Should You Buy A Used Fiat Punto? Here Are Some Pros And Cons

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, now a part of the global conglomerate Stellantis, had some memorable cars in India over the years. While the company did bring in the American SUV brand Jeep to our shores, the Italian marque itself had some interesting products, and the Punto was one among them. The car was launched in India in 2008 as the Grand Punto, and after receiving a facelift in 2014, it was renamed as the Punto Evo. However, the company pulled the plug on the Fiat brand in India in 2018, thereby discontinuing Punto and other Fiat-branded products.

Also Read: Fiat Argo Teased; Will Replace The Punto Globally

However, the Fiat Punto is still available in the used car market, and you can find a tonne of options even today. But should you consider buying a used Punto? Well, here are some pros and cons that could help you decide.

The Punto was offered in 2 petrol and 1 diesel engine options - 1.2-litre petrol, 1.4-litre petrol and a 1.3-litre diesel, and all three were quite capable engines

Pros

1. The Fiat Punto was a well-built car with a solid body. The fit and finish were good and the car felt premium.
2. The Punto was offered in two petrol and one diesel engine options - 1.2-litre petrol, 1.4-litre petrol and a 1.3-litre diesel, and all three were quite capable engines. Our pick would be either the 1.3 diesel or the 1.4 petrol but mind you the latter was only introduced with the Evo model.
3. The suspension of the Punto was tuned to offer good ride quality, and the handling of the car was also amazing. The car feels planted at high speed and offered enough confidence to take on the corners as well.
4. A used Punto will be quite affordable. Depending on the model year and condition of the car, you can get one for around Rs. 1.2 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh.

Also Read: 2014 Fiat Punto Evo Review

Fiat only offered the Punto with a manual gearbox. There was no automatic on offer.

Cons

1. While the built quality of the Punto was good, the quality of plastics used inside the cabin was not up to the mark. They felt cheap and flimsy.
2. The Punto looks quite dated, especially the cabin. The design and layout look ancient compared to even some of the entry-level cars today. The car's features list was also very basic and minimal. So no touchscreen display, auto AC etc.
3. Fiat only offered the Punto with a manual gearbox. There was no automatic on offer.
4. The Punto has not been on sale since 2018 and generally, manufacturers offer spare parts for 10 years after a model has been discontinued. So, while right now it might not be a problem, in the long run, maintaining a Punto might be an issue.