‘What strikes me is that I really have 0 electronic malfunctions’
With the Bravo, Fiat launched an elegant five-door hatchback in 2007, which was supposed to be the Italian alternative to volume models such as the Volkswagen Golf and Opel Astra. The great success did not materialize, with a Dutch sales total of just over 8,000 copies. For context: VW sold at least 12,000 Golfs per year in these years! Was the Fiat just not that good or is the Bravo an undiscovered gem? We will check the user reviews for that.
Connoisseurs will know that the name Bravo was not entirely new. Between 1995 and 2001, Fiat also placed this badge on a sleek hatchback in this segment, a model with always three doors. Anyone who wanted a five-door got a liftback with striking three-piece rear lights, called Brava. This nameplate, like the rear lights, did not return.
Under the hood of the ‘new’ Bravo we find relatively modern engines, including the 1.4 T-Jet and MultiAir. We already discovered that these were not too economical based on the AutoWeek Consumption Monitor. In the Review section we also see a relatively large number of MultiJet diesels, a symbol of the spirit of the times.
Interior and finishing
For most readers, such a Fiat Bravo will not be very fresh in the memory, so let’s first take a look at the interior. The first review we look at paints a reasonable picture: “The material used on the dashboard is good, but not completely scratch-resistant. So treat it nicely on the inside.”
Another driver knows how to put it better: “I enjoy the chosen materials every day inside the car. Certainly an improvement over previous Fiats and in my opinion it is the same quality you find in other cars in this class.” Whatever he finds is room for a sneer. “At least you are looking at a dashboard where people have paid attention to design. Especially compared to German competitors.”
However, a third driver also notes that there is still some room for improvement. “Interior: a complete dashboard with nice materials. Quite hard plastics in many places. Occasionally a squeak or creak.”
Seating comfort
A beautiful, well-built dashboard may be nice, but you usually don’t sit on it. You do that on the seats, and drivers generally rate them well. The ‘Sport’ version has more prominently profiled seats.
A satisfied rider writes about this. “I, 1.82 metres, of normal build, sit comfortably in the chairs, good support on the sides and enough support in the back and under the legs. In addition, you have enough legroom for adults in all places, including the back.” Another rider shares the same experience with these seats, although he initially had different expectations. “We like the sports seats. I had bad expectations here, as the length of the seat is quite short. With my height of 1.85 metres, I have never had any problems on long stretches and I gain weight without any pain. The lower back is also perfectly supported.” Drivers who have to make do with the standard seats are also very pleased with this, although they note that the lateral support could have been slightly better.
How does a Bravo drive?
When it comes to driving, there is some division around the Bravo. “I am full of praise for the driving characteristics of the Bravo. Shifts accurately and well, has good road holding and is certainly not hard with the 18-inch wheels. I also think the steering is perfect and the City button is useful when parking or driving in the center,” writes a Bravo 2.0 diesel driver. “There is still negative writing about the controls. It feels light, but that takes some getting used to. Furthermore, directly. The handling is good. The chassis does not budge during a fast bend. Not very sensitive to crosswinds,” writes a 1.6 diesel driver, “but with 4 people and/or a caravan the rear springs are on the weak side.”
“The Fiat drives very well. The driving characteristics are comparable to those of the Alfa 147. Sporty with enough comfort. It is recommended to keep the standard 16-inch wheels. The 17-inch looks nicer in the wheel arches, but as a representative I prefer comfort with a touch of sportiness.” Later the review is supplemented with the following text: “Some criticism of the controls. Sometimes it feels a little too light in turns at higher speeds. This really needs to be improved on the next Bravo model.”
It is an opinion that several Bravo drivers share, even they did not immediately become friends with the steering wheel. “Steering is quite light, but you get used to it quickly, the handling is good and the car feels solid but very agile,” concludes a 1.4 T-Jet 150 driver.
Maintenance, malfunctions and irritations
Also when it comes to maintenance and breakdowns, one Bravo is not the same as the other. “What strikes me is that I really have 0 electronic malfunctions,” writes a rider who has been driving the Bravo for twelve years and more than 200,000 kilometers. “Okay, let’s be honest: once a year there is a strange flashing light in the mileage display. This is a software hiccup, but a very small one that can be forgiven.” Another 1.4 driver had to deal with unexpected costs. Among other things, he had to deal with a worn drive shaft, a point that is often mentioned as weak in Bravo reviews.
A diesel driver was confronted with a dirty turbo pressure sensor. “Another problem I had was the jerky braking during acceleration. This turned out to be due to a dirty turbo pressure sensor in the intake manifold. After cleaning it thoroughly, the problem was resolved.” The first problem was a cracked turbo hose.
Such a problem with the turbo pressure appears not to be limited to the diesel, as a 1.4 MultiAir driver experienced. “A long drive over a fairly high pass with a rut hut behind it and then 110 on the Autobahn suddenly resulted in a power drop above Munich. Parked in a camper spot as close as possible, visited local Fiat garage. Turbo pressure sensor malfunctioning. This was reset, replaced preventively at home and that was it.” Not engine specific: the heater valves do not appear to be very robust, which can upset the interior temperature control. The valves themselves are not expensive, but the time-consuming replacement is.
In contrast to these stories, there are also many drivers who do not have to incur any additional costs other than regular maintenance. “O=ZERO problems to report,” writes one such driver after 170,000 kilometers traveled.
If one thing becomes clear after going through the Fiat Bravo reviews, it is that the car divides. Apart from some taste issues such as the finish of the interior, one copy seems technically better than the other. Owners are quite unanimous about the Bravo’s handling, space and seats. Is it a perfect car then? No, it doesn’t seem like that. What it does seem is that the car’s talent has been misunderstood. It seems to be worth more than the slightly more than 8,000 new copies sold would suggest.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl