In Europe, the most popular cars are vehicles belonging to the B segment (ok. 35% all new cars sold), also called urban or compact. For lengths not exceeding 4 m and wheelbase below 2,5 must offer users a universal and capacious interior, the ability to move freely in traffic and on highways, while ensuring low operating costs. An example of such a car is Fiat Punto, the second generation of which appeared on the roads in the summer 1999 year.
Just like the first Punto, the second generation was also very popular. The Punto II has the same body layout and construction concept as its predecessor, even the idea for its shape is similar. The styling of the car, however, followed the tendency to combine gentle rounded edges of the body, soft surface roundness of sheets with clear lines of embossing, emphasizing dynamics and breaking symmetry. All these elements can be found in the Punto body. The car has a fashionable and eye-catching silhouette, and the sharp lines of the rear part of the body are its distinguishing feature. The interior of the Punto is designed, also taking into account styling trends, while ensuring its versatility. Each free space is used for an additional shelf or storage. Skillfully selected colors of plastics and upholstery fabrics optically enlarge the interior and create a pleasant mood. Stylists' treatments made, that the Punto has its own individual style and is not associated with any other vehicle on the market.
A car belonging to the most popular car segment must be functional and economical. Fiat constructors built Punto, using several solutions proven in Uno and its predecessor. To ensure a large interior capacity, a hatchback body layout with large rear doors was adopted, providing good access to the load compartment. To maintain the compact body of the car, limitations of its dimensions and ease of manoeuvrability in dense urban traffic, the wheels of the rear axle are located in the corners of the body, minimising rear overhang. Seats were also used 0 seats set high above the floor, what causes, that passengers sit in the car in an upright position. Occupying this position allows you to increase the amount of legroom for passengers in a small interior and reduces fatigue with long-term travel. Shape, the dimensions of the seats and the rear bench seat are well chosen, in all seats, even tall passengers have their backs supported over the entire surface, and the seats are of the right length. For an optimal driving position, the driver's seat is height-adjustable, and steering column variable position. Too bad, that these facilities are missing in the basic version of the car.
When transporting luggage, the possibility of folding and dividing the rear seat becomes helpful. Enlarging the trunk is not difficult, however, it requires removal from the rear backrest of the head restraints, for which no replacement space is provided. If the shelf covering the trunk interferes, it can be inserted between the backrest and the seat of the folding sofa. Disadvantage, which is noticed when carrying luggage, there is a significant height difference between the boot floor and the lower edge of the loading opening.
Punto designers designed an ergonomic driver's cockpit. Access to all levers and switches is hassle-free, and their functions clearly and legibly described. This note also applies to indicator lights and indicators. In the dark, the lighting of the instrument cluster does not interfere with the observation of the road and does not cause reflections on the windscreen. Modern road lighting is taken care of by modern, reflectors combined in one housing. Dipped beams have lenticular optical systems, and road ellipsoidal mirrors. Shape, brightness and range of the light spot ensures good visibility of the roadway and the right shoulder at night.
Driving a Punto is easy, clutch and gearbox operation does not require the use of high force. Forward visibility good, but for drivers of short stature, the left front pillar will strongly block the road when turning left. In contrast, rearward visibility is significantly limited by the very wide rear pillars.. The limitation of visibility is particularly noticeable in urban traffic when changing lanes and when reversing from the bay to the road. Practically these maneuvers are made "on feeling". Parking the car is hindered by the very low lower edge of the front bumper, often bothering the curb of the pavement, on which the car is parked. The flexibility of the material saves from quick and complete destruction of the bumper, from which it was made.
The instrument panel is ergonomically designed, has a nice distinctive style and a lot of places for various trifles. For its construction used bright plastics, which optically enlarge the interior of the car, Too bad, that they are hard and easily scratched.
In the 5-door Punto, the luggage compartment is enough to pack holiday equipment for a small family. An asymmetrically folding bench seat is standard on the ELX version. After folding the rear seats and removing the shelf, the Punto allows you to transport a small refrigerator, washing machine or full computer set.
On the right side of the instrument panel there is a switch for the second safety cushion, which allows you to install a child seat on the right front seat. Unfortunately, Polish regulations do not allow the use of this solution (do not attach the seat to the front seat, if a safety cushion is fitted).
The ELX instrument cluster is equipped with an on-board computer with a liquid crystal digital display. Data on average fuel consumption are given in an unconvenient form – the number of kilometres travelled on one litre of fuel.
The interior is dominated by ergonomics and comfort, an example would be the development of doors. Hard and scratch-prone plastics.