Fiat Panda review

• For: Styling, good to drive, cheap to buy
• Against: Awful safety rating, limited choice of engines, dated design
• Verdict: There are plenty of better superminis

In automotive terms, the Fiat Panda is approaching retirement.

Way back in 2012, it impressed with boxy styling, a charming interior, keen pricing and fun-to-drive dynamics.

Nearly a decade later, those hallmarks remain, but the Panda is now off the pace – not least because it failed to score a single star in the Euro NCAP crash test.

There are three tiers to the Panda range: basic City Life, racy looking Sport and rugged Cross. The latter is available with four-wheel drive.

You can also choose from three engines, depending on the model chosen. The entry-level 1.2-litre petrol needs to be worked hard and is noisy at speed.The newer 1.0 hybrid is more efficient, while the two-cylinder Twinair is raucous but characterful.

If you live at the end of a rutted farm truck, the four-wheel-drive Panda is rivalled only by the Dacia Duster 4×4 and Suzuki Ignis AllGrip as a budget off-road toy.

For everywhere else, however, the dated Fiat now feels seriously outclassed.

KEY INFO

• Launched: 2012
• Facelifted: N/A
• Due for replacement: 2021