Fiat Panda - Practicality, comfort and boot space

​With its upright stance and boxy dimensions, the Fiat Panda feels bigger than it actually is. It’s certainly a world away from the tight packaging of its predecessor.

The high roofline means this little Fiat feels airy from the driving seat, and visibility is excellent all-round. While there’s a decent amount of space up front, the steering wheel adjusts for height only – there’s no reach movement.

On the plus side, the interior is packed with handy storage, including a large tray ahead of the front seat passenger and several cup-holders.

Size

Being 3,653mm long and 1,882mm wide, the Panda is similar in size to the Hyundai i10, which measures 3,670mm long and 1,680mm wide. The Fiat is also slightly bigger than the Kia Picanto, which is 3,595mm long and 1,595mm wide.

The Panda Cross is slightly longer than the standard car, at 3,705mm.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

The boxy shape of the Fiat Panda also means there’s plenty of headroom for passengers, although you do sit quite upright in the rear. Four adults can squeeze into the car in reasonable comfort, but three on the back row will be an uncomfortable squash – as in any small city car. Rear legroom will also be an issue for taller adults.

Boot

While the Panda’s cabin feels airy, the boot will only take 225 litres of luggage. However, it is usefully square in shape to help when loading, plus it has a wide-opening tailgate, and only a small lip to hump luggage over.