Small always seems to have been better for Fiat - cars like the Panda, Uno and Cinquecento have been iconic worldwide, but the city car maestro has never had much luck with the bigger ones. Until the launch of the current Panda, Fiat had been under something of a cloud following a string of near-misses. There is promise in recent offerings, though, and Fiat wanted to continue progress with the Bravo.
The Bravo was developed in double quick time, with the consequence that there is not an all-new platform here but rather much of the ancient Stilo under the bodywork. The styling does represent a change of style for the Italian manufacturer to something more fashionable and elegant, but you can't help but feel the car might be held back by its ageing architecture.
Rivals like Ford's Focus and VW's Golf might lack something in charisma, but they have always brought with them the dynamics, capability and refinement of cars in the class above. Despite the Latin driving position, which you are never quite comfortable with despite the adjustability, the interior is an appealing place to spend time. It is unusually desirable for a Fiat and long may it continue.
The Bravo is almost there dynamically as well - it is enjoyable to drive, but doesn't move the game on with the same sense of accomplishment that current generations of Focus and Golf do. Considering what Fiat had to work with, they have done a great job - and the Bravo has the style that many of its rivals lack.
The engines show a new approach too, towards downsizing. The Bravo uses smaller powerplants that give as much oomph as larger engines combined with the fuel consumption of smaller ones. The 120 bhp 1.4 T-Jet engine is our pick of the range. It lends the car a Jekyll and Hyde air, being characterful when pushed but muted and refined when something more relaxing is called for.
Fiat had a difficult juggling act to pull off here - it rapidly needed a new car to change its image and boost sales, but didn't have the time or the resources to really go to town. Whilst the Bravo can't entertain competitors' premium pretensions it remains a step in the right direction, and one that shows that the rehabilitation of Fiat is well underway.