I own the 5-door 1.2 L 16V Active version of the Fiat Stilo. The outer appearence is stylish and muscular without being so ridiculous as to put off female buyers.

Internally, the dash is a bit bland and seems huge but the cabin is very roomy and the extra height on the 5-door version makes it feel more like an SUV than a small family car.

Driver position is easy to adjust and as someone who is quite short I found the position I selected to be perfect as opposed to other vehicles I've driven.

The 1.2 L version is very nice to drive and the six-speed gearbox is a dream, the box feels like it actually wants to change gear for you! Don't expect a nippy, punchy little mover from the traffic lights with this engine. The 1.2 is adequate for the size of the car but lacks any 'oomph' feeling of power. The car will move off at a good pace but not like a bat out of hell. That said, the car moves well on the road and goes from 0-60mph in 13.4 seconds.

This car is very economical in petrol use and lies in the lower end of both tax and insurance so makes a good sense buy. If you are looking for a more powerful car try one of the bigger engines but this car will still get you to your destination in comfort and not far behind a more powerful version.