First Drive: Fiat Panda 4×4
Is the regular Panda 4×4 not rugged enough for you? If so, Fiat has developed a tough-looking mini go-anywhere SUV
WHAT’S NEW?: Taking a leaf out of the books used by the big boys in developing beefy 4x4s, Fiat has produced a rough, tough version of its supermini-sized Panda. And while all-wheel drive is already an option, chunky bodystyling and an obvious focus on the great outdoors marks the Panda Cross out as a niche vehicle in an already small market.
That said, there’s no denying that Fiat’s baby 4×4 doesn’t look the part. The micro SUV boasts all the right kit – bash plates, rugged plastic trim, a lofty stance, Tonka toy styling – but is also capable of talking the talk thanks to an intelligent, switchable 4×4 drive system.
LOOKS AND IMAGE: Try to resist jokes comparing Fiat’s Panda Cross to something that’s fallen out of a cereal box; the diminutive 4×4 has been styled to appeal to the new generation of urban warriors keen to mix the rigours of city life with aspirations of rural walking holidays and countryside getaways.
And in this context, the Panda’s beefy steroid-enhanced appearance makes sense. Ground clearance isn’t a whole lot more than the regular Panda 4×4 variant, but thanks to the inclusion of those chunky tyres, shiny bash plates, plastic rubbing strips and exposed towing eyes, the Cross looks like it could tackle almost anything. And it’s a far cry from the famous angular first generation Panda 4×4 you can still find parked halfway up a Swiss mountain ski resort.
SPACE AND PRACTICALITY: What’s not to like about being able to scramble up hills, splash through streams and plug mud all day long? In the Panda Cross you can do all of this and more, thanks to the generous inclusion of all-season tyres and the ability to switch the transmission from city friendly two-wheel drive to a locked up mode for slow speed manoeuvres. And when you’re not boldly going where no Panda has gone before, the car’s cabin offers enough room for a small family, while everything inside is familiar Panda territory – the controls, audio unit, decent levels of oddment storage.
BEHIND THE WHEEL: Popularity-wise it’s likely to be the petrol option that secures the most buyers. This means a 0.9-litre TwinAir motor producing 90 horsepower. And while the diesel, a 1.3-litre 80 horsepower unit, produces more torque, the TwinAir gains a tweaked six-speed manual gearbox complete with a low ‘crawler’ first gear. The result is brisk performance on the flat, with the gutsy TwinAir motor proving willing and flexible when pushed hard. The extra ground clearance and body protection do a good job of keeping you moving when on the rough stuff.
Unless the terrain is seriously tough, leaving the transmission in ‘auto’ works surprisingly well for most slippery conditions, although ‘Off Road’ mode adds considerable peace of mind as it forces the system to stay in all-wheel drive mode so long as you stay below 30mph. And while this might sound like overkill for city motoring, the Panda’s lofty driving position, slick controls, light steering and small size all help make light work of the battling through the urban jungle.
VALUE FOR MONEY: If you just want a competent city car then the Panda Cross is going to be a little OTT, but if you want to make a statement and drive a car that’s capable of squeezing into city centre parking spaces during the week and hitting the trail at the weekend, the Cross is hard to beat. It’s not alone in this market, but it comes well equipped, its maker boasts a solid reputation for delivering such cars and it looks like a Tonka toy. That last attribute alone has got to be worth the asking price, surely?
WHO WOULD BUY ONE?: If you fancy something a little different from the usual gaggle of compact runabouts, there’s nothing wrong in choosing the rugged Panda Cross. The city is a harsh environment and the bash-proof Panda will easily shrug off the trip to Tesco in stye. And if you’re one of those adventure types that likes to live life to the max, the Panda Cross not only copes with the mundane nine to five but also your epic weekend adventures.
THIS CAR SUMMED UP IN A SINGLE WORD: Rugged
IF THIS CAR WAS A..: Puppy, it would be a playful terrier eager to explore once its off its lead
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Fiat Panda Cross 0.9 TwinAir 90hp, £15,945
Engine: 0.9-litre petrol unit producing 90bhp and 107lb/ft of torque
Transmission: Six-speed manual driving all four wheels
Performance: Top speed 104mph, 0-62mph in 12.0 seconds
Economy: 57.6mpg combined
Emissions: 114g/km of CO2
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