2009 Fiat Grande Punto Eleganza 1.3 diesel Goes for a Drive

The Grande Punto was Fiat's 3rd generation of the popular small car. Was it a step up from the first two? ***Note - I said Chrysler at one point I meant GM...it was hot and I film these alone with no one to notice mistakes!***

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[oliverstemp]

It's sad FIAT stopped being competitive in this class

[Edvard.Munchkin]

I love these little cars, despite what people say about them, I've always found them very reliable

[SkvalaGaming]

Fiat Multijet engines are brilliant actually.They were way more advanced than VW's TDI engines. VW switched to common rail in 2009.
The property that distinguishes the Multijet from previous generations of common rail diesel engines from FCA is the combustion of the fuel, which is split into multiple injections, thus allowing for a more complete, quieter combustion in the cylinder. Compared to the first-generation JTD engines (Unijet system) which only featured a smaller pilot and a larger main injection, Multijet is capable of up to five injections per combustion cycle which enables better, more efficient cold running, better performance especially in the lower rev-range, quieter operation as well as even lower consumptions and emissions. The time between injections has been reduced to 150 microseconds while the minimal injection quantity has been reduced from two to less than one microlitre.

This enables even mid-sized sedans like the Alfa Romeo 156 and Lancia Lybra equipped with the 1.9 JTD to achieve fuel economy upwards of 45 mpgUS (55 mpgimp or 5L/100 km) on country roads and highways while offering an equal amount of torque as the 3.0L 24V V6 engine.

A sophisticated electronic control unit controls the injection and changes the injection logic and number of injections based on a multitude of parameters, most importantly revolutions per minute of the engine, engine torque requested by the driver and the temperature of the coolant.

[parivignesh]

I own 2012 Fiat Grande Punto bossa Nova white, man I fell in love with this beast. Something in this engine, everytime u cross 2500 rpm the surge of power. 86 k kms now, had a timing chain change on maintenance run. It will stay in my garage all my life. I felt very bad when they said they leave india. No other car is stronger than this at the time.

[mrkei]

Fun fact: the highest trim level for the Grande Punto in Italy was the Emotion until around 2010, and Lounge afterwards. It's interesting to see that Fiat uses English words for their trim levels in Italy and Italian words for the trim levels in places like England

[garethsaunders]

I had one of these from new 2008-2012, a 1.9 JTD 130 sporting. Absolute flying machine, 55 mpg and I sold it with 140, 000 miles, completely faultless. Fantastic and massively underrated little car.

[dominiccook]

lucky of me to get off a nightshift and tune in to this with my mug of porridge

[christaylor]

I do love a nice punto, I’ve had 3 myself the last a sporting 1.4 turbo, great fun to drive and reliable in the whole

[HughMacDonald]

I’m so glad you’ve finally got round to filming this car! My first car was an 06 Grande Punto! It was an annoying little car, hated first gear, but boy did I love it! It would’ve done over 120, 000 miles this year, but sadly met it’s maker, going to the scrappy after somebody crashed into it in the car park 🤦‍♂️

[nick]

I owned a used 2011 Punto Evo up until May 2019. I was slightly sceptical about buying a Fiat but apart from a central locking motor failing it proved to be totally reliable.
The Evo had revised front end, clear rear light lenses and revised dash and centre console.
Look forward to more videos of your fleet and more.

[scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Still one of the prettiest looking superminis of it's time, my wife's uncle has/had one of these from new that replaced his elderly escort that he owned from new. One of my friends also had one of these as his daily and driving instructor car and it never let him down at all

[FernandoIjurco]

3 am in Argentina and seeing this made my night! Watch and then to sleep! Love the Punto I had 2 (Brazilian 1.4 Fire engine) and they were excellent cars! Still waiting for the old Fiat Tipo ;)

[GaryPaul]

I had a 1.9 diesel sporting. A remap later and you've got one hell of a sleeper.

I also recently had a brand new MiTo courtesy car. Shocked to find that they still have the Grande Punto switchgear... FIAT really had no money!

[bitrant]

The Media system is what uses the Windows button IIRC, in the glovebox there's a small Windows sticker actually.

The city button was good too, it was used more in those multi-storey car parks for manoeuvring

[declanedwards]

The windows logo is for the voice control, connect any phone via Bluetooth and music control, it’s terrible though, also they didn’t all come with alloys and aircon, the lack of aircon was one of the reasons we sold our car but as much as we loved the Punto, the mini is so much more fun

[TheCounty]

I was working at at Royal Portbury dock in 09 when these were filling up the compounds. I may have moved this one around at some point. I was an out of work truck driver at the time and glad for the work!

[billybattams-scott]

Makes you wonder if this car was maybe a dealer demonstrator as it’s got such a huge spec. I’ve never seen an Fiat Grande Punto with leather before.

[RH]

You forgot about the 1.4 t jet engine 120 brake it’s lovely

[rachellepacker]

Aww my lovely fiancé's car ❤ He was so excited when Matt came to review it. Keith's passed away but he's not forgotten. It's brilliant to be able to watch this again and feel close to him.

[Gazmeizster_Wongatron]

I had a 2007 Grande Punto 1.2 Active model as my first car, which caused me nothing but trouble - particularly with the electronics and the heating fans - but boy do I miss that car! 😭