Small cars are what Fiat has always done best, and the Panda certainly proves it. Over the last 31 years, the firm has sold more than 6.4 million of them, so the latest model has a lot to live up to. Believe it or not, this all-new Panda is only the third incarnation of the popular city car – And thankfully Fiat has decided not to stray too far from the existing template. While the new Panda has had a complete overhaul, it retains its cheeky looks. It’s longer, wider and taller that the old model, and Fiat has replaced the boxy lines with a softer look, which it has called \'Squircle\'. Daytime running lights and body-coloured bumpers are standard, and coupled with the large expanse of glass, Fiat has given the Panda a modern, stylish makeover. The ‘Squircle’ theme continues inside. The button surrounds, instruments, gearlever and even the handbrake all have the rounded treatment, and the dashboard looks smart and practical. Plastics have been upgraded, too, and now give the cabin a more sophisticated feel. The newcomer has kept some of its origins - the roomy storage pocket on the dash harks back to the first Panda, and it also boasts another 13 on-board stowage bins, including a lockable glovebox. Even with the extra length, rear passengers will be disappointed with the legroom on offer, as their knees brush the back of the front seats. However, the boot has been increased to 225-litres, which matches the Hyundai i10 for space. The Panda\'s versatility will be boosted by an optional sliding back seat, which will be offered from September. And while the Panda only gets two rear seats as standard - a middle seat, third headrest, seatbelt and a 40/60 split-fold can all be specified at a cost. On the road, Fiat\'s second-generation 1.3 16v Multijet diesel suits the Panda perfectly. With increased torque – 190Nm at 1,500rpm – it offers greater flexibility at low speeds and an effortless cruise on the motorway. The Panda is equally at home in town as it is on the open road, thanks to the reworked suspension and tweaks to the rear axle. Light steering and a precise turn-in make the Panda a breeze to drive, and if you push the ‘City’ button the wheel becomes even easier to turn. Stability at speed is excellent, and the lack of body roll allows the drive to push on with confidence. The diesel Panda gets stop/start as standard, which helps it to produce a CO2 figure of 104g/km and return combined fuel consumption of 72.4mpg. Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey. From: expert reviews
GMT 21:01 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
End of the internal combustion engine, part 3: the age of the electric vehicle beginsGMT 06:10 2018 Saturday ,06 January
Business Extra podcast: Supercars in the UAE - what's driving the trend?GMT 16:48 2017 Friday ,24 November
Tesla unveils new semi-truck, new Roadster sports carGMT 18:28 2017 Friday ,22 September
Review: BMW 540iGMT 07:59 2017 Tuesday ,01 August
Tesla delivers first Model 3 carsGMT 05:13 2017 Wednesday ,05 July
Tesla's budget car is finally on the wayGMT 02:37 2017 Wednesday ,28 June
718 Cayman S: Superstar SportscarGMT 21:42 2017 Saturday ,03 June
Car manufacturer Toyota is working on a 'flying car'Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor