Arriving in 2007 as the replacement for the utilitarian Stilo, the Fiat Bravo II (Type 198) restored Italian elegance to the European hatchback market with its sleek Maserati-inspired front fascia and exclusively five-door silhouette. Competing in a fiercely contested class alongside the Volkswagen Golf V and Ford Focus, it offered high equipment levels and punchy turbocharged engines, proving that structured Fiat Bravo maintenance yields exceptional reliability and rewarding performance on a modest budget.
The mechanical range was led by the responsive 1.4 T-Jet turbocharged petrol engine (120 hp and 150 hp) and later the 1.4 MultiAir (140 hp), alongside dependable 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0 MultiJet diesels. While the cast-iron T-Jet engine is remarkably durable, versions paired with the 6-speed manual transmission require vigilance: the gearbox is the infamous GM/FPT M32 unit, known for M32 6-speed manual gearbox bearing wear that manifests as a distinct whine in 5th and 6th gears and gear lever movement under acceleration.
