Fiat Panda

Styling/Image

A boxy, upright design might not sound like a recipe for success against cheeky and cute city car rivals, but the Panda manages to pull it off. It’s not as fashionable as the smaller 500, but it offers more practicality. Keen drivers can choose the mean-looking100HP, which gets wider wheel arches, side skirts and wheels. There’s even a chunky 4x4 version, complete with raised ride height and tough body cladding.

Interior/Practicality

With five doors and a high roofline, the Panda easily seats four adults comfortably. Once inside, occupants will find that the small Fiat is lacking in standard kit. Even the mid-range Dynamic goes without alloy wheels, air-con and, more importantly, a split-folding rear bench. The 100HP is the exception. With heavily bolstered sports seats, extra instrumentation, a leather steering wheel and climate control, it rivals larger cars for equipment.

Engine/Performance

Once again it’s the diesel-engined version that proves to be the pick of the bunch. The 1.3-litre Multijet has enough urge to raise a smile, while we recorded an excellent 52.2mpg at the pumps. The 1.1-litre petrol struggles to keep up with traffic, but is at least economical. The 1.2-litre unit offers more pace if you’re prepared to pay a little more. The 1.4-litre 100HP is quickest of the lot, sprinting from standstill to 60mph in 9.5 seconds

Driving Experience

Put simply, the Panda is brilliant fun to drive. Apart from slightly artificial steering feel, the little Italian has an accomplished chassis, striking the perfect balance between a supple ride and cornering flair. The 100HP serves up even more grip and is a genuine junior hot hatch. Adding to the fun are a perfectly placed high-mounted gearlever and excellent visibility. Only the 4x4 suffers on the road, it’s raised suspension resulting in lots of body roll.

Costs

The Panda no longer represents the great value for money it once did. Rivals such as the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10 offer more kit as standard, including air-conditioning. Servicing costs are expensive too, and Auto Express readers have told us that Fiat’s customer service standards aren’t always up to scratch. However, all models deliver excellent fuel economy, while road tax costs are reasonable.

Safety/Environment

Driver and passenger airbags are fitted as standard on all models, but you’ll pay extra for side bags. The Panda netted three EuroNCAP stars for occupant protection and one for pedestrian safety, which is disappointing when compared to the maximum score of the smaller 500. On the plus side, the Panda comes with ABS and EBD as standard and ESP is an option.

Our Choice: Panda 1.3 Multijet Dynamic