Suddenly every manufacturer worth its salt is making its presence felt in the small hatch segment in our country. To counter the new launches , existing models are undergoing cosmetic upgrades and are often being topped up with new gizmos to lure buyers. Taking this a step ahead , the Fiat Punto was recently reloaded and has emerged as a more attractive car.

The Punto 1.2 was launched late last year in the Active avatar which was rather basic and without many goodies as compared to the top of the line 1.4 Emotion Pack model. Obviously , there was a price difference of over Rs 1.5 lakh between them. This could have been a deliberate move to make the price of the entry-level Punto inviting. But the market trends in India are changing and the buyers want more. Value for money is the key mantra , but the consumer is willing to stretch his budget for more luxury and that extra comfort. Fiat may have realized this a little late as the Italian carmaker has now introduced the Punto 1.2 , which was earlier only available in Active , in more juiced up Emotion and Dynamic variants.

The Dynamic has almost the same features like the older Active with the new additions being the rear power windows plus central locking and costs Rs 30 , 000 more. The visual differences in the Emotion 1.2 are a body coloured grille , wing mirrors and door handles which were all-black in the Active. The new model also features remote keyless entry and central locking , electrically adjustable ORVMs , rear wiper with washer and defogger with timer. The Emotion has front and rear power windows that have become an industry standard. More importantly , it has ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) which really makes driving better and definitely safer. But even after shelling out Rs 60 , 000 extra , the new variant does not offer a leather wrapped steering wheel and a gearshift knob (available in the Emotion Pack). To my surprise , the airbags are still missing. Instead , you get an extra glovebox on the dash , which in higher variants stores the airbag. Well , you do get a cigar lighter and an ashtray if that’s any compensation.

The Punto 1.2 Emotion was never intended for a race car enthusiast. It definitely is a good car to drive , looks like a million bucks , is reasonably comfortable and safe as it has achieved Euro NCAP five-star rating. At Rs 4 , 89 , 337 (ex-showroom , Pune) the Punto offers a great big car feel. What more? Fiat is also offering good benefits schemes on the Punto , so if you are a Giorgetto Giugiaro fan you better hurry and grab this opportunity till it lasts. If you don’t know who Giugiaro is , perhaps you should flip the page and read on.

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