Reviews - Fiat

Overall Rating

This modern Panda is the best new Fiat for years, and whilst it shares much of its earlier namesake's no-nonsense budget practicality, it's much more refined and pleasant to drive.

• Stylish city car with good space inside
• Lively engines and nimble handling
• Refined, practical and comfortable

• 1.1 needs to be worked hard at higher speeds
• Driving position could offer more adjustment
• Base models have limited load flexibility

The Panda can be bought for well under £6000 new if you shop around. For that, you get a competent, well-engineered, safely-built and versatile runabout that seats four in comfort and five at a push. Equipment levels are good on all but the cheapest models, refinement isn't at all bad, and although the 1.1 petrol engine struggles a bit on the motorway, all Pandas are willingly nippy and ideally suited to the cut and thrust of urban driving. It's easy to drive; the high driving position gives a great view of the road, and the cabin is well laid out. First imports are conventional three- and five-door hatchback, but higher-riding four-wheel versions will follow, along with a sporty Abarth model. Panda is fun, well-priced, easy to own and a decent alternative to the increasingly popular Korean and Far Eastern city cars it's just a shame that it lacks visual flair.

Best Models: Lively 1.2 8-valve

Worst Models: 1.1

• Citroen C2
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