FIAT has a long history of making great superminis - and the Punto Evo succeeds in maintaining that track record.

The Evo part of the name stands for evolution and refers to the modernisation Fiat has put the previous generation Grande Punto through to produce a cosmetically and technically enhanced car.

In a demanding market this is an essential process with customers looking for smaller, more environmentally friendly motors that are easier to park and more affordable to run - yet still stylish, safe and comfortable to drive.

The Punto Evo combines ground-breaking new engines, hi-tech gizmos and features normally associated with larger cars to meet the higher expectations.

Fiat have given their latest supermini a bold new look, both inside and out, and an improved chassis that makes it safer, better to drive and more welcoming for passengers.

New lights and a honeycomb front grille enhance the Punto Evo's sleek and neat exterior styling, while the interior has been reworked with softer, elegant lines giving a cosier, more comfortable atmosphere.

There's a surprising amount of room for all occupants, with the driver getting a height-adjustable seat and two-way steering column adjustment. The boot also offers storage space that can accommodate a family's weekly supermarket shopping and the rear seats split and fold when more room is required.

Materials are sourced that don't just look good, they feel good as well while a radical redesign has halved the size of the centre console. A classy piano black panel surrounds the sound system's display and buttons for functions such as the central locking are set into it.

The main changes though occur under the bonnet where a new engine line up - known as MultiAir petrols and MultiJet diesels - are designed to propel Fiat into an ever more environmentally friendly future.

The 1.3-litre MultiJet engine brings a smile to the wallet as it uses fuel like a miser. This is due to a new state-of-the art common rail injection diesel unit that offers smooth and reasonably quiet progress.

An engine stop-start system is fitted as standard which again aids the car's fuel efficiency and limits is carbon dioxide emissions.

The Punto Evo is also quicker than the moderate size of the engine might suggest  - especially from a standing start although anyone requiring hot hatch performance should look elsewhere.

The Eleganza model benefits from the standard suspension set up which is ideal for the humps and hollows that pass for roads in Britain these days.

The car is not as engaging to drive as the best the supermini sector has to offer, but it handles well and is neat and tidy whether negotiating tight and twisty country lanes or the motorway.

One small criticism of the car concerns the five-speed manual transmission as the gearshifts aren't the slickest I've ever come across.

Fiat has a good record on safety and the features on the Punto Evo reaffirm their commitment to provide protection for all the family. Seven airbags are fitted - including one to protect the driver's knees - and stability control comes as standard on the Eleganza model.

Daytime running lights are also fitted. These are not designed to light the road, but rather to make the car more visible. They use special bulbs with lower power than those in dipped beam headlights and are switched on automatically.