1994 FIAT Punto 5 Doors 1.7L D 5MT FWD (63 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The 5-door Punto was one of Fiat’s most successful cars in modern history for the Italian carmaker. Giorgetto Giugiaro designed it.

The Uno lineup was old enough to be replaced, and Fiat didn’t want to use the same name again. Its management said to end that and start from a new point (Punto – It.). It was introduced in late 1993 and won the 1995 “Car of The Year” award, beating the Polo, its closest competitor. The small-segment vehicle was a huge success. It was available with three body versions: 3- and 5-door hatchback and a convertible.

Italdesign Studio was responsible for the car’s design and considered that the era of boxy-looking vehicles was over. As a result, the edges were softer and rounded. The five-door version featured a slightly ascending beltline, but not as aggressive as the one found on its three-door sibling. At the back, the taillights were installed on the C-pillars to be protected by small parking bumps, especially in the cities where the push-bumper system was usual in tight side-parking spots.

The biodesign trend started to get more attention to the market, which was easy to spot inside the Punto. It featured an unusual-looking dashboard, with a wide shelf extended from left to right. It offered a useful storage area for the front passenger as well. The designer installed a split-folding rear bench seatback to make room for the trunk, expanding the luggage space from 275 liters (9.7 cu-ft) to 1080 liters (38.1 cu-ft).

Fiat chose a wide range of engines for a small-segment vehicle, with power ranged between 57 hp and 90 hp.