Fiat

Panda/Panda 4×4/Panda Cross

A neat little city car with excellent fuel economy that is brilliant fun to drive. The Fiat Panda can be personalised in many ways and there’s a choice of engines too.

Test Drive

Fiat Panda Cross – first drive

Fiat isn’t necessarily the first name that springs to mind when considering a car that would be capable of tackling tough off-road conditions, but with the release of the Panda Cross all that changes.

It is based on the very accomplished Panda 4×4, but the all-new Panda Cross offers even more entertainment, attitude and capability as was proven when taking on a testing course at a deep, boggy quarry. Yet the Panda Cross remains a vehicle that can also be chosen for its day-to-day use, low running costs and general ease of use.

Just one glance in the direction of the car and it’s instantly clear to see this is no standard Panda as it boasts plenty of added protection to the bodywork, lights and mechanical components just in case Mother Nature throws a few obstacles in the way.

For example, there is a chunky new bumper with scratch and bump-resistant corner sections and a large skid plate which has two easily accessible tow hooks. There are also new LED daytime running lights located in protected recesses and the main headlight clusters are framed by matt black surrounds giving them a bold and mean look.

In addition, the wheel arches have been given extra protection, there are thick side mouldings, matching roof rails, ‘Cross’ badging in the rear door inserts and added ground clearance.

At the rear of the car, there is once again a stronger bumper design plus added under-body protection, distinctive new lights and a chrome exhaust.

Once inside the Panda Cross, it’s difficult not to be impressed with the snazzy, yet tasteful seat design. The dashboard is finished in a new copper shade which contrasts smartly with the silver instrument surround and audio fascia.

The central console houses the Terrain Control drive selector which is a first in the segment.

This allows the driver to adjust the vehicle’s driving characteristics via three modes – auto, off-road and hill descent control.

Other creature comforts include sat nav, automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and heated electric door mirrors. In addition, buyers can select from a number of optional packs that introduce the likes of City Brake Control, tinted rear windows, heated seats and rear parking sensors.

There is a choice of two engines and they have been given a power boost for the Cross model. The 0.9-litre TwinAir Turbo engine sees its maximum power raised to 90bhp (from 85bhp) and the 1.3-litre MultiJet II turbo-diesel engine also enjoys a 5bhp increase up to 80bhp.

We put both models through their paces on fast country lanes and also on challenging off-road courses.

First up was the petrol model priced at £15,945 (£17,050 with options). This TwinAir two-cylinder model can sprint from 0-62mph in 12.0 seconds and has a top speed of 104mph. According to official figures, it can deliver combined fuel economy of 57.6mpg and carbon emissions of 114g/km.

Out on the winding country lanes the Panda Cross was lively and spritely and the little engine coped very well indeed. That said, we did find a lot of changing up and down through the six gears was required to keep power levels high.

That aside though, the petrol variant handled sweetly and the car boasts excellent all-round visibility, no body roll, great comfort levels and excellent steering response.

This model is also fitted with a ‘crawler’ first gear which can be incredibly practical when faced with off-road conditions. We took the cars around a very slippery country park with steep inclines and boggy declines. The Panda Cross impressed beyond all expectations and the hill descent control feature made traversing slippery slopes through tree-lined tracks seem simple.

Then it was the turn of the diesel model priced at £16,945 (£18,510 with extras added). This model can reach 62mph from a standing start in 14.3 seconds and tops out at 99mph. It can achieve combined efficiency of 60.1mpg and has carbon emissions of 125g/km.

Out on the faster lanes this car was an absolute dream to drive and the five-speed transmission was much smoother than its petrol counterpart.

The 1.3-litre engine had plenty of bite and the all-round handling seemed a little more refined.

But it was at the working quarry that the car really proved its worth.

All too often, new cars are launched and we are invited to put them through a rather ‘soft’ off-road challenge that tends to prove very little about their capabilities.

That certainly wasn’t the case with the Fiat Panda Cross.

For this car was faced with an exceptionally boggy quarry following heavy rainfall and it displayed the class and capabilities of a much more established and hardened off-road vehicle as it waded through deep water, skipped across sharp boulders and slippery rocks, crawled in a very controlled manner down muddy banks and burst unhindered up steep hills.

The grip, control, power and all-round handling was absolutely superb. And although it’s not something many Panda Cross owners will put their beloved car through, it is very reassuring to know just how accomplished the car is if, for example, it is caught out by an unexpected snow storm.

According to Fiat bosses, the Panda Cross is only expected to account for about five per cent of Panda sales (approximately 400 units), but it’s worth remembering that it is a really fabulous vehicle that perfectly blends city car practicality with off-road capabilities and all at a price that won’t break the bank.

Test Drive

Fiat Panda

It may have been around for 30-plus years but the third generation of the Fiat Panda takes its appeal to a whole new level.

For this small, innovative, cleverly designed four-door will appeal to a wide range of people with differing lifestyles.

That’s because Fiat has remained true to the Panda’s roots – the new model is slightly bigger, but its heart and soul remain unchanged.

Over the years the Panda has undergone some real design enhancements and the new 2012 model boasts a soft cube appearance – or as Fiat bosses described it: “Squircle”.

And it is available with a choice of three engines at launch – a 875cc TwinAir Turbo, a 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre MultiJet2 turbo diesel. This trio will be joined later in the year by a normally aspirated version of the TwinAir Turbo.

In addition, buyers have a choice of three trim levels to select from – Pop, Easy and Lounge.

It’s these choices plus the options to personalise the vehicle with 11 exterior colours and six interior spec levels that means potential buyers can design their very own special Panda.

And with prices ranging from £8,900 to £12,250, without any optional extras, the vehicle really is a very attractive buy.

First impressions are vital and the rounded Panda has some lovely eye-catching features, such as a twin sunroof, daytime running lights, smart alloys with the word Panda appearing at the centre of each wheel.

There are smart light clusters – again the word Panda is neatly and subtly incorporated into the tail lights, tinted windows, body-coloured curvaceous bumpers, body-coloured door mirrors and plenty more besides.

Versatility is key to Panda buyers and this model has it by the bucket load.

There are 14 storage options including an open one on the dashboard and the rear seat bench can be specified to slide backwards and forwards. Other options include a front passenger seat that can fold flat which is ideal for transporting longer items.

There is room for three adults in the back of the Panda, although in reality it would be a bit uncomfortable on a longer journey. And the fairly generously-sized boot can be increased further with fold-flat rear seats either in a bench style or the 50:50 or 60:40 split folding rear seats.

The entry level Pop includes a four-speaker radio with CD and MP3 player, Start and Stop (not available on the 1.2 engine), electric front windows and central locking.

Easy models also get roof rails, manual air con with pollen filter and a six-speaker sound system.

And the top-of-the-range Lounge trim adds 15-inch alloys and body-coloured, electrically-adjustable door mirrors. Of course, there are a host of optional extras available to help buyers personalise their Panda.

So the new-look Panda has plenty of instant appeal and boasts a snazzy interior packed with fun and funky design traits, but what about performance?

The first model tested was the 0.9 TwinAir 85bhp in Easy trim. This was priced at £10,750 but optional extras such as leather trim, the Sky Dome electric sunroof and the Infatuation Purple paintwork took the asking price up to £13,200.

This Panda proved brilliant fun to drive. It wasn’t exactly quiet. As the two-cylinder engine is put through its paces it lets you know its working hard, but that gentle engine rumble really adds to this cars appeal.

Acceleration was pretty impressive (0-62mph in 11.2 seconds) and although it is billed as a city car, the Panda was very happy alongside faster moving traffic and boasts a top speed of 110mph.

The five-speed manual transmission was smooth and the 85bhp proved plenty powerful enough.

Visibility is excellent and the car’s road-holding was also impressive.

The ride is comfortable, if a little bouncy at times, but overall the Panda was a delight to drive.

It oozed character and the snazzy interior with its curved dashboard and smart instrument panels was a bright and pleasant change from the black, dingy interiors many models feature these days.

The second model put to the test was the 1.2 model in Lounge level. This was priced at £10,050 (£12,130 with options fitted).

Once again, the bright and cheerful interior was a welcoming feature and once again, the drive was fun-packed.

Although it felt like the larger engine was slightly labouring on steeper inclines, the car still performed admirably.

Noise levels were lower and there was a more refined driving experience as the car buzzed its was through winding lanes and quiet country hamlets.

Fiat believes this model will account for about 50 per cent of sales in the UK.

All Panda models come with a comprehensive list of safety features, including numerous airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and again other features such as electronic stability programme can be added as an option.

Later this year low speed collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking will be available to help reduce the number of low speed accidents.

All in all, the third generation Fiat Panda is a brilliant city car and with claimed fuel averages of 54.3 to 72.4mpg, it’s easy on the pocket as well as the eye.

Test Drive

Fiat Panda 1.2 4×4 5dr

It may not be a name that immediately springs to mind when discussing 4×4 motoring, but the Fiat Panda has certainly made its mark in today‘s market.

True, it’s not exactly the fastest of vehicles with a top speed of just 90mph, but with permanent four-wheel-drive, good comfort levels and a great spec list, the Panda is proving excellent value for money.

Priced at less than £10k, the Panda also boasts excellent fuel economy figures along with a standard features list that puts many rivals to shame.

The list includes electric windows, air con, a CD player, follow-me-home headlights that illuminate the path ahead when you get out, automatic windscreen wipers and remote control central locking – and that’s all included in the asking price.

Inside, there is ample room for four adults and the luggage area is surprisingly large too. There are also a number of handy smaller storage compartments scattered throughout.

In and around town, the Panda was an absolute dream to drive with great all-round visibility making parking in tight spaces a complete breeze.

Out on the open road, the Panda did seem to take a while to pick up speed, but that is a small price to pay when you take into account the all-round package.

The Panda is kitted out with some great safety features too, including anti-lock brakes complete with electronic brakeforce distribution, six airbags and a cut-off valve which shuts down the fuel supply in the event of an accident.

All in all, the Panda is quite a car. Okay, it’s not the nippiest of beasts and the radio could do with an update into 21st Century technology but those gripes aside, it’s a fun car which is really worth every penny.