From Towcar Awards 2008

List price: £16,055 (when tested)

Kerbweight: 1435kg

85% Match: 1220kg

Maximum towing limit: 1300kg

Towball limit: 60kg

THE FIAT BRAVO looks sharper than an Armani suit. If we were giving an award for style, the Fiat would have walked it.

Unlike an Armani suit, if you ask the price you probably can still afford it. Just over £16,000 is more than reasonable for a diesel hatchback with 150bhp and a long list of standard equipment, especially if you haggle around £2000 off the asking price.

Powerful and economical

Looks aside, the engine is the star turn. There’s plenty of pull even at very low revs, with 30-60mph dispatched in 13.4 seconds. It’s economical when towing, too, managing 30.1mpg on the Practical Caravan economy route.

However, the Fiat is cramped in the back seats, and the ride and handling are lacklustre. Through the lane-change test the rear of the car was dragged around by the van and the ATC unit recorded a high maximum of around 0.85G.

We say

Towing: 3/5

Solo: 3/5

Practicality: 3/5

Buying & Owning: 3/5

Verdict: 3/5. Great to look at, fine engine, but there are more stable towcars.

30-0mph: n/a

Read the review of this car at www.whatcar.com