Evening folks,

Not long ago joined and what a great helpful site this is .
Currently own a 1.3 MJet Dynamic on a 57 plate and just bought a Cross 1.3 MJet 4x4 on a 58.

Question is why is one £30 a year road tax and the other £130 when they are exactly the same engine including HP and emissions figures?, just don't understand it and was wondering if anyone out there knew why?

Many thanks.

They are not the same official emissions 4x4 is worse

You're quite right, I've just checked the V5's and the 4x4 for some reason has higher emissions even though the engines are in fact the same.

It's because the 4x4 transmission is heavier and has higher losses than the FWD. Turning an extra differential, drive shafts and joints takes energy.

Robert G8RPI.

As Robert - which also explains why, in real world driving, the 4x4 uses more fuel.
Great little machines, but if you want economy along with good traction, the two wheel drive Panda is hard to beat.

scotsstag said:

Question is why is one £30 a year road tax and the other £130 when they are exactly the same engine including HP and emissions figures?, .

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ROI Panda Owner here( 1.1 Active 54BHP )

How come you guys only pay that small monies for road tax ?! I am at €330 p.a.

Should I consider moving across the border?

Thanks for the explanations chaps .

Knochenkotzer said:

ROI Panda Owner here( 1.1 Active 54BHP )

How come you guys only pay that small monies for road tax ?! I am at €330 p.a.

Should I consider moving across the border?

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Up here in NI they'll only rob you back with the ridiculous tax on fuel itself! That's why we hop down to Donegal for our petrol ;-) haha

scotsstag said:

Question is why is one £30 a year road tax and the other £130 when they are exactly the same engine including HP and emissions figures?, just don't understand it and was wondering if anyone out there knew why?

Click to expand...

As others have said, it's just a consequence of the vagaries of the emissions-based fiscal system.

I remember that specifying a model with alloy wheels put the previous model Ford Ka into the next RFL band, for the same reason - the emissions were only slightly higher, but it was just enough.

It's why Fiat never offered alloy wheels as standard on the Euro4 1.2 Panda Dynamic Eco - it put the emissions just over the magic £30RFL band. The last of the Eleganza's had the same engine and alloy wheels, and pay much more road tax in consequence (in the UK, anyhow).

The introduction of the Euro5 engine in late 2010 enabled Fiat to offer alloy wheels on the 1.2 Eco and still make the £30 cut. The 1.1 never made it into Euro5 form and was quietly dropped, so the last of the 169 Actives use the 1.2 engine.

If my 2001 Euro 3 Brava 1.2 16V was REGISTERED a couple of months earlier (before the CO2 scales came in) I would be paying around £40 a year less, the same as my dirtier, thirstier '95 Tipo 1.4. Also if I replace the Cat I must buy a later, dearer "type approved" one instead of a comparable one that would suit a slightly earlier identical car.

I'd love to pay £130 a year for a 1.2 FIRE Fiat, never mind £30 ....