I recently had an opportunity to drive a Punto MJD(12000kms & 1 ½ yrsold) for about 200kms, both city and highway.This was just after driving my Figo TDCI(8000kms & 6months old) for about 200kms continuously. I could not help comparing the two diesels. Since I own the Figo, I am a little biased towards the Figo.
Punto obviously is the looker, but Figo’s clean lines do not disappoint either and it grows on you. A lot changes once you step inside. Punto’s plastics are pretty bad. When I first saw the Punto plastics in June 2009(when my FIL bought the car), I thought it was okay, though my wife did point out many finishing inadequacies. It was still livable and never a deal breaker to me. But now, I see it, it is pretty bad, looks very dated. The car is 1 ½ months now, but the plastics easily looks 3yr old, seems to attract and hold dirt, lot of scratches(cant blame the car for it). However, all the switches,knobs in Punto feel better damped and nice. Figo’s plastics are only 6month old now and seem to be holding well though are very scratch prone.
I felt the Punto’s seats(driver) to be more supportive. They are wider, have better underthigh support, better lumbar support and thicker cushions. Felt more comfortable on longer drives. The front legroom also felt more in the Punto. Figo’s seat fabric is the best I have seen. Although Figo has better rear legroom, it was never a problem in the Punto for my largely under 6 feet family. Head room is better in Punto. Low waistline, large windshield and a lower steering wheel position gives me a feeling of “sitting on” the car in the Figo and gives a good view outside. Punto’s metal wraps all around and the higher steering wheel position gives the feeling of “sitting in” the car and also gives the “tank like” feel.
Figo scores with its music system and AC. Though lacking the climate control, the Figo AC cools much faster than the Punto. I am not an audiophile, but the Figo’s music system sounds much better. The Bluetooth phone audio also sounds better in the Figo.
Punto’s build feels better. When I sit in the car, I have the “sitting in a tank” feel more in the Punto. Figo is better than the Japs and the Koreans, but not upto the Punto. The Punto also does not have any rattle/squeak after 18months whereas my Figo is full of squeaks and rattles.
I prefer the slightly lighter steering in the Figo. Though both have excellent feedback, Punto is slightly heavier to my liking. Also I preferred the smaller steering wheel in Figo. The steering position is adjustable in Punto.
Ride is far better in the Punto particularly at low speeds, broken tarmac, potholes are absorbed much better. I suppose the 15inchers in the Punto make the difference. Both the cars have excellent stability straight line as well as handling abilities in the everday curves I have encountered in the highway.
Despite the turbo lag, I felt the Punto is more driveable in the city. The third gear is quite versatile and is able to pick up from low speeds of 15-20kmph effortlessly even with four people on board. Fourth gear was equally competent on the busy Kannur- Kozhikode highway. Figo does fine, but with four people on board, I felt, Punto was better. The gear shift though is much better in Figo. Smooth and precise. It is rubbery and vague in the Punto.
The boomy engine noise of the Punto is little disconcerting. Figo is not very quite either, but I prefer the Figo's roar to the Punto's boom.
Punto epack is much better kitted, but figo titanium does have the essentials to keep me happy on a daily basis. For me, two thing that stood out as bad in the Punto were the plastics and gearshift, whereas, in the Figo, nothing stood out as bad(maybe the squeaks).
Fiat has a wider service network than the Ford and both have the same reputation of being equally capable or incapable. The Punto Epack was 70,000Rs more than the Figo Titanium in Karnataka when I bought the Figo. But the Punto Epk has lot more features. So I would say both cars are excellent value for money at their respective price points. Due to vitamin M problems, I preferred the Figo and I have no regrets. I only wish Punto would do as much as Figo in sales numbers. Punto, I feel is a better car than i20 and as their prices are a better match, Punto should have sold atleast half as much as i20.