Used Fiat Bravo Hatchback 1995 - 2002 review

This characterful Italian hatch - basically a three-door version of the more family-friendly five-door Brava - caused quite a stir in its mid-1990s heyday with its bold styling.

Part of that character comes from its engines, which have a pleasantly sporty rasp on the move. And, even the smallest engine in the range - originally a 1.4 petrol, but which was later replaced by a 1.2 - is lively. Even when the car was launched, the ride and handling rated only as average, but at least the Bravo is noticeably sharper to drive than the Brava. However, whichever you choose, refinement is poor. Inside, the driving position suits most shapes and sizes and there's a fair bit of room - albeit not as much as in the five-door Brava, and a good-size boot. Best of all, equipment levels are high and prices are rock-bottom. On the other hand, these aren't the kind of cars that past owners have cherished, so you should expect them to need regular repairs.

Chances are you could spend plenty on repairs, and there's a risk that the total will soon overtake what you paid for the car, especially as they're so cheap to buy in the first place.

Insurance costs are low, with most smaller-engined models falling into group 4. Even the 1.8 is only in group 7, although the 2.0 HGT is in group 15, as you'd only expect for a hot hatch. Fuel economy is respectable, too: you'll get up to 40mpg from the 1.2, 36mpg from the 1.6 and 34mpg from the 1.8. Even the 2.0 promises a decent-ish 30mpg overall. Pick a diesel and you're on for up to 51mpg. An annual service is cheap, to, and it's easy enough for a local independent garage to do what's needed. Some repairs are costly, though. Clutches, for example, take a long time to replace, which bumps up the bill, while working on the suspension is awkward and time-consuming.

During the Bravo's life, the most basic engine - the 1.4, or the 1.2 that replaced it - was the top-selling model and it's also the one to buy second-hand.

Either engine is gutsy enough and, anyway, a Bravo is best driven in a relaxed style. There were also a 1.6, a 1.8, a 2.0 hot hatch and a pair of diesels, but all they do is show up the limitations of the chassis. If you must have of these, the 1.6 is the best bet. The other motors don't suit the car particularly, although the diesels and willing and economical, if noisy. An auto gearbox is available with the 1.6 but it is likely to give trouble after a few years. The manual gearboxes, however, are tough, so stick to one of them. SX trim is the most common, offering electric front windows, remote locking and a decent stereo. ELX and HLX, the top two trims, are scarce but provide plusher cabins, alloy wheels and, in the HLX, the air-conditioning and anti-lock brakes absent from other models.