Fiat Panda Cross 2015 Car Auto Review

Fiat Panda Cross 2015 Car Auto Review

Fiat Fiat Panda X Auto

Unknown 10:44:00 AM Add Comment

Aiming to combine the off-road capabilities of a full 4x4 with the chicness of a city car, Fiat’s new Panda Cross is the latest addition to the Panda family. Following on from the Panda Trekking and Panda 4x4, Fiat is clearly taking the practicality of the Cross seriously, having added tough-looking body cladding, new bumpers with metal skid plates and integrated fog lights. Add in an elevated driving position, extended wheel arches and the same four-wheel drive system as the 4x4 model, and it becomes clear that this car is meant to mean business. So, with its serious off-road credentials in mind, does Fiat’s angry Panda have what it takes to take on other compact SUVs like the Vauxhall Mokka or Skoda Yeti, despite its city car dimensions? Well, first thing’s first. 

Climbing inside, you’re greeted by this sweeping, copper-coloured dashboard. The slightly unexciting plastics mightn’t be to everybody’s taste, but it’s well-built and easy to wipe clean, which will be welcome news to off-roaders regularly tracking mud through their cars. Controls, like the rest of the interior, are chunky and purposeful, with big buttons that make it easy to see what’s what, while the leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearknob lend a solid and trusty feel. Sitting at the top of the Panda range, standard kit on the Cross is impressive. Automatic climate control, Fiat’s Blue&Me infotainment system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity are all standard, alongside steering-mounted controls and a SatNav dock. 

The model we have here also includes a couple of optional extras, which includes rear parking sensors, tinted rear windows and the special bright yellow paintwork. This car also comes with Fiat’s Winter Pack, which adds a heated windscreen and heated front seats for an additional £250. With similar dimensions to the regular Panda, the Cross is a breeze to navigate around town and easy to park. Unfortunately, rear legroom does suffer a little, while boot space clocks in at a slightly limp 225 litres. Regardless, front and rear headroom is excellent, while 60:40 folding seats and five doors means that the Panda Cross is certainly a lot more practical than many of its rival city cars. Like other cars in Fiat’s range, the Panda Cross has light steering that makes it easy to manoeuvre at slow speeds and in town, though it can feel a little vague once you get up to speed. Raised body height gives extra visibility of the road ahead, though by the same coin can cause quite a bit of body roll in the corners. This model comes with a 79bhp 1.3-litre turbocharged diesel engine, which offers plenty of punch and torque. It’s actually surprisingly eager once you put your foot down, and despite its faults it’s a real hoot to drive, happily scooting along B-roads with relative ease. 

Fuel economy is pretty impressive as well. This diesel model manages up to 61mpg with 125g/km of CO2 emissions, while the smaller 0.9-litre petrol isn’t far behind it. The main problem, however, is a lack of refinement. Once you take it past 2,000 revs or so, the diesel starts to get noisy, while the diesels five-speed manual gearbox has short gear ratios and could really benefit from a sixth gear for motorway cruising. Off-road, however, is where the Panda Cross really shines. Twisting the All-Terrain Selector control to the right engages the off-roading mode, which alters the car’s setup for more grip on steep, uneven and slippery surfaces. The hill descent feature is also extremely useful when trying to make your way down steep or slippery slopes. Simply twist the dial until the light turns green, plonk it into neutral and watch the Panda do the work all by itself. 

It might seem a little unlikely, but combined with the raised height and the Panda’s range of tough upgrades, which includes all-weather tyres, an electronic locking differential and optional steel underbody protection, it’s genuinely as capable as many larger and much more expensive SUVs. Charming and surprisingly able, the Fiat Panda Cross offers a whole lot of fun wrapped up in a funky and unique-looking compact package. It drives well, comes with a wide amount of equipment and, like the Panda 4x4 before it, its ability as a bona-fide off-roader makes it easily one of the most entertaining models in its class. It has its faults, of course, being rather noisy at speed and having not quite as much space as you might like, but as a cheap and easy to live with off-roader, it’s pretty much as good as it gets. Could you see yourself in a Fiat Panda Cross? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to hit the subscribe button. To research your next car and find great deals, visit carkeys.co.uk and, to watch more reviews, click on the links at the end of the video.

Fiat Panda 4x4 Antartica 2015 Car Auto Review

Fiat Panda 4x4 Antartica 2015 Car Auto Review

Fiat Fiat Panda X Auto

Unknown 9:49:00 AM Add Comment

When Fiat told us the Panda 4x4 Antarctica special edition was available for test, I immediately thought of chunky winter tires, a crisp white paint job and perhaps some rugged roof racks. I was right on two counts, but the penguin was a bit of a surprise. You see, Fiat is celebrating 30 years and half-a-million sales of the go-anywhere Panda, and wanted to make its cheeky super-mini stand out. So, as well as our flightless friend, we also get a black roof, splashes of orange trim, diamond finish alloy wheels and tinted windows, all for £700 more than the standard car, coming it at just under £15k. The interior is rather charming thanks to these ‘Squircle’ dials, yes ‘Squircle’, that’s the name Fiat gives to these rounded circles repeated all over the dashboard. There’s real attention to detail and even the texture on the door trims is actually the word ‘Panda’ if you look hard enough. 

For such a small car you sit surprisingly high up, and this coupled with tall windows means there’s amazing visibility, taking some of the stress out of city driving. On the down side, the infotainment system is complicated with rather odd controls, and yes, I even had to consult the manual to pair my phone with its Blue&Me Bluetooth connection. But, that’s small fry compared to how spacious the Panda’s high roof makes it for front and rear passengers, so long as you they’re happy to sit fairly upright. The boot is pretty good for the class, with 225-liters of space, but the Skoda City-go and Hyundai i10 both offer more luggage room, with 250 liters behind the rear seats. The rear seats split and fold, but don’t go quite flat, making it tricky to slide in larger items. But it’s the raised ride-height, upgraded suspension and tougher looks which set this Panda apart. It really feels like driving a Discovery that’s shrunk in the rain. 

The suspension is superb at soaking up bumpy roads, making the Panda feel like a far much bigger car. There’s plenty of grip too, and despite its soft suspension, it stays neat and tidy in corners. This 1.3-liter diesel has 75bhp and a five-speed gearbox, while an 85bhp Twin-air two-cylinder petrol is also available. 0-62mph takes 14.5 seconds and just look how short the gearing is, there’s first, second third. But this does mean you can keep the engine in its power-band. The four-wheel drive system automatically sends power to the wheel which needs it most, and this button stops wheels spinning independently of each other, for maximum traction. The Panda is truly impressive off-road, making it able to tackle far more than we can throw at it today. 

It also makes it quite unique, because most crossovers like the Peugeot 2008 and Renault Capture only have front-wheel drive. So, should you buy one of the 300 Panda 4x4 Antarctica editions coming to the UK? Well, not only does it have character, it’s surprisingly fun to drive and great off-road. But, its short gearing means it’s better suited to town use than sitting on the motorway, where the Citigo or Hyundai i10 are more refined. Fiat also sells a two-wheel drive of the rugged Panda called the Trekking for a few thousand pounds less, so we’d say unless you need the unique abilities of the 4x4, the Trekking represents better value. Still, if you want a super-mini, but live on the side of the mountain, the Panda 4x4 is the car you’ll want. Either that or you just can’t get enough of Penguins.

Fiat 500L 2015 Car Auto Review

Fiat 500L 2015 Car Auto Review

Fiat X Auto

Unknown 8:37:00 AM Add Comment

Meet the Fiat 500L Beats Edition, the range-topping model in Fiat’s 500L compact people carrier range. Bigger and more family-friendly than the regular 500, the 500L polarized critics with its size and looks, but with this new trim, its bespoke design and unique kit, Fiat’s back to turn up the volume. It’s definitely a little less Straight Outta Compton than straight off the school run, but the addition of a Beats by Dre sound system and sharp-looking details like wider wheel arches and red brake calipers means it’ll definitely appeal to a more youthful and urbane audience. Inside, the Beats Edition model comes complete with this nice black fabric and leather upholstery, while the large dash supports a five-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and DAB radio. The rear parking camera is a handy extra for £270, making things a lot easier to manoeuvre in tight spaces, although it’s not the clearest picture. 

Controls are all simple and straightforward, while there’s plenty of storage cabbies, though the seats to me just feel a little bit firm and can be hard to make yourself comfortable in. Still, the centerpiece of this model is the Beats sound system. With seven speakers and two sub-woofer channels, Fiat claims that it’s specially tuned to recreate the exact sound spectrum of a recording studio. Whether or not that’s true I’m not entirely sure, but it definitely does perform well with crystal clarity and none of the buzz or flabbiness other sound systems tend to experience at high volume. Clamber in the back and the whole car feels seriously huge inside thanks to its 2.6 meter wheelbase, which will be good news for lanky drivers as much as it is for active families, with miles of legroom and plenty of headroom too. 

Boot dimensions clock in at 412 liters with the rear seats up and a huge 1,480 liters with them down. It also features an adjustable load platform to make it easier to fit in large items, while the back seats can slide forward for a quick fix of extra space. Given the 500L’s size, it should be obvious that you’re not in for the most dynamic ride around. Despite sharing a name, it doesn’t even feel fair to compare it to the smaller 500; they’re just not the same type of car at all. The 17-inch matt black alloys and cushy suspension make for a comfortable ride, albeit a slightly lethargic one as it’s prone to swishing about under heavy braking and there’s a fair bit of body roll around corners. Likewise, while the steering is light and easy to turn, it does feel just a little vague out on the open road. That said, in town it performs pretty well, while pushing the City Mode button on the dash makes steering even lighter to navigate through tight streets and small spaces. It’s good on the motorway too thanks to the addition of a sixth gear, sorely missed on the smaller 500, that makes cruising a breeze, though there’s some road noise and the engine can get a tad rumbly at lower revs. 

Still, this 1.6-litre diesel is actually quite punchy once the turbocharger kicks in, with 118bhp on tap and 320Nm of torque that’s great for zipping past traffic. Add that to fuel economy of nearly 62mpg and just 120g/km of CO2 emissions, and it’s also relatively cheap and stress-free to run. The main problem most people have had with the 500L is its divisive looks, but with its matt grey finish and cool touches, it’s hard to deny that the Beats Edition is certainly a lot more fashionable than its siblings. Driving enthusiasts will find a Ford C-MAX more rewarding, but despite a slightly soggy ride and even if you’re not a Dre fan, the Fiat 500L Beats Edition offers a well-equipped, spacious and characterful car for a relatively low price tag. So, could you see yourself behind the wheel of the Fiat 500L Beats Edition?