My brother and I share the same taste in food, drink and humour but when it comes to cars we disagree. To me, a squeak or rattle is reason enough to sell a car, to him it’s part of its charm. Give him an electrical fault and he’s out with the Blu-Tack and electrical tape quicker than you can say warranty claim. He loves problems, I don’t.

Which is why he would never buy a used Fiat Stilo but I would. In the past, buying a Fiat would have suited my brother with its potential for disaster around every corner, but the Stilo has ruined all that. In building the Stilo, Fiat created a car that in virtually every respect was as good as or better than the competition.

As a replacement for the ageing Brava and Bravo, the Stilo entered the fray in 2001 offering decent levels of standard equipment, good looks and an attractive price tag. Available as a three or five-door, the choice is more significant than you may first imagine. Unlike most of its competitors, the two variants are actually different cars. In three-door guise the car is 50mm lower and 70mm shorter than the five-door yet 28mm wider. Put the two side by side and the difference is obvious, the three-door having a squatter, sportier look.

While neither car is small the extra height and length of the five-door make it feel like an MPV. The fold-flat front passenger seat can double up as a table and facilitates the carrying of long objects.

The Stilo is available with a wide variety of engines, which in petrol format range from a frugal but gutless 1.2 litre to a gruff and powerful 2.4 litre five-cylinder. The pick of the petrol engines is the free-revving 1.6, which has decent mid-range pull. But it’s the lovely 115bhp diesel that will impress you most with a combination of economy and easy-going nature.

Equipment levels are good on all models and even entry-level Stilos come with antilock braking, remote control central locking, six airbags and front fog lights. Moving up the range adds items such as keyless entry and alloy wheels. The options list is very lengthy so it’s worth checking over used cars carefully.

Used cars with the optional Connect Nav+ satellite navigation system are rare because of the £1,400 price tag. But find a car with it fitted and you’ll have one of the most advanced systems available on any car, at any price. In addition to the 7in colour screen it provides a host of additional services. Controlled manually or via voice commands, a telephone connects to a call centre manned by operators who can provide information on traffic and weather conditions en route, finding a bank or even booking a hotel. On used cars you’ll expect to pay around £500 more for a car with the system.

On the road the Stilo is one of the nicest cars Fiat has ever made. The three-door version has a stiffer, sportier feel with good levels of grip thanks to the wide track. Five-door models feel slightly softer but not soggy. Choose a diesel, however, and thanks to the extra weight of the engine you’ll find the suspension is a little firmer.

It’s worth starting your search by visiting www.fiat.co.uk for a look at the franchised dealer listings. And if you do buy one, my brother’s Blu-Tack is on hand, although I don’t think you are likely to need it.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model: Fiat Stilo 1.9 JTD Dynamic
Engine type: Four-cylinder, 1910cc
Power: 115bhp
Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Fuel: 52.3mpg (combined)
Acceleration: 0-62mph: 10.5sec
Top speed: 118mph

Seatbelts: Three-point rear centre belt and two Isofix points for child seats are standard

Rear seats: Split fold 60:40 and go completely flat; on top-spec models they also recline by up to 30 degrees

Storage space: No less than 17 cubby holes, bins and trays around the cabin. The dashboard features an air-conditioned/heated storage space for cooling and warming drinks

Technology: The list of options is huge, including rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, automatic headlamps and parking radar. Check what your car has

Warranty: Three-year/60,000-mile warranty on new cars

Servicing: Required every 12 months or 12,000 miles on all engines

Safety: Front and side airbags are standard, curtain airbags a £150 option

Steering: A "girlie" button enables the steering to be lightened for around-town driving

Total sold in Britain: 35,000

Seats: Height-adjustable front seat, but when in its lowest position a gap between the backrest and seat base can cause backache from poor lumbar support

Alloy wheels: Standard on all but the base model Connect Nav+ Advanced satellite navigation system and driver information service. A £1,400 option when new, it now adds about £500 to car's value

THE ONE TO BUY

Fiat Stilo 1.9 JTD Dynamic 5-dr, five-speed manual, 2002 51-reg with 20,000 miles. Pay £6,325 at a dealer with 12-month warranty, or £5,500 privately.

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OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY...

2001 Y-reg Peugeot 307 2.0 HDi 90 Style
2001 X-reg Nissan Almera Tino 2.2Di SE
2000 X-reg Ford Focus 1.8 TDdi Ghia
2000 W-reg Renault Scénic 1.9 dTi
1999 S-reg VW Golf 1.9SE TDI

VALUES



Active models worth £650 less than equivalent Dynamic models. Little or no difference between the values for three and five-door cars. Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a dealer