http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review...ves/first-drive-review-fiat-panda-4x4-twinair

"New four-wheel drive Panda is unique in many ways, and brilliant in even more"

"The ride quality is a real stand-out feature."

"you feel how nicely weighted the steering is, how slick the six-speed manual gearbox is, how willing the 84bhp 0.9-litre TwinAir engine is to be revved, but how quiet it can also be when at motorway speeds"

"it has an off-road pedigree that makes it more SUV than city car."

"it handled ascents and descents, low-grip surfaces and obstacles that looked impassable for a car the size of the Panda 4x4"

"there are cars in classes two higher that the Panda 4x4 could make a case against."

"it's the most unique city car out there and arguably now the best and most capable of them all"

So I think they quite liked it.

They also said the TwinAir is the one to go for, thanks to the 6 speed box (compared to the 5 speed in the diesel). I wonder what real world mpg is at 70mph - the TwinAir in 6th vs diesel in 5th.

Since the Sandero seems not to be coming here in the jacked-up Stepway version it looks like the Panda (Trekking) might well be the way for me to go.

Well done Fiat: now, build them, and at a sensible price!

Fianally a car to begin to get serious about. The Dacia cars seem excellent, but without the Stepway, and without being able to drive one, I am not jumping!

I like the looks and features of the Panda 4x4... I want one ! also bodes well for the Fiat 500 X thats coming along to replace the seidici ...

Well done FIAT

gosh, that is a good review - i thought i had to wait till this coming weeks magazine to be able to read about their first drive.

If it really does start at £14k, then that seems reasonable. But please FIAT can we have access to the Car Configurator in English, as I can't make head nor tail of the Italian site and I am eager to see what the options list looks like and also if i can have one in a really natty orange

And can we have the old Configurator back please Fiat. I totally gave up on the new one, it is impossible to navigate.

Ulpian said:

And can we have the old Configurator back please Fiat. I totally gave up on the new one, it is impossible to navigate.

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Yeah! It really makes sense to have the Dualogic gearbox as an "interior option", doesn't it...?!

...Perhaps they make it so to force people into dealerships, where you can just say what you want??

...oh, and does anyone know which is the first English speaking market to get the 4x4? Then at least I can have a play at 'optioning one up' before the UK launch. It'll be amusing to see what the price would be if you ticked every possible option - and I'm sure i'm not the only person who does this

4x4Panda said:

...oh, and does anyone know which is the first English speaking market to get the 4x4? Then at least I can have a play at 'optioning one up' before the UK launch. It'll be amusing to see what the price would be if you ticked every possible option - and I'm sure i'm not the only person who does this

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If you use Google chrome as your browser it will auto translate the Italian site almost flawlessly. I configured a multijet 4x4 yesterday, with blue and me and a few other things €18,000

Horrendous!

Still looking like it might be a Duster then.... ?????

Let's see: when I drive the Twinair Trekking I might be so seduced I'll just go for it, but the price had better not be too stupid. Fiat is not selling cars much any more anywhere and now is not the time to be demanding high prices.

I don't think the forthcoming 500L will help much either, if what I have learnt recently from ordinary people's car appreciation habits is anything to go by. I hope I'm wrong.

I agree with you, Ulpian. Having had relatively expensive problems on my 38,000 mile Cross I'm not prepared to pay a high price for a new model Panda 4x4. I'm still sticking with the plan to take delivery of the pre-ordered base model Duster with it's mechanical simplicity and accept the marginally higher fuel bills.
Fiat trying to go up market won't wash in the UK.

I cancelled my pre-order Duster because I refused to sign up for any car I haven't driven. I'll order again in the new year if I like the car, and wait longer for delivery.

Really it is all about price, and details like warranty etc.. If Fiat hits my target they will get my order, but I have an option, which is good.

My Doblo is beginning to cost real money for replacement parts and I really do need a new car, but I can wait a while.

deeyup said:

If you use Google chrome as your browser it will auto translate the Italian site almost flawlessly. I configured a multijet 4x4 yesterday, with blue and me and a few other things €18,000

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thanks deeyup - the translation feature works surprisingly well!

Anyhow, I tried it and got up to €19.9k.

I couldn't find any glass roof option? Has this not been carried over the from the outgoing model?

I feel there is a €20k Panda out there if one only knew how to navigate the site...

Oh, and as others noted, no TA on FIAT.It

The 4x4 review in Autocar (latest issue), on the shelf at WH Smiths, is fulsome praise, reckons its priced about £14k.

....Found it hard to find anything to criticise. Very long-experienced team of journos on this magazine, takes something good to impress them.

I had a sit in an ordinary Lounge Panda again yesterday, and it really does fit me perfectly and is a lovely place to be. I remember it as being the only new car I have driven recently that I could call fun too.

I really can't see why so many people discount the Panda and go for the 500, when the Panda is so much better designed and more useful. And more interesting too as far as I am concerned. I mean; a glove box, better suspension, five doors, bigger boot, more convenience, and access to the back seat - which is really only useful for laying shopping on unless you have small friends or children - but which is practically useless in the 500 since it is so hard to access and isn't exactly a place to throw shopping bags either. That's fashion I suppose

Let's see now: Trekking, Duster, or Sandero Stepway (when that finally arrives)????

Ulpian said:

I had a sit in an ordinary Lounge Panda again yesterday, and it really does fit me perfectly and is a lovely place to be. I remember it as being the only new car I have driven recently that I could call fun too.

I really can't see why so many people discount the Panda and go for the 500, when the Panda is so much better designed and more useful. And more interesting too as far as I am concerned. I mean; a glove box, better suspension, five doors, bigger boot, more convenience, and access to the back seat - which is really only useful for laying shopping on unless you have small friends or children - but which is practically useless in the 500 since it is so hard to access and isn't exactly a place to throw shopping bags either. That's fashion I suppose

Let's see now: Trekking, Duster, or Sandero Stepway (when that finally arrives)????

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I know it's going off topic but - having owned a 500 as well - it's not just down to fashion that the 500 is so popular.

I have never quite managed to put my finger on it but when you get inside one it just makes me happy - and it's the same for many other owners. I know there are people who have bought one just so that they look cool, but when you look at the diverse range of 500 owners (and it is one of the most diverse customer bases out there) it can't just be down to fashion.

It doesn't matter that the new Panda is a better car (and it is better than the 500 in so many ways!), it just doesn't give me or the wife quite the same feeling.

Re the space in a 500 - it's not as bad as you might think. Of course it's not as good as a Panda, but I have to say you can cram plenty of stuff in one if you try (see posts 56 and 58 in this thread):

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/236121-babies-fiat-500-a-4.html

Good review in -- of all places -- the Sun, as well...!

Thanks to fiat_freak for posting this in another thread...!

I have never quite managed to put my finger on it but when you get inside one it just makes me happy - and it's the same for many other owners. I know there are people

who have bought one just so that they look cool, but when you look at the diverse range of 500 owners (and it is one of the most diverse customer bases out there) it can't just be down to fashion.

It doesn't matter that the new Panda is a better car (and it is better than the 500 in so many ways!), it just doesn't give me or the wife quite the same feeling.

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I can't really quite understand this 'feeling' thing, but then I do react immediately to cars I don't like. Often my negative responses are amplified if the said cars are built up by the press, to the extent that when I take a look i am expecting something really special, whereas all I get is another boring German box with a dull grey dashboard, and nothing great in the driving stakes either. All VWs for example just don't do it for me.

I respect the 500 a lot, and I keep looking at the Abarth, but only looking mind, but the practical me just can't square the lack of any proper storage and the fact that there are no rear doors. I just don't like two/three door cars because every time I watch some poor shmuck contorting themselves to get into the back I just wonder what the point is. But then I am too practical I'm afraid and everything in my home is designed for comfort first and style second, even if the place is really very stylish in a non conventional way

No, the 500 is very cute, of course it is, but I want convenience, economy, comfort, more comfort and good ground clearance. The rest is negotiable.

homeward said:

Good review in -- of all places -- the Sun, as well...!

Thanks to fiat_freak for posting this in another thread...!

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Love the quotes from readers below the article. Makes me laugh. One chump said this "i'am sure with an engine in it that size the torque produced might pull it out of a puddle in the winter never mind going off road. I bet land rover are getting worried not."
Sun readers aye

deeyup said:

Sun readers...

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Isn't that an oxymoron...?