Fiats goal behind bringing the Grande Punto into the Indian Market was to grab the customers attention away from the other hatchbacks in the segment and that goal stands achieved (as Fiat fans are abundant). The Punto with its 1.3-litre engine based on the multijet technology was well received and it was only time that Fiat thought about upgrading the car as it was more than capable of handling the additional power. The Grande Punto Sport was a living example of just that. The car was displayed by Fiat in the Auto Expo held in 2010 and boasted of the same 1.3-litre, 90bhp multijet engine that did duty on the Linea. Fiat rolled out this 90hp variant of the Punto in July and we drove the car and gave you our first impressions about it but then again the roadtest told us a little more about the car which is what we share with you.

Besides the prominent ‘90HP’ badging at the rear, the Punto is the identical twin of its predecessor when it comes to its exterior. The Punto retains its smart and unique looks and there are no changes in the interiors but for the red (instead of white) stitching on the seats. It gets the orange-backlit centre console and the instrument cluster. Punto 90HP comes equipped with dual stage airbags, ABS with EBD, climate control, Blue & Me technology, in-dash CD/MP3 player with USB, alloy wheels with the widest tyres (in the category), chrome plated door handles and the steering mounted controls find a place in the car and the Punto 90HP. Having taken care of all the features, the seating in the car too is comfortable. However, if the driver or the passenger seat is pulled all the way to the back, a tall individual may find it a little bit crammed at the rear.

Now, we come to the heart, which with the additional 15hp pumps up the adrenaline in the car. The Punto comes with a 1.3-litre multijet engine which generates 90bhp and a torque of 209Nm@2000rpm.The Punto took 15.9 seconds in getting from 0-100 kph and took 19.7 seconds in the quarter mile run.

The gear box is refined and the turbo spools at around 1900rpm and there is no turbo lag which makes the Punto more driveable. Once on the highway, the 90 hp kicks in a lot of dust and the world around you passes by in a blur. The Punto 90 hp took 4.2 seconds in our 30-50kph test in the third gear, 9 seconds in our 30-50kph run in the fourth gear, and 10.2 seconds in the 50-70kph run in the 5th gear. It can only be concluded that the gear ratios in the Punto are well matched to the engine, making both city and highway driving convenient.

Safety in the form of ABS, driver and Passenger Airbags make the car a safe cocoon for the passengers and it cleared the final hurdle of fuel efficiency by giving us the best mileage of 16 kpl. All-in-all the Punto 90HP scores in every department. Other than that, the car feels smooth, refined and a great city as well as highway car. The price tag of Rs. 7.01 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) does justice to the most powerful diesel hatch in the country.

Customers will have a choice of personalisation through a special accessory pack for the Punto 90 hp multijet that includes a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust tip, stylish body decals, sporty aluminium pedals, leather seat covers & Punto branded door sill. The Punto 90 hp is what could be described as a ride in a mini rollercoaster and Fiat set out to drive home a ‘point’ (or was it the Punto) and one can safely say that the ‘point’ stays proven.