Fiat Panda
The Panda is a simple, cheap-to-run, no-nonsense city car. It's chunky on the outside, but that square shape means it has lots of space inside - way more than the Fiat 500 or Ford Ka, which use the same mechanical parts. The bottom of the range 1.1-litre petrol Active version is very cheap, but doesn’t have alloy wheels, traction control or air-conditioning. But any car above that in the range, especially with the excellent 1.3 MultiJet diesel engine, provides flexible, cost-effective transport. There are even four-wheel-drive versions that can cope with slippery conditions, and a racy hot hatchback, called the 100HP.
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Pros:
- Low running costs
- Light controls
- Spacious cabin
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Cons:
- 4x4 versions are expensive
- Basic Active model is low on equipment
- Boot is quite small
Getting the best value from the Fiat Panda means choosing the most basic variant you can live with. However, the little Fiat offers much more than cheap fuss-free transport. 4x4 versions for example, are expensive compared to Active and Dynamic models, but have genuine off-road ability. When it comes to the engine line-up, the 1.3 MultiJet diesel engine is particularly good because it's quiet, feels powerful and returns 65.7mpg. It's the little Panda's deceptive spaciousness that's most impressive, though. Compared to city cars like the Ford Ka, the cabin feels positively airy.
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Pros:
- Well-designed interior
- Fun to drive
- Cheap to buy
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Cons:
- Interior feels basic on entry level models
- Limited rear legroom
- Engines lack power on motorways
Larger and more spacious, the latest Panda features more rounded styling than its predecessor and is designed to be the most practical and versatile version yet. Offered with a fantastic choice of petrol and diesel engines in either two, three or four-cylinder layout, the Panda is highly economical and offers great no-frills transport. The interior is stylish and reasonably well made and although rear passengers get slightly less legroom than in the Volkswagen up! or Kia Picanto, unique features such as the folding front seat do make up for it. The Panda is also great fun to drive around town and if you opt for one of the twin-cylinder TwinAir models, owners are exempt from paying road tax.
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Pros:
- Impressive drive, on and off-road
- Well equipped
- Good looking
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Cons:
- A little expensive to buy
- Limited rear legroom
- 4x4 system increases running costs
This third generation of Panda 4x4 is the first time since the early 80s that Fiat has squeezed a four-wheel-drive system into a supermini, using the latest Panda as its base, and the result is one of Fiat's most engaging vehicles. It's surprisingly good off-road, too, and, like the TARDIS, feels bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. In fact, it feels like a much bigger car once you're in the higher driving position, with great visibility.
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