Fiat Panda review
The Fiat Panda, after nearly a decade in hibernation, returned in 2004 as a whole different beast. These days, it’s a five-door city car that’s bursting with character. Its hatchback body style and large windows give it a bright, airy interior with a good dose of practicality, and there’s a choice of economical petrol, diesel and hybrid petrol engines. Read our full Fiat Panda review below.
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Pros
- Genuine off-road ability (4x4 models)
- Light and economical
- Compact exterior
Cons
- Rivals offer more kit
- Poor rear legroom despite good headroom
Interior
Our rating: 6/10
The Fiat Panda’s fun interior has brightly coloured seats and a swoopy dashboard.
You won’t find any soft-touch plastics here, reinforcing the Panda’s easy-going and practical feeling – although everything feels solid.
You’ll notice a square theme in the dash. The audio and ventilation controls, plus analogue instruments, sit in square housings with rounded corners.
It’s all very charming. The dash also incorporates the high-set gearstick.
Tech and features
Most versions come in Pop, Easy, or Lounge trim, and all get a four-speaker CD and MP3 player, plus electric front windows. Fun is big on the Panda’s agenda.
Easy spec adds air-con and remote locking, and Lounge brings six speakers, the Uconnect entertainment system, Bluetooth, and a USB port.
City and Sport trims were added in 2020.
Driving position
The seats themselves are soft and comfortable, and the view out of the side windows is excellent. The windscreen pillars are thick, and some models get rear parking sensors.
Performance
Our rating: 6/10
Handling and ride comfort
The Fiat Panda’s cheeky looks are matched by its fun driving style. Its suspension might not be quite as adept as the Volkswagen Up, though most bumps are absorbed and the body is controlled when turning into side streets.
You can press a ‘City’ button on the dashboard to make it even lighter for tight parking spots – a feature we really like.
Engines and power
Most Panda buyers tend to opt for the turbocharged 0.9-litre TwinAir or 1.2-litre petrol engines.
The 1.2 is ideal for town driving, and we’d opt for the smaller TwinAir if you make occasional motorway journeys.
A mild hybrid with a 1.0-litre petrol engine was introduced in 2020 and is best suited for city driving.
Practicality
Our rating: 6/10
Boot space
With the rear seats in use, the boot’s capacity matches that of the Hyundai i10, so it has plenty of room for a few holdalls.
The seat back isn’t split on cars without the Flex Pack, so folds as one piece – with it down, you’ll be able to get a couple of suitcases in for that run to the airport.
There’ll be a step in the boot floor, which makes sliding objects in a bit tricky, but the large boot lid gives you a nice square opening to fit bulky items through.
As a bonus, the front passenger seat back can be folded down if you want to fit long loads in.
Storage solutions
Storage space for those up front is surprisingly good, with a glovebox and a separate cubby in front of the passenger, plus door bins and a tray between the front seats.
You’ll also find cup holders. All these features make the Panda very practical for simple commutes and days out.
Rear seats
This is a city car, so you can’t expect miracles when it comes to interior space. Having said that, headroom is excellent for everyone.
Legroom isn’t so good for taller adults in the rear seats, though the bench slides to favour knee room or boot space, so you can handle trips to the cinema with several friends and then flip to a setup that locks your luggage away securely for a solo getaway.
Running costs
Our rating: 6/10
Fuel economy
All of the Fiat Panda’s engines are economical, with the TwinAir averaging around 45mpg and the 1.2 getting close to 50mpg in the real world.
The 1.3 Multijet diesel is capable of returning economy in the 60s, but bear in mind that these figures will drop considerably if you head for the motorway.
The newer Panda Cross with the mild hybrid engine has been examined under the latest, more accurate WLTP regime, and has an official average figure of 49.6mpg.
The verdict
Interior
6/10
Performance
6/10
Practicality
6/10
Running costs
6/10
We love the Fiat Panda’s styling, both inside and out – it’s nimble, and you’ll find it hard not to smile when one passes you on the road.
Its economical engines are perfect for life in and around the town, and despite its city car dimensions, the Panda’s interior is surprisingly practical, which makes it ideal for young drivers who need to carry friends and their baggage from time to time.
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