Test drive Fiat Bravo II
Test Drive

Test drive Fiat Bravo II

This should be clarified with the names; Between the previous and the current Bravo there was (was) the Stilo, which did not bring much success to Fiat. Thus, a return to the Bravo name, which is not usual for Fiat as it usually brought a new name in this class with a new car. Remember: Rhythm, Tipo, Bravo / Brava, Stilo. They make no secret of the fact that they also want to forget about Style by name, reminding them again of Bravo, who still has many followers.

It's also no secret that a big part of success comes down to form. It was created in Fiat and resembles the Grande Punta, which is Giugiaro's design. The similarity is part of the "family feel" as they officially say in automotive circles, and the differences between the two are, of course, not only in external dimensions. The Bravo feels less bland and more aggressive at the front, there are heavily rising lines under the windows on the sides, and at the rear there are taillights that are reminiscent of the old Bravo again. There is also a huge difference between the Style and the new Bravo on the inside: because of the smoother movements, because of the more compact feel (due to both the shape and the driving experience) and because of the much nobler materials. .

They also removed what Style was most worried about: the backrests are now correctly bent (and no longer as obvious and uncomfortable as the Style), the steering wheel is now just neat and, most importantly, without the distracting bulge in the middle (the protruding center section on the Style! ) and the steering is still electrically supported (and two-speed), but with very good feedback and good ring-turning performance. Even with everything else, including seat materials and color combinations, the Bravo feels more mature than the Style. Although the chassis is based on the basic Styles scheme, it has been completely redesigned. The tracks are wider, the wheels are larger (from 16 to 18 inches), the geometry of the front has changed, both stabilizers are new, the springs and dampers have been re-tuned, the front cross member is designed to separate the braking loads from cornering. loads, the suspension is better and the front subframe is stiffer.

Thanks to this, among other things, there are fewer unwanted vibrations in the passenger compartment caused by road irregularities, the driving radius remains 10 meters, and from this point of view the impression from the first short trip is excellent. The offer of engines is also much better. There are still excellent turbodiesels (modified by the well-known 5-liter MJET, 1 and 9 kW), which at the moment still seem to be the best choice for comfortable and sporty requirements, and the boldly redesigned 88-liter Fire gasoline engine (improved volumetric efficiency, better the dynamics of the intake system, different camshafts on both camshafts, the electrical connection of the accelerator pedal and new engine electronics, all for a more favorable torque curve, lower consumption and quieter and quieter operation), soon after the presentation, the new T-petrol family of engines will be combined.

These are engines with small (low inertia for faster response) turbochargers, an engine oil water cooler, an electric accelerator pedal connection, improved gas dynamics, an optimized combustion space and a number of measures to reduce internal energy losses. They are based on the engines of the Fire family, but all the key components have been changed so much that we can talk about new engines. They are expected to be both useful (powerful, flexible and low-powered) and reliable, as they have been tested for hundreds of thousands of kilometers of driving after thousands of hours of static and dynamic testing on test benches. At least in theory, these engines are promising, as in every respect they are an excellent alternative to the current turbodiesels. In addition to engines, mechanical five- and six-speed transmissions have also been slightly improved, robotic and classic automatic transmissions are also announced.

In principle, the Bravo will be available in five equipment packages: Basic, Active, Dynamic, Emotion and Sport, but the offer will be determined by each representative separately. The package has been tuned in such a way that the base price is quite affordable (including standard power windows, remote central locking, heated outside mirrors, trip computer, height-adjustable driver's seat, three-piece rear seat, two-speed power steering, ABS, four airbags), but Dynamic is by far the most popular. This car is well-equipped for this class, as it has, among other things, an ESP stabilization system, protective curtains, fog lights, car radio with steering wheel controls, air conditioning and lightweight wheels. The description refers to the Italian market, but there probably won't be any major changes in our market.

Developed in just 18 months, the new Bravo is of course bigger than the Style inside and out, and with 24cm of front seat offset, it really fits drivers 1 to 5 meters tall. The cabin feels spacious, but the boot is also a handy boxy shape and has a base 400 liters that gradually increases to 1.175 liters. Of course, the question of the door was also raised at the press conference. For now, the Bravo is only a five-door, which, at least for now, has moved Fiat away from its former one-car-two-bodies-at-a-time philosophy. All other versions of the body after Marcion's half-joking answer can only be expected in three years. Or . . we will be surprised.

First impression

Appearance 5/5

Aggressive and advanced design, a continuation of the Grande Punto theme.

Engines 4/5

Excellent turbo diesels remain, and the new T-Jet family of turbo-petrol engines is promising as well.

Interior and equipment 4/5

Very good seat and driving position, neat appearance, compact design and workmanship.

Price 3/5

Considering design, manufacturing and equipment, the starting price (for Italy) seems to be quite favorable, otherwise the exact prices for the versions are not yet known.

First class 4/5

The overall experience is excellent, especially when compared to Style. On all counts, Bravo is vastly improved over it.

Prices in Italy

The cheapest Bravo with the basic equipment package is expected to account for only a percentage of sales in Italy, while the most will be placed on the Dynamic package, which is expected to sell half of all Bravo's. Prices quoted are for the cheapest version, which also depends on the engine.

  • Well done 14.900 euros
  • Active 15.900 €
  • Dynamic € 17.400
  • Emotion 21.400 XNUMX Euro
  • Sports approx. 22.000 euros

Vinko Kernc

Photo: Vinko Kernc

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