In place of Hovis there is Ciabatta. In place of stout there is acqua minerale. And in place of Cheddar there is Dolcelatte. Light and fresh, the new Brava has become one of the most satisfying drives in its class and yet Fiat appear to have barely changed a thing. As it happens they have made 1700 alterations, although 1697 of them would go barely un-noticed unless somebody poked you with a sharp stick and told you where to look.
So what about the other three? The first and most significant of these is the new, 1.2-litre engine, which, despite being 200 cc smaller than the unit it replaces, feels altogether bigger and more willing. The trick of it is more for less, The new engine has more bhp and drinks less fuel and at the same time has become flexible and responsive. The result is a sprightly, willing sort of drive that is more in keeping with a 1.6-litre engine - an impression underlined by the fact that the so-called FIRE engine has more brake-horsepower than the 1.4-litre units in, for example, the Ford Focus and the Citroen Xsara.
The third change is in the interior trim which is now what Fiat term 'chromatic', by which they mean light at the top and darker at the bottom - a cunning illusion which has you believing that the light, airy interior belongs to a class above. Grey Anthracite trim abounds and it all looks very neat and business-like. Simple rotary controls for the heating system, round and very legible instruments, a radio/cassette that doesn't demand a PhD in wireless-telegraphy and electric window controls in a sensible cluster on the driver's door. So logical and effective that you wonder why some manufacturers spend fortunes in trying to make controls seem like lifestyle statements. KISS (keep it simple, stupid) works for me every time.
The car-for-all-seasons practicality extends to the luggage capacity. Despite being a relatively small car - 4.1 metres overall - the 13.4 cubic feet 'boot' space of this 5-door hatchback is large enough for even the most enthusiastic shopper but, as you might expect, the rear seats split and fold to virtually treble the load space. The tailgate lifts high and the sill is quite low so awkward loads are manageable although you might have to take the legs off a wardrobe.
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