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What is it?

This is the all-new 1.6-litre Multijet, the centrepiece of Fiat’s family of common-rail direct-injection turbodiesel engines, which comes in either 103bhp or 118bhp form. The more powerful engine will also replace the lower-powered 1.9 Multijet, though the 148bhp range-topper remains.

What’s it like?

Green. Both versions of the new engine get a diesel particulate filter as standard, making them compliant with 2011’s Euro V emissions regulations. The 1...Read the full article

Good looking hatch and nice engine, so nothing unusual there for an Italian car.

Question is, why is it that, despite having been in car production business for over a century, in terms of ride and handling Fiat is still unable to make a mainstream car that can match its class rivals, including the model from a relative new comer like Hyundai, which has nothing like the engineering pedigree and historical track record?

Overdrive, it really depends on which country or even which magazine you read the review in! British hacks rave about the tail-happy Focus while the Italians see that as an undesireable handling trait in a family hatch... I recently drove a Bravo and although the ride is fairly firm it cornered well and was quite good fun.

 It seems to me that its price:engine:looks:handling ratio is just about unbeatable in this class.

Hyundai also got only 4 stars on Euro NCAP (pretty bad for a new car, Bravo is older and got 5) but of course all of a sudden this doesn't matter. If it were the other way round though and Bravo got 4 stars you'd be all over the 'substandard' safety.

 And Bravo's interior (especially considering its price) is excellent, top of the class, a fact mentioned by this magazine months before but ofc Bravo isn't selling that well atm so it's time to bash it some more to prove how good a magazine you really are.

 Disgraceful.

 

The Bravo is a fabulous looking car, with excellent spec and handling to rival the rest of the class. It's not all about copying the opposition, rather offering something different or better spec'd like for like. This is where Fiat have hit the jackpot. The interior is far better than anything else within the class and the price is more than competitive.

Only down side will be residual value, but if Fiat have built this car to more exacting standards, then this overtime will not be such an issue.

"if you can stump up the fairly steep £14,500 required."

Steep as opposed to what?  A quick glance through Focus and Astra price lists reveal it's cheaper or on par with it's opposition and FIATs are always better discounted.  Or is this usual sly dig meaning "steep for a FIAT"?
 

Italian cars have never really been well received in Autocar.

Especially Fiats. The Bravo also goes head to head in one of the most hotly contested segments in the UK. Albeit, they seem to have to have a car that handles like and F1 car to get class honours. God knows why.