Fiat Bravo 2.0 M-Jet 165 CV Super Sport, road test (part I)

Over the last 2-3 years, the Fiat has undergone a major revolution in terms of image change and a push into new markets. The logo has stopped being blue and gained more life with a red tone; the name Bravo has returned, replacing the Stilo model, which had replaced the earlier Bravo; and each model has been defined a little more for a more segmented target audience.

Thus, the new Bravo has little to do with its predecessor, from which it inherits little more than its size and platform. As we will see throughout the test, I have assumed that the target buyer is a young couple or family with small children, or planning to have them, and that it has nothing to do with the young people who bought a sporty-looking 3-door Stilo. Even so, there are many improvements over the model it replaces, which we will discover little by little throughout the test.

Engine and performance

The new Fiat engines have in general become much more reliable and have extended the maintenance intervals. Our car had the new 2.0 MultiJet diesel engine, which delivers 165 CV and is called Super Sport, and which can be told apart on the car by the red colouring of the letter “B” on the rear. It is the most powerful engine available on this model. As with the earlier engines, the brand continues to favour a progressive build-up of power as you accelerate, which in this case detracts from the push that other German brands in the VAG group may offer. Its official 0 to 100 figure is 8.2 seconds, with a top speed of 215 km/h and maximum torque of 360 Nm at 1,750 rpm.

We noticed that the engine is much quieter and vibrates much less. Although we could not compare it with a 50,000 km engine from the old Stilo, we did notice, at nearly 15,000 km, that this holds true and represents a clear improvement over what was a clear drawback in the Stilo. On the other hand, when we opened the bonnet we found an unpleasant surprise: the bonnet is not held up by hydraulic struts as in the previous model, but requires a manual prop rod. Nor is the release lever easy to find to open it; you have to reach in and get your hand dirty on the inner panel. The suspension is also softer than in the previous model, to favour a more comfortable ride.

Although we will talk about its equipment in the third part, cruise control is fitted as standard, and I am getting more and more used to it; whenever I drive one that does not have it (even mine), I miss it quite a lot. Used properly it is very comfortable, like everything else. Fuel consumption is not greatly affected by using cruise control, and it increases slightly by 0.1 litres compared with driving manually, an almost negligible figure. Its official range, taking into account its 58-litre fuel tank capacity, reaches 1,300 kilometres.

Photos | Javi Vicente