OVER the years the Fiat Punto has reinvented itself more times than Madonna but now it's back to basics for the fun and funky supermini.

Gone are the over-complicated labels such Grande Punto and Punto Evo and we now have plain and simple Punto.

But there is nothing plain about this sporty favourite which is instantly recognisable as a Fiat and although it's not as eye-catching as its sibling Fiat 500, it is certainly more practical with bags of room inside.

The three-door test model featured tinted windows, sweeping headlights that were darkened, front fog lights, body-coloured door handles, 17-inch alloys, a kickplate with aluminium insert and Punto logo plus a double sunroof.

And the techno treats within the vehicle are plentiful too with a radio/CD player with steering wheel-mounted controls, remote central locking, automatic climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth, electric front windows, ambient lighting and plenty more besides.

The sporty seats are beautifully designed with snazzy patterns and offer plenty of support and there is room in the back for two adults, albeit with limited leg space. The boot is a good size for a car of this category and the storage capacity can be increased quickly and effortlessly thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats.

The Punto proved great fun to drive with excellent all-round visibility. In and around town it cruised along with ease and then, out on the faster roads, the 1.4-litre petrol turbo engine delivered a surprising amount of get-up-and-go.

I expected the car to be a little more sluggish, but it proved me wrong and accelerated sharply through the five speed manual gearbox. I guess the clue is in the word "turbo" in the car's description!

There was a little road surface and engine noise, but it was not particularly bad and the sound system more than compensated.

Fiat has packed plenty of safety features into the Punto such as anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assistance system, numerous airbags including a driver's knee airbag, electronic stability programme, hill-hold and lots more.

The car featured a few optional extras - one of which was the Exotica Red paint which certainly helped the car stand out in any crowded car park.

All in all, the Fiat Punto has come a long way over the years, but it still retains its charm along with that Italian chic styling and performance capabilities.

£15,915 including £715 optional extras : 135bhp, 1368cc, 4-cyl, turbo petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual transmission 124mph 8.5 seconds 50.4 19 : 129g/km 16%: 3 yrs/60,000 miles