Fiat Bravo full details from A to Z

The Fiat Bravo and Fiat Brava (Type 182) are small family cars produced by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1995 to 2001. They were effectively two versions of the same car, the Bravo a three-door hatchback and the Brava a five-door hatchback.

The Bravo name was revived in 2007 with the all-new Fiat Bravo, a replacement of the Stilo. The new version is available only with five doors. The name Brava was also used in the United States in the 1980s on the earlier Fiat 131.

he Bravo and the Brava were replacements for Fiat's successful but ageing Tipo model. The two cars were very different in styling detail and driving experience, the Bravo chassis being tuned for more precise handling whilst the Brava was tuned for better comfort. Even the interior trim and many of the body colours were unique to either one version or the other. The cars came with all new engines, the base model using a 1.4 L 12-valve engine producing 80 PS (59 kW). 

Three other petrol engines were available: the 103 PS (76 kW) 1.6 L 16-valve; the 113 PS (83 kW) 1.8 L 16-valve engine and the top of the range 2.0 L 20-valve inline-5 unit used in the HGT model, which produced 147 PS (108 kW) and which could take the car to a maximum speed of 213 km/h (132 mph), later in 1999 the 155 HGT model replaced the older model, power rising to 155 PS (114 kW).

Two turbodiesel engines were also available: both were 1.9 L four cylinder units, one producing 75 PS (55 kW) and the other making 100 PS (74 kW). The Bravo/Brava was voted European Car of the Year on its launch.

In 1996, the Bravo/Brava chassis spawned saloon and estate versions, badged Fiat Marea, a car which was aimed at Ford Mondeo and Opel/Vauxhall Vectra buyers, which won praise for its large boot. Another car based on the Bravo/Brava underpinnings was launched in 1998: the curious-looking Fiat Multipla, a six-seater compact MPV.

The Bravo/Brava received a mild makeover in 1999, but there were few real changes except the replacement of the 1.4 L 12-valve engine with a 1.2 L 16-valve engine from the smaller Fiat Punto and a restyling of the dashboard. The 1.9 turbodiesel was also phased out in favour of 1.9 JTD diesel units (now with and 105 PS or 77 kW), to give even better economy and refinement.