It only seems a moment in time since my wife purchased a Series One Punto Turbo and proceeded to drive like a demented wombat up every hill worthy of the name so that the turbo boost kicks in for the duration of the hill.
Besides the comfort and décor there is the sheer pleasure of driving a well set up vehicle
Times have changed but the basic excitement evoked when driving a Punto is still there. Four adults are carried in remarkable comfort, with a fifth in a bit less comfort.
The McPherson strut front suspension working in tandem with torsion bars at the rear give the sort of ride that works remarkably well on our less-than-perfect secondary roads. In fact, we enjoyed a mix of first-class speed-restricted dual carriageways and non-speed controlled (up to our national 80 km/h) secondary roads.
It’s an extraordinary thing that before millions were spent on upgrading or providing dual carriageways, all roads out of towns and villages were allowed to proceed at the national maximum. This was 40 mph (64 km/h) up until the 1980s and this was then increased to 50 mph (80 km/h).
Now, as we all know, to enjoy a motor car as it is meant to be enjoyed is the number one cardinal sin for those in Transport Malta who always wish to reduce everything to the lowest common denominator, thereby guaranteeing to annoy even keen drivers of the 1,242cc four-cylinder, in-line engine Punto Easy, with a top speed of 156 km/h.
Of course, it’s also possible to enjoy the car with the children safely strapped into their Isofix seats at far less than the driver would be doing if alone. This shows the depth of breeding that has gone into the production of the Series 6.
Comfort and safety levels are high no matter how the car is set up. It could be with the weekly shopping as well as the partner and children, or it could be for a quick solo trip from Marsascala to Victoria. This car has been so beautifully honed for modern-day motoring that it really is impossible to even guess when the Series 1 first appeared.
I was favourably impressed with the interior décor, and especially the multitude of small and useful cubby-holes, drinks holders and even the ability to stow The Maze in safety.
Seats gripped well, and there was no disturbing lateral movement as the car was swung round bendy bits at a decent speed. The boot is large enough for normal shopping trips, and for anything out of the ordinary the rear seat folds 60:40, so the combination of shopping and passengers is not seriously compromised.
Besides the comfort and décor, there is the sheer pleasure of driving a well set up vehicle that allows the driver to adjust the steering wheel for height and distance, as well as to pump the seats up or down.
My preference in normal saloon cars is to pump the seat to its maximum height and then adjust the wheel to be a couple of centimetres above my knees when I’m braking hard. This normally allows me to see down the sloping bonnets of most contemporary vehicles, thereby being able to judge the forward distance of the car from the moment the test is started.
The electric dual drive steering is particularly good, working in tandem with the parking sensors when it is necessary to park in limited spaces (read every town and village in Malta).
Some people still worry that if the car is not 5.5 metres long, any incident will be painful. This is, of course, not true, and within the 4,065 mm length of the Punto you get the expected ABS non-skid brakes with electronic brake distribution, front airbags, side airbags optional curtain airbags on the five-door, 1.2-litre petrol.
The bodywork has high-strength steel elements built in, and of course, the front seat belts have pretensioners, load limiters and fastening sensors.
The manual climate control with pollen filter will keep everyone at a decent driving temperature.
The Easy is so easy to drive that, except for those who quite possibly should never be allowed to drive, any normal driver will be able to cope with anything Malta cares to offer with sublime ease.
Possibly the fact that the steering wheel and the gear knob are leather covered creates just the right impression of quiet luxury that most of us forlornly crave for.
Verdict
Comfort
The whole cabin provides Italian elegance.
Performance
This car is a great all- round passenger car.
Cool
Even the available colours are, shall we say, interestingly described.
Quality
Along there with the very best in class, and seldom found within this price band.
At a glance
Top speed
156 km/h
0-100km
14.4 seconds.
Economy
5.4 litres per 100 km.
C02
126gm/km.
Engine
1,242 cc straight, four-cylinder
Power
69 bhp at 5,500 rpm
Maximum torque
102Nm at 3,000 rpm
Dimensions
4,065mm x 1,687mm x 1,490mm