Fiat, the Italian automaker, has been selling the Punto hatchback in the Indian car market since 2009. It is the Italian maker's premium hatchback, which is available in both petrol and diesel engines. The company introduced the 2014 Punto Evo with significant exterior changes and all-new interiors.
The car that we have pitted against the Punto Evo is the Mahindra Verito Vibe, which is basically a notchback version of the Verito sedan. The Vertio Vibe is available only with a diesel powertrain.
If you are looking for either of these two cars, here's our comparison.
Exterior and Interior Design- Fiat Punto Evo Vs Mahindra Verito Vibe
The overall proportions of the facelifted Punto remain the same; however, the styling of the car has received significant modification. The front fascia of the hatchback resembles the Avventura thanks to horizontal slats chrome grille, sweptback headlamps, new bumper with mesh air intake and new fog lamps. The side profile has flared wheel arches and prominent shoulder line on the doors. At the rear, the Punto Evo gets new lights, and the bumper too gets a large chrome strip and integrated reflectors.
Fiat Punto Evo Vs Mahindra Verito Vibe
The Verito Vibe largely resembles the elder sibling from the front; however, the company has made some tweaks to the headlamps to help it look different. The Vibe features black roof-rails, which is also available on the sedan. At the back, the car gets thick tail lamp console. A part of the boot-lid act as the spoiler.
Talking about interiors, the Fiat Punto Evo shares its cabin with the facelifted Linea. It features revised dashboard, new instrument cluster, new cubby holes, rear air conditioning vents, climate control, leather trim for seats and gear knob, new music system, etc. On the other hand, the Verito Vibe interiors resemble the elder sibling - the Verito sedan. It is equipped with dual-tone interiors with good quality plastic, fit & finish. Features on offer with the Verito Vibe are - air conditioning, tilt adjustable steering wheel, 2-DIN music system with USB, iPod and AUX compatible.
Performance- Fiat Punto Evo Vs Mahindra Verito Vibe
The Punto Evo is available in a total of three engines, out of which two are petrol and one is diesel. The entry-spec petrol unit is a 1.2-litre motor that produces 67bhp of power and 96Nm of torque, while the powerful 1.4-litre engine is good for 89bhp and 115Nm of torque. The oil burner is a 1.3-litre multi-jet unit in two states of tunes - 75bhp/197Nm and 90bhp/209Nm. Power is transmitted to the front wheels of the car via a five-speed manual gearbox.
Fiat Punto Evo Vs Mahindra Verito Vibe
The Mahindra Verito Vibe is available in diesel version only. The oil burner is the same 1.5-litre dCi unit that powers the Verito sedan. It churns out a maximum power output of 64bhp at 4000rpm and a peak torque of 160Nm at 2000rpm. This engine is coupled to a five-speed gearbox which sends power to the front wheels of the car.
Conclusion
The Punto Evo is known for offering excellent drivability and steering feedback. The new model offers a spacious cabin with several features including rear air conditioning, climate control, leather seats, etc., which makes it a good car to drive home. On the other hand, the Verito Vibe looks little outdated; however, the car offers good space to seat five adults and is loaded with decent features.
