Abarth Punto (2010 – 2013) Review

In line with the launch of the updated Fiat Punto Evo in 2010, the Abarth Punto received the same modest styling changes to its nose. More pertinently, the hot hatch version received a power boost to 165PS, via a new 1.4-litre turbo petrol motor. You could also still order the 180PS esseesse kit, which kept the Abarth Punto in the hunt against the likes of the MINI Cooper S and the Volkswagen Polo GTI. Read on for our Abarth Punto review.

When the Abarth brand launched in the UK in 2008, it was the Abarth Grande Punto that was the spearhead. When the 2010 Fiat Punto was introduced, the Abarth hot hatch model was also replaced, but continued to offer strong value.

The most obvious change from the outside is the new nose, inspired by the styling of the Fiat 500. It worked better on the Abarth model, blending in well with the more aggressive bumper.

It’s certainly a great looking hot hatch with plenty of performance appeal, including 17-inch alloy wheels, a chunky rear spoiler and a lower ride height thanks to sports suspension.

Of course, it’s under the bonnet where it counts, and here the Abarth Punto doesn’t disappoint. The 1.4 T-Jet engine from the previous Abarth Grande Punto was replaced by a powerful version of Fiat’s new 1.4 MultiAir unit.

A power output of 165PS gave the Abarth Punto a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds, yet it still claimed 47.1mpg, helped by an engine start-stop system.

The handling is impressive with keen steering and good body control. It’s sharp when turning in, helped by a system called TTC (or Torque Transfer Control) which mimics an electronic differential and means it’s very nimble through corners.

Inside, there are some neat sporty touches, and it generally feels much sleeker than its predecessor. The Abarth Punto Evo also comes with seven airbags, cruise control, Bluetooth and air-conditioning.

For even more power, there was an esseesse upgrade pack available, which boosts power to 180PS and which is keenly sought by used buyers.

Fancy a new Abarth? Read our Abarth 500e review here.

On the move, the Abarth Punto delivers everything you’d want from a hot hatch, but it’s comfortable enough to be a usable everyday car.

The steering is well weighted with a reasonable amount of feel, while in corners the Abarth Punto is very positive, giving you plenty of confidence to push on.

Body roll is minimal too, so tackling a twisty road is great fun.

The Abarth Punto has a party trick in the shape of a Sport switch, apparently inspired by the steering wheel-mounted controller in Ferrari’s Formula One cars.

It’s down by the gear lever in the Abarth Punto and has two settings, Normal and Sport. Selecting Sport mode makes the throttle pedal more responsive, and the electric power steering becomes weightier.

This also engages the Torque Transfer Control system, which uses electronics to mimic a limited slip differential. It basically brakes the inside front wheel, so effectively engine torque is transferred to the gripping outside wheel, making cornering tighter and sharper.

You certainly notice the difference when it’s switched on, especially in tight, slow corners where you only need small steering inputs to get round.

Thanks to the 1.4-litre MultiAir engine, the Abarth Punto has the performance to back up its sporty looks.

The MultiAir unit effectively replaced the Abarth Grande Punto’s 1.4 T-Jet engine, and has an impressive 165PS on tap.

It doesn’t have the immediate urgency of the T-Jet engine, but it’s a superior unit with a smoother power delivery.

It also has an extra 50Nm of torque (giving it 250Nm) and this is particularly noticeable in its ability to pull strongly in gear. It means the engine doesn’t need to be worked as hard to access its best performance, and it will happily pull from low revs, so you don’t constantly need to change gear.

The other improvement is the way in which the Abarth Punto is able to put this power down.

Unlike its predecessor, which often felt very light at the front under hard acceleration, the Abarth Punto feels much more planted to the road. It can still struggle slightly – if it’s wet for instance – but overall it’s a far smoother car to drive quickly and doesn’t feel as hard work.

Despite these improvements in power and torque, the MultiAir engine is still impressively economical and will average a claimed 47.1mpg, thanks in part to a start-stop system which automatically cuts the engine when the car is stationary, such as at traffic lights.

The Abarth Punto comes with seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), ESP stability control, ABS brakes and rear Isofix child seat mounts.

However, compared with more modern hot hatches it misses a lot of safety kit now taken for granted, such as lane assist and automatic emergency braking.

If you want to tow a braked trailer with the Abarth Punto, you can haul up to 1000kg. No figure is quoted for an unbraked trailer.

The Abarth Punto’s driving position is excellent, while the sports seats, which are trimmed with soft black leather around the edges, are supportive enough to remind you that this is a hot hatch, but sufficiently comfortable that you won’t suffer on long journeys.

Elsewhere, there are metal pedals with a footrest, plus standard air-conditioning.

As with the earlier Abarth Grande Punto, the Abarth Punto only comes as a three-door.

Getting into the back seats isn’t especially easy, but it’s no worse than other three-door hatches this size. Once there, you’ll find pretty good legroom, although it can seem a touch cramped for taller adults.

The interior of the Abarth Punto isn’t the sportiest around, but there are some neat touches to remind you that this is an Abarth – and something different from the norm.

Obviously it’s based on a Fiat, so the interior layout is identical to the standard Fiat Punto, with a much sleeker appearance than the previous Abarth Grande Punto.

There’s an unusual finish on the front of the dashboard, which was apparently chosen because it replicates the effect of tarmac on a race track. It’s not that obvious, but it’s certainly different from the standard plastics you usually find. 

Above it there’s leather, with red and yellow stitching on the edges which adds a feeling of quality.

The leather steering wheel is quite chunky and good to hold, with special contours for your thumbs and a flat bottom, while the unique dials have a racy look to them, too.

The gear lever surround is also leather, complete with red stitching, while next to this you’ll find the Sport switch.

Overall quality is decent and the gloss black stereo not only looks stylish but is easy to use, as are the ventilation controls.

The Abarth Punto’s stereo was a step up from the previous model’s in looks and functionality. It’s more integrated into the dash for a sleeker appearance, while the controls are just as easy to use.

There’s no touchscreen or fancy connectivity, but it does have Bluetooth plus MP3 compatibility, and a slot for CDs. Remember them?

Around £5000 is what you’ll need to bag a good Abarth Punto. That might seem a lot, but this is a much more bespoke hot hatch version with the excellent 1.4-litre MultiAir engine.

If you’re lucky enough to find an Abarth Punto for sale with the rare esseesse kit, expect to pay a premium of around £1500, as this is a car coveted by enthusiasts.

A combined consumption of 47.1mpg was claimed for the standard Abarth Punto with 165PS. If you went for the esseesse kit, that dropped slightly to 46.3mpg.

These figures were somewhat optimistic, but you should see around 40mpg in easy daily driving and a figure in the mid-30s when enjoying these cars as intended.

Routine servicing should not be expensive, but remember bigger ticket items, such as a cambelt replacement, may be needed that will bite deeper into your reserves.

Insurance should be reasonable for all but the youngest of drivers, as the Abarth Punto sits in groups 30 to 33, depending on whether it’s a standard car or esseesse.

When it comes to road tax, emissions of 142g/km mean that, at the time of writing, you’ll pay an annual fee of £200.

The Abarth Punto came with air-conditioning, electric front windows, a trip computer, tinted rear windows,  sports pedals, sports seats and Interscope HiFi system.

There’s also Bluetooth, a CD stereo, height and reach-adjustable steering, cruise control and a height-adjustable driver’s seat.

For the exterior, Abarth provided front fog lights, a rear spoiler, side skirts, rear brake calipers, 17-inch alloy wheels and sports suspension.

Options included climate control, a leather sports interior, alternative 17-inch alloy wheels, side stickers and coloured mirrors, plus special Abarth Corse seats by Sabelt.

You could also opt for the Abarth Punto esseesse kit to upgrade the engine to 180PS thanks to a new exhaust, fuel injectors and ECU, among other improvements.