the rules of the road. The fact these sold across the continent is a happy accident 😂

[zzhughesd]

Panda is a better cheaper Punto. A Punto is fine. It’s absolutely not Italian and fun to drive. The Panda is a strong reliable little car