New Fiat Panda

What mediocre review.

I think this deserves 5 stars. Excellent effort indeed. What mediocre review Auto express! I think you were wishing that this was Volkswagen Panda rather than Fiat Panda, but sadly it isn't so its obvious it deserves 4 stars when new.....and as it gets older, slowly and gradually, those stars will fuse and shrink to only two (in case of Alfa Guilietta and Fiat Bravo)

Worth mentioning is "But while passenger space is generous, the 610mm of rear legroom is less than you’ll find in a VW up! or Kia Picanto. Sincere journalism suggests that you should have mentioned Panda's Five door USP as well here, which VW Up has not got....but you did not....Comparison with Picanto was justified though....

I think this is a sincere effort and might win the eCOTY this year. It looks amazing for the money they are asking for and better than both UP and Picanto....

Please Auto Express, try to be unbiased against Italians especially as reading other reviews, I can see how increasingly the bias is getting obvious. This might mean reader dissatisfaction. I hope you take notice................

By ambs123 on 14 December, 2011, 10:25am

Indeed a mediocre review

As always with the review of a Fiat, you try to play down the good things about the car and try your best to find the lesser things. I have seen this happen many times in the past years. Of course this is a 5 star car!

By henk99 on 14 December, 2011, 10:48am

Conspiracy?

These cheap mags simply cannot praise Fiats. They always defer to popular sentiment and couch any praise with corrsponsding criticism. TomTom, "like Renault" it says; rather than that Renault also did a deal with TomTom, after Fiat. Hard to keep up with traffic; I doubt it when the engine is run in, or ever with 75hp in a torquey Diesel in fact. But an opportuntity to diss the car of course.

VW can do no wrong in the eyes of these mags, which constantly praise the quality of VW's interiors. The wool was pulled from my eyes when I looked at the new Polo with its supposedly fantastic quality dashboard: it was a miserable mess of dark grey balndness and no better quality than any other small car, in fact the interior was the nastiest of any competitors, but the truth can't be told of course.

By Alexan14 on 14 December, 2011, 4:13pm

journalists will never change

Auto express must have a copy and paste function with a template of
"the materials are good, but not upto Vw standards."
you read this time after time in autoexpress with no justification. Has anyone really studied a Golf interior or a Polo. There nice, but there certainly not leaps and bounds ahead of say a new Focus or even a Mazda 3.
As for the panda, its a marvellous effort which i hope will come in a 4x4 disguise as my name will be straight on the list.

By dja55 on 14 December, 2011, 7:23pm

Fair Dues Folks

At last... some comments left by Auto Express fans who are obviously as sick as I am about reading crap/biased reviews about Italian cars. I'll give you one example recently where Auto Express rated the Alfa Giulietta 19th out of 20 cars in the C segment even though it's been praised by every car car review I've read (and I've read a lot). If its not a VW, Ford or even an Opel/Vauxhall... you can forget about it. Im really looking forward to what a resurgent Fiat/Chrysler Group is going to bring out over the next few years.
Well done Fiat - Good car!!!

By Dave_ie on 14 December, 2011, 10:17pm

A superb little car!

Well firstly, I agree with all the comments above, if this was a VW or Ford, AE would have no doubt given it 5 stars! This car is a FIVE STAR CAR you morons! this car is LUXURY for the price! is easily and without question, best in class at present, no matter what AE say! Fiat are masters and leaders for small cars with a long history and tradition. By the way, a below average review by AE.

By Kevin1982 on 14 December, 2011, 11:20pm

Where did you hide the 5th Star?

I fully expected this kind of review, but I sense a greater strain to make a great car look like it's average. So A -segment city car is your weapon of choice for devouring "faster country roads and motorways". How interesting. Why not take it to the Nurburgring and see if it breaks the lap record? Anyway who can blame you guys with VW group mega ad' budgets bulging out of their pockets. Christmas is getting closer ;)

By automoto458 on 15 December, 2011, 5:32am

Should we really be surprised?

Magazines like this rely on co-operation from manufacturers, advertising features and so on. I'm not surprised the magazine has dissed a decent car in favour of another manufacturer. This is the reason I cancelled my trial subscription - the bias is palpable. This, plus ridiculous and reactionary columnists who try to add spice to an anodyne publication was enough to stop me buying Auto Express.

By mlowe2 on 15 December, 2011, 7:41am

Looks Good

Many years ago I had a Fiat 128 which defied conventional wisdom by not only being fun to drive but to drive but totally reliable. A friend if mine drives a diesel Fiat 500 and as a lifelong Fiat owner says it is the best thing since sliced bread. I considered buying the old Panda but thought the inside looked as if it would fall apart in a matter of weeks! If the new one is better in that respect then it looks like a good value for money package and not an overpriced one like most Volkswagens

By yellowbear on 15 December, 2011, 7:41am

GREAT CAR!

This is a great car for the money, an ideal economical runabout. Let's hope the reliability is as good as the rest of the car.

By Classic0904 on 15 December, 2011, 9:04am

If it's as good as the last Panda it'll be excellent.

I am on my 2nd Panda diesel now due to the heavy mileage I do travelling to and from work.
I bought my 1st car and covered 100,000 miles in 3 years with only a couple of niggly issues which probably could have been sorted out by a better Fiat dealership than my local one.
I traded it in for my 2 Panda which has covered 55,000 mils in the last 2 years with no problems at all.
I tend to drive 90% of the time on duel carridgeways and motorways and have never felt the car holds me back, in fact one of our QS's couldn't keep up with me in his 1.4 petrol Astra when following me down the A11 recently.

The only time it struggled was on our trip down the Autobahn where I still managed a top speed of 101mph recorded on the satnav, but was passed by several bigger cars.

A note to Yellowbear, nothing in either car's interior has broken or started creaking and I would say the quality is far better than the Volkswagon polo equivalent.

I would highly recommend looking at the Panda as a sensible equivalent before parting with your hard earned cash on a Ford, Vauxhall, VW etc.

By chevykevv on 15 December, 2011, 9:18am

alessio

I read the revieuw and also the comments below.

I totally agree with the comments below if I have to choose between a real car Panda and half a car Up! for the same prise my healty mind chooses the panda.

The up will not protect your neck in a side collision, see NCAP crash tests it has NO WINDOW BAG. Up! is your widowmaker
The Panda had full sized window bag plus extra sips bags in option and has full range protections against any unaspected blow in traffic. PLUS it is tougher bult the chassis is not only used for the fiat 500 bt also for the Ford Ka and some Vauxhalls.
The up is not up to a panda.
But consumers decide. and yes VW is Kaisar of the revieuws

By alessio215 on 15 December, 2011, 10:30am

Nice

Fiat do this sort of car really well. I'm almost saddened that the car has become too good because I think it has lost some of the rugged basic charm that made the original 80's Panda such an unusual car.

By IronChicken on 15 December, 2011, 10:45am

Thanks for all your comments guys.

As our verdict shows, we're impressed with the new Panda - the rounder look, more interior space and more efficient engines, as well as the fact it's still as simple as it always was, makes it a refreshing choice. But based on our first drive, it's not the best in class and so isn't a five-star car.

We're driving it again today so we'll have another review on the site as soon as possible - we'll be testing other derivatives too, so we'll be able to review the range.

Thanks again for your comments,
Auto Express

By Rhian on 15 December, 2011, 10:56am

new panda

will this panda be going to edinburgh zoo for the real ones to drive about in...
we all have different tastes and i love Fiats been driving them for 15 years now without one single problem (bar electrical under warranty) so been cheap to run and service ..love the engines comfort ..but electrics are tempramental i agree..and bulid quality has improved substantialy over the years...this panda lokks much better than previous box looker and will sell well cos fiat make good small cars

By bluequake on 15 December, 2011, 11:13am

Not a bad car, and the interior, a real weakness on the old Panda, is now fine.
But - Fiat have hailed to recognise the the styling of the Panda is Iconic, and like Ford with the Ka, and Renault with the Twingo, have replaced a confident, bold & distinctive shape with a me-too blob.
This fundamental mistake sunk the Ka and Twingo, and might well sink the Panda too.

By smike on 15 December, 2011, 12:30pm

From personal experience....a good car.

I'll qualify that by saying, excellent car let down by the dealers. I'd gladly have replaced my Panda diesel with another but I just felt the dealership did nothing to keep my custom and unfortunately, in Scotland at least, one company seems to hold most of the dealerships. This new model does look good but, since I've just bought a new car, I'll have to wait for a while before I look at one.

By n50pap on 15 December, 2011, 4:14pm

A bit harsh

Blimey guys, all giving the grief to AE for a brief first drive report! Maybe it is a five star car, but four ain't bad, plus it was driven in Italy where it has been tailored to the countries needs.

I agree all VW group cars seem to be worshipped these days, sad fact being (and I won't buy a VAG product) is they are bloody good, if a bit generic.

As an owner of the last generation Panda I can say it was a wonderful car, a bit plasticky in parts, but was cheap, unpretentious and pretty good fun for a 1.2!

Badge snobs can buy the Up! The rest of us can be smug and get a new Panda

By JFalck on 15 December, 2011, 7:17pm

Calm down dear

Now I'm the first to admit that the British Motoring press is hopelessly and blatently biased but I do wonder what has been said in this review to prompt such a back lash? It seemed a rather balanced if bland review that was actually quite complimentary about the new Panda. There was only a fleeting mention of a VW product. Four stars is a fairly tsndard result for any half decent car these days with around 95% of cars tested getting this award. A car would have to be pretty damn brilliant to get 5 stars and good liitle car this undoubtedly is I cant see it warranting that.

By hampson10 on 15 December, 2011, 9:14pm

@hampson10

+1 on that
It is a total true review on a car yet to be released in the UK and the Italianophiles jump on the bandwagon, it won't be perfect, never ever had a chance of that, it's a FIAT and those of us in the know will love it all the same, faults and all, happy Christmas x

By JFalck on 15 December, 2011, 9:29pm

The REAL neutralist.

Most of you guys commenting above are idiots and are wrong for preaching the wrong doings of AE when you guys are biased to italian cars yourself, ironic? I'm not saying AE is right or wrong for this review but other Italian, Japanese and even Aussie cars good reviews. Besides this review is very positive. AND if you look back to a Passat review - 4 stars and negatives. Oh and Fiat have a less than brilliant reputation for reliability.

By AExposer on 15 December, 2011, 10:14pm

This is a 5 STAR car. Auto Express is BIASED yet again!

Let me start off by saying the New Panda is superb in every way. It's the perfect city car, built by an Italian company which knows best in this city car segment. The last Panda model was a 4 star effort and this all-new model is now 5 star, simply because its improved an already brilliant car! The economy, quality, space, technology, interior, safety etc. have all been significantly improved. It's a class leader in my opinion. And judging by other comments here, its most people's opinion!
The New Panda is far more practical than a dull VW UP, which has only 3 doors and a very nasty interior, with body metal exposed, cheap switchgear, less storage, etc. How can that awful washing machine be given full 5 stars considering its flaws?? C'mon people. It's INSANE. I do wish everyone would stop buying this rubbish magazine and supporting these biased motoring journalists.
Now if this Panda was a VW, or Ford, Auto Express would focus 100% on all the POSITIVE aspects, ignore the negative, and give the ultimate 5 star award. Just as they have done with the VW UP. I guess Fiat are not paying these guys enough advertisement, or the biased journalists are VW owners/fans. Whatever the reasons. It's pathetic and ridiculous.

By eleganza on 15 December, 2011, 10:17pm

HA HA

AE has shot itself in the foot with this review, even though its a short drive, it seems like they presume it will be typical fiat fare, wait for a uk spec first AE thats what your job should be!

Dont worry AE people still love ya we all make mistakes

By squarehead on 16 December, 2011, 7:03am

Stilish panda

Less legroom of an UP? don't think so, i was in Bologna at the Motor show and the legroom was the same.... the picanto is roomier, but why don't you tell it has a boot space smaller than a glove box? please be honest!

By michelearchi on 16 December, 2011, 10:44am

BYE BYE AE

If we stop buying they fold, and hence no more Muppets :)

By fastpep1 on 16 December, 2011, 2:34pm

Glitches and niggles come as standard

this little panda is a sweet little car the old 100hp car was a funky car,the panda has personality but it's no German basher in the build quality department.In less than 10years the Fiat will be all loose full of rattles and glitches the Dull VW will still being going strong.I like the look of the Fiats and Alfa's but i wouldn't buy one as i need reliability so i would only buy Japanese.You only buy Italian with your heart if i had a heart i would buy one but as i don't have one i wont buy one.

By nickbsmooth on 16 December, 2011, 8:57pm

Reliability seems to be as subjective as style...

I've had a few Fiats over the years, an original panda was my first car and it was brilliant, basic, but very tough and perfectly reliable in the more than 3 years I had it. My next Fiat was an 08 Punto, again, very well built, stylish, never failed, nothing dropped off. Then we had an 08 Panda too, same again, great car, very well built, no rattles, creaks or things falling off. Drove very well, very grown up ride quality, perfectly roomy and exceptionally cheap to buy, run and insure - We had a Hyundai i10 in the family at the same time, and whilst a very good car, it did not feel as substantial as the Panda. I cannot fathom where Fiat get their reliability reputation from, because from ownership experience it simply isn;t true. Sure, some people may have niggles fixed under warranty, but I've owned Fords, Skoda's, VW's etc and they have all to some extent had a minor niggle here and there. I have never had one with a Fiat. And as someone else said, the MK2 Panda was a 4 star car, surely this is an improvement on that. I haven't seen an Up! and I'm sure it'll be fine, but on practicality alone I cannot see how it betters the Panda. It'll certainly be more costly to buy too!

By JamesRiley on 19 December, 2011, 10:48am

@smike

I agree, I do think the design has been blurred a little and the current Panda has remained fresh (given how the city car market exploded after it's introduction) so the new model does look a little bland in comparison. In Picture number 4 I swear the car looks like a mini Nissan Note which cannot be a good thing!

By JamesRiley on 19 December, 2011, 10:52am

Red Alfa

OK AE, read all the above. Guess you touched on a nerve. Ooops. VW Group vehicles DO suffer from reliability problems, yes there are trillions of them about but they DO suffer the same glitches as many other Eurowagons. How about £1500 to replace an ABS Unit on a Seat Altea after only 55k miles? I've had everything Italian (127, Strada, 2 x Uno, Brava, 2 x Punto, Alfa 156, Alfa 156 Sportwagon, Alfa Brera 2.4JTDm, Alfa MiTo and I now own a 159 Sportwagon TI and an Alfa Spider 1.75TBI. The diesel Uno was a cracker (36k in 2.5 years traded up to a MiTo which I had for 2 years (50k miles) Ummm, I don't recall having problems such as the Vectra that I had: new steering rack at 3k miles and engine going clunk at 60k miles, Wifes A160d had a new steering rack in first 6 months. Find a good dealership for service like Monza Sport Tuning near Worthing and these Italian jobs are great. Ummm, one thing AE, please carry out subjecive tests on vehicles. I can't wait for the test of the New Panda which somehow you'll pitch against a BMW 1 Series. I too have stopped buying your mag for that reason.

By Redalfa on 19 December, 2011, 10:55am

Great little car!

My wife has a current Panda 1.2 and we both love it. It's just a tad underpowered for my taste but the new model with the 1.3 diesel looks a real winner. I feared they were going to ruin the car with the new version, but no. Well done Fiat!

By Roger1709 on 26 December, 2011, 12:17pm

Respect to the Panda !!

Superb job to the designers at Fiat, you really do appear to have kept the charm and unique styling of this great little car. We have had the 1.3 multijet for over 6 months now, my kids even DEMAND to travel in it over our Audi A4 !!!!
This car certainly has kept its individual looks over the rest of the Eurobox style market, it gave us great pleasure last year to fly into Pisa to see loads of Pandas scurrying around the airport.
They also have in built fun from new ! Upside down wiper stalk..... the reluctance to signal a right turn....somewhere cosy to rest your left leg......warning lights coming on and off for no apparent reason...............occasional clutch slip...... But above all a very endearing and willing driving partner, long into the future may this continue ! Ciao !

By jonesy on 2 January, 2012, 11:23pm

5 stars to the UP ??

It's the old story... and is becoming boring as the look of the VW in general..
Panda is a great city car, and i'm sure the UP! it is too as the Picanto. But I am always left to wonder how objective this ratings are really, as i do read french motor magazines and italians. when it comes to uk magazine and fiat..... mmmmm not sure what to think.

By Andrea on 4 February, 2012, 5:59pm

Like it so far...

Having had 7 years of very happy and enjoyable motoring from the previous model - a Panda 1.2 Dynamic - I hope that the new one can follow in its footsteps. Will certainly have to go and drive one myself. And as for all of you complaining about the AE review - get out there and drive the 3 cars in question - the Up! the Piccanto and the new Panda and make up your own mind. In my experience car appreciation is a very individual quality.

By JonathanJerome16 on 26 February, 2012, 6:53pm

HE WE GO AGAIN

Well where do we start. First off well done Fiat. What an amazing car clearly AE forgot the fifth star, but hey no surprise there this is a FIAT were talking about not a VW.... AE when are you going to start getting real and doing reviews on cars not badges.

Having driven the new Fiat Panda and the UP the Panda by a long way is far better. Please AE start giving credit where credit is due and start giving you readers true honest reviews on cars NOT badges.

By JasonJ on 16 March, 2012, 9:58pm