Fiat Ritmo

A vast improvement over Fiat’s past few stabs at the all-important C-segment, this is a thoroughly competent effort in almost every respect, hampered only by a legacy of half-cocked old shitters that it takes people a long time to forget about. Anyone for a VW Golf?

• Comfort

  The Ritmo rides well, proving to have struck a great balance between handling and compliance. It's also far better sorted in the cabin than Fiats gone by, but the rear is cramped.

  

• Performance

  There's a 110kW diesel on offer that comfortably covers all the bases in terms of grunt and economy. A good car for doing distance without having to give up on a bit of agility when you want it.

  

• Cool

  Not exactly the last word in cool, but marginally cooler than lining up with everyone else in the Golf queue. A little Italian flair can't do any harm in a market choking on ordinariness.

  

• Quality

  The Ritmo does seem well put together, an even more impressive statement when you consider just how awful the brand's earlier efforts were. Time will tell of course, and there are plenty of sceptics reserving judgement, but so far so good.

  

• Handling

  True to the DNA of all Italian hatchbacks, the Ritmo handles well. Steering could be more weighty perhaps, but essentially this a nicely sorted chassis that gives you enough confidence to explore its limits.

  

• Practicality

  The Ritmo is spacious up front, but critically hampered by a cramped and claustrophobic rear. This is bad news when you think that the Focus and Golf have that all sewn up.

  

• Running costs

  On average the Ritmo is cheaper than many of the ostensibly more desirable family hatches it's pitting itself against, and the strong emphasis on diesels in the range is another bonus. The saying "Fix it again Tony" wont be thown around as much as it was in the past.