Category: Hot Hatchbacks 
Price Range: No data available
Great-looking hot hatch properly designed for a good time, grippy, rapid and involving. Great heritage too. Esseesse kit makes it riotously entertaining.
Questionable ride quality shown up on UK roads, steering a little vague.
A proper hot hatch, especially in wonderfully non-PC Esseesse form, and great value.
The Abarth Grande Punto is based on a car with a five-star EuroNCAP crash-test result, so it has the safety bases covered.
It's significant that Fiat has decided to create the Abarth Punto around the fact that the ESP will be permanently switched on, a move designed to protect the younger, less experienced drivers who might be attracted to it. As well as offering obvious safety benefits, this approach has enabled the Abarth to be set up with satisfyingly responsive, interactive handling without the risks that might otherwise entail in unskilled hands. It's a good system, much less frustratingly intrusive than that fitted to Peugeot's 207 GT THP 150, which is an obvious rival for the Abarth.
