Hi,

We're thinking about getting another Panda, but had concerns over crash safety in its new role as a family car.

I know it's a 3 star for the standard car, but does the Cross or 100HP come with side airbags as standard, and if so, does that help the NCAP score?

Thanks!

Dont know about the cross, but twin airbags are standard on HP. Side & curtain airbags were an option, although I never saw them on any HP I was looking to buy.

It would have got 4 stars if it was the 100HP being tested (it was the 1.1 bottom of the range which was tested). That said, no, side airbags were only ever an option, and a rarely spec'd one at that, even in the 100HP. If you want a car box full of the latest safety tech then the 100HP isn't the car for you, frankly. However, it's not an absolute deathtrap like some older hatchbacks.

Unless someone crashes into you, you'd have to be driving a 100HP like an absolute tool to upset it enough for it to throw you off the road. Lift off oversteer isn't really an issue and hates snow so much that you'll never be going fast enough to have a crash haha.

Thanks, both. I'm slightly surprised about how rarely the option looks to have been taken up, as I'm pretty sure it wasn't expensive, and side airbags are really useful in cities (most common type of accident).

Why would the 100HP have got 4 stars over the standard 1.1, if it's not extra airbags? Would the same apply to the Cross or 4x4?

Not looking for anything 'box full' of safety tech - just trying to get a good balance.

Thanks!

The 100HP was really cheap when it was new (sub-£10k) so people bought many of them with no optional extras at all. They were already stupidly well equipped for a 2006 sub 10 grand city car. I mean, how many of the 100HP's rivals have standard digital climate control and Bluetooth phone connectivity?

It's got ABS and EBD along with a passenger airbag. Some early 1.1 Pandas didn't have a passenger airbag. I'm not sure if they were sold in the UK or whether the NCAP test vehicles had them.

Another safety option on the 100HP was ESP (the blank switch near the sport button), which was also rarely spec'd. I looked at several 100HPs and know lots of people with them on here, obviously, and I don't know of any with ESP.

A 100HP would be destroyed by a modern VW Up! or something similar in a crash, but it's not a total deathtrap like the Peugeot 106 etc.

Wow - didn't notice the NCAP Panda wasn't even tested with a passenger bag.

That'll definitely be fine then. Off to trawl ebay.

Thanks!

I've never bought a car based on how safe it might be in a smash....must just be me i suppose...

Gavv8 said:

I've never bought a car based on how safe it might be in a smash....must just be me i suppose...

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It's not just you.


I think if you want a small car filled with airbags, choose a 500. But you'd live with regret at the large barn doors. The Mk4 2012+ Panda has more airbags on offer if bought new I suppose, but it'd cost a lot more. And is ugly.


As for accidents, most cars you see damaged appear to be front/rear shunts rather than T-bones.

I work in road safety. The most common crashes are rear end, followed by the side at junctions. In the city the side one is the most common (the rear end is made higher by motorways).

It's totally your prerogative to ignore the safety of the car you buy, but I don't really understand why you're so confused by my wanting to spend a little bit of time to choose a safer car. I can't see what's wrong with me reducing a genuine risk without really having to make any compromises.

om456 said:

I work in road safety. The most common crashes are rear end, followed by the side at junctions. In the city the side one is the most common (the rear end is made higher by motorways).

It's totally your prerogative to ignore the safety of the car you buy, but I don't really understand why you're so confused by my wanting to spend a little bit of time to choose a safer car. I can't see what's wrong with me reducing a genuine risk without really having to make any compromises.

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Well that's probably cos I survived both a front-end collision in a Cinquecento (not nice) and a double side-somersault in a Mk1 Panda (not a scratch in that one).


I don't disagree with your preference to choose safety first - it's your choice and you have to do what suits you, but if your prime concern is NCAP/side-airbags, there are staggeringly few who chose them as options on the Mk3 Panda. The 500 and Mk4 Panda might be a better bet. Or a Skoda/VW/Seat etc.


Most of those like me who bought the 100hp had other reasons to choose it.

AB100 said:

Most of those like me who bought the 100hp had other reasons to choose it.

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Agreed, I don't think I even looked at the NCAP rating before paying my deposit

If I remember correctly, extra airbags were around £150 as an option. I'd say given the younger age-group attracted to the 100HP few would have gone for the extra expense.

I thought safety when buying my Multijet and bought them, but I don't remember seeing them on any of the Pandas in any of the showrooms I visited before buying mine. I wanted to see a Skydome, a sliding rear seat and a height adjustable drivers seat before ordering and I phoned around and visited the dealership which had the individual features I wanted to see before I ordered mine. I had plenty of time as I was waiting on the Multijet engine coming available at the time. Mind you I never got to see a sliding rear seat at all either.

Thanks all.

I'm not sure where the 'safety first' idea came from, though.

All this is is a tiny bit of research, that costs nothing, and could mean having a safer version of the car we wanted anyway at no real extra cost. Why would you *not* do it?

Anyway, it seems the Panda scored badly due to no passenger airbag, which all the ones I've looked at obviously have.

Still not sure exactly what model to go for, as we have quite mixed uses for it. We'll see....

om456 said:

I work in road safety. The most common crashes are rear end, followed by the side at junctions. In the city the side one is the most common (the rear end is made higher by motorways).

It's totally your prerogative to ignore the safety of the car you buy, but I don't really understand why you're so confused by my wanting to spend a little bit of time to choose a safer car. I can't see what's wrong with me reducing a genuine risk without really having to make any compromises.

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I didn't ignore it and i'm not confused... unless its made in China or been in a hard smash and badly repaired, most modern cars will keep you alive unless your really unlucky.

Side airbags in the 100HP would be my preference also. It would help the risk of someone else's incompetence causing you a serious injury. My biggest fear. But even though it was a small cost option, I have never seen a Panda with them fitted.

My 100HP has ESP, but as long as you turn off the traction control it really isn't intrusive. The only place where it's seriously kicked in is St Mary's corner at Goodwood... obviously confused by change of direction and elevation!

om456 said:

Thanks all.

Still not sure exactly what model to go for, as we have quite mixed uses for it. We'll see....

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You may well luck-out and find one with side airbags. Though be wary of those advertised as having them - many dealers put this in their advert but have no clue.As for which model? Depends on budget and preferences.Later model 1.2 petrols enjoy the £30 a year tax, where the 100hp is £180 (I think - way dearer anyway). The 4x4 is a legend, but expensive used and lacks the economy of the 2wd.The Active 1.1 is fun but more basic.Pre-2007 cars tend to have the lighter coloured interior plastics, which is not to everyone's taste.The Eleganza like the 100hp comes with climate control, which is a nice feature.Plenty out there for sale though.

Hello everybody I'm still about. I bought My 100hp new and opted for side airbags. It was bought as a school run car, and only £150 if I remember correctly. I think I couldn't have head bags as I opted for the skydome. Correct me if I'm wrong on that one.

I should go an buy a nice big safe people carrier if i was you...with lots of exciting safety features, cubby holes to hold your daily mail ' interesting things to do when its raining ' supplement and spare selection of funky coloured crocs....... i'll carry on going round corners very quickly without ever giving a second thought as to whether i have a hoover bag full of sodium azide in my door pocket....

Gavv8 said:

I've never bought a car based on how safe it might be in a smash....must just be me i suppose...

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Having a classic Panda, I knew buying it that if I crashed it i'd die.
You can be boring... or you can own a Panda.