Fiat’s improved Panda will get gentle hybrid tech and stays cute and wise. Jonathan Crouch reviews.
Ten Second Overview
Fiat’s Panda goals at being all of the automotive some patrons will ever want. It is giant the place it issues, but nonetheless sufficiently small for its city function. It is extra environment friendly – particularly in its newest 1.0-litre gentle hybrid kind – but can supply stunning reserves of efficiency. And you may make it high-tech – or specify one which’s super-affordable. The Italians have all the time achieved this sort of factor very properly. They nonetheless do.
Background
Virtually each automotive you’ll be able to consider in the marketplace might be pigeonholed into a selected market section. And even when it may’t be, it is more likely to attraction to a really particular group of consumers. The Fiat Panda’s completely different. Although sized and priced as a little bit citycar, it is so versatile and class-less that it may actually operate as…. properly, virtually something you need. Relying on the flavour you select, it is a design as suited to metropolis dwelling as it’s to the wants of a mountaintop farmer. It may be a sizzling hatch – or eco-conscious transport for Mates of the Earth. It may be a second automobile for older empty-nesters. Or the only automotive for a rural household. Much less a citycar. Extra an ‘important’ automotive, it’s, within the phrases of 1 prime Fiat government ‘the official automotive for doing regardless of the hell you want’.
That is the Italian model at its best. A contemporary-era MK2 Panda design was launched again in 2003 to exchange a primary era mannequin that bought for over twenty years from 1980. The MK3 design we have got right here was initially launched again in 2011, however in early 2020 was considerably up to date with the choice of 1.0-litre gentle hybrid energy; it is this improved Panda that we’re going to try right here. Practical, strong, clever and free spirited, it is nonetheless, we’re instructed, a automotive that thinks exterior the field. Let’s attempt it.
Driving Expertise
The amount Panda vary is now based mostly round Fiat’s newer three cylinder 70hp 1.0-litre gentle hybrid powerplant, which improves gasoline effectivity with out impeding efficiency. It additionally ensures a really excessive normal of driving consolation because of a 12-volt ‘BSG’ ‘Belt-integrated Starter Generator’, permitting for a quiet, vibration-free restart of the inner combustion engine in Cease&Begin mode. The engine places out 92Nm of pulling energy and works by way of a 6-speed handbook gearbox built-in with that ‘BSG’ set-up we simply talked about. The brand new system additionally includes decreasing all the energy unit 45mm so the automotive behaves higher on the street because of the decrease centre of gravity.
Keep in mind that when you go for both the usual form (‘Wild’) or ‘Cross’ variations of the highest 4×4 by-product, the engine used continues to be the model’s two cylinder 85hp TwinAir petrol unit. The ‘Cross’ model provides an All terrain selector driving mode system and rear differential gear locking that may take you additional off the overwhelmed monitor.
Design and Construct
Fiat has given this up to date MK3 mannequin Panda a barely smarter look, courtesy of revised bumpers, smarter wheels and contemporary color choices. It stays a tall automotive, with a vertical tail, a five-door-only form and a big glass space, plus there’s the same old tiny roadway footprint. And the acquainted pleasant look stays, based mostly upon what Fiat’s designers name ‘a squarical’ theme, rounded rectangles in vogue in all places from the headlamps to the entrance air consumption, from the wheelarches to that trademark additional third rearward facet window.
The squarical touches proceed on inside, now up to date with seats and dashboard created from recycled supplies. As for these squarical touches, you will discover them within the instrument binnacle, on the steering wheel boss, the air flow controls on the centre console – even on the seats the place embossed rounded squares are there to higher assist air flow into between your physique and the backrest. The dashboard itself is enveloped in a vibrant body of your selecting with a roomy storage pocket in entrance of the entrance passenger imagined to evoke a nod in the direction of unique Eighties Panda motoring. Storage for greater gadgets is taken care of by a 225-litre boot that is sq. and usefully formed.
Market and Mannequin
Panda pricing now begins at round £12,000, which will get you the bottom ‘Panda’ mannequin with its 1.0-litre gentle hybrid engine. However you will most likely need to embellish this Fiat a bit, both with ‘Metropolis Life’-spec, which provides entrance fog lights, smarter entrance bumpers, an insert within the facet skirts and 15-inch darkish metallic alloy wheels. Or you may go for ‘Sport’ trim, which provides 16-inch alloy wheels, purple brake callipers, darkened rear home windows, and body-coloured door handles and door mirrors. For those who just like the look of the highest 4×4 variants however do not want a 4×4, you will just like the ‘Metropolis Cross’ variant, which prices round £14,000.
All of those quantity variants use the 1.0-litre gentle hybrid engine. If solely a 4×4 Panda will do, you will want to modify to Fiat’s older however barely extra highly effective 0.9-litre TwinAir 85hp petrol turbo unit. There are two 4×4 choices, a ‘Wild’ mannequin at round £16,000 or the full-fat ‘Cross 4×4’, costing round £18,000. With the highest Panda Cross 4×4, you get an All terrain selector driving mode system and rear differential gear locking that may take you additional off the overwhelmed monitor.
Value of Possession
You’d definitely anticipate this Panda to be at or close to the highest of its class on the subject of the difficulty of WLTP-rated working prices. For the 1.0-litre gentle hybrid mannequin, the official mixed cycle gasoline determine is 52.3mpg and there is an CO2 emissions determine of 123g/km. For the 1.0-litre gentle hybrid Metropolis Cross mannequin, the CO2 studying can rise as much as 127g/km. For the TwinAir 4×4 variant, you are taking a look at 37.7mpg and 166g/km.
The guarantee is a typical three 12 months affair however with a 100,000 mile restrict that is considerably greater than another manufacturers provides you with. The automotive is roofed by a three-year, limitless mileage guarantee and there is 36 months of breakdown cowl included as properly. The model additionally provides mounted worth service plans from one to 5 years, with corresponding mileage from 9,000 to 45,000 miles.
Abstract
Liked by small automotive folks the world over for greater than thirty years, the Panda continues to outline all the things {that a} very compact multi-purpose mannequin needs to be. It is needed to evolve after all, with extra environment friendly engines and intelligent expertise. However its coronary heart stays easy, practical and modern. Which is why, whereas different citycars will please solely citycar folks, you may think about this one being purchased by…. properly, nearly anybody.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Fiat Panda
PRICES: from £18,985
INSURANCE GROUPS: 3-10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 107-129g/km
PERFORMANCE: [TwinAir] 0-60mph 11.5s Prime Pace: 110mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [TwinAir] (mixed) 68.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Digital stability management, anti-lock brakes with brake help, twin entrance and facet airbags
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Size/Width/Peak 3653/1643/1551mm
