Fiat Panda 4x4 (2012 – 2023) Review

The Fiat brand has been synonymous with Europe’s most affordable 4x4 since a basic all-wheel drive system was fitted to the first not-the-car-but-the-box-it-came-in Fiat Panda 4x4 in 1983. The model’s mechanical simplicity, durability and off-road abilities quickly found universal favour, particularly with Postman Pat and telephone and electricity utilities throughout the continent.

You’d think a diminutive, all-wheel drive machine such as this would be unique to the market, but by the arrival of this second generation car rivals existed in the form of the Daihatsu Terios, Suzuki’s Ignis and Jimny and the Subaru Justy. As we’ll point out in this review, however, none of them could hold a candle to the Fiat Panda 4x4’s mud-plugging prowess.

The second generation Fiat Panda 4x4 built on the mechanical simplicity of its long-serving predecessor with a variable torque distribution, permanent all-wheel drive transmission system capable of automatically transferring up to 50% of engine torque to the rear wheels. 

Employing front and rear differentials and a central viscous coupling, this robust, low maintenance drivetrain is completely automatic and entirely mechanical, requiring neither driver input nor electronic control, and imbues the Fiat Panda 4x4 with outstanding off-road and severe weather abilities.

Combine this fool-proof all-wheel drive system with improved wheel articulation, a ground clearance of 165mm, short front and rear overhangs, and a weight of well under 1000kg even in its heaviest guise and the Fiat Panda 4x4 proves all but unstoppable in even the most vile conditions – it’s light weight ensuring it trundles happily over snow and mud into which heavier 4x4s inevitably bog down.

When this second generation car launched, Fiat went out of its way to demonstrate that it was no toy. Over one million test kilometres, undertaken through some of the world’s harshest terrain, attested to both the Fiat Panda 4x4’s remarkable off-road abilities and the durability of its drivetrain… 

In Lapland, the car performed faultlessly in temperatures of minus 40 degrees, maintaining traction and stability on surfaces more slippery than a freshly buttered banister, and overcoming snow covered gradients of more than 40%. In the Kalahari Desert, the most mechanically debilitating of unsurfaced roads combined with dust, sand and 45 degree temperatures to subject the Fiat Panda 4x4’s drivetrain and suspension to the harshest examination.

Finally, two Fiat Panda 4x4s set out from Kathmandu to drive through the Himalayas to the Mount Everest advance base camp, sited at an altitude of 5200 metres. This was the first time a small off-road vehicle had achieved this goal, a feat made all the more remarkable by the absence of any modification to the standard car except minor engine control unit adaptations appropriate to the local petrol.

On road, the Fiat Panda 4x4 further augments the additional levels of traction and stability inherent in a sophisticated, variable torque distribution all-wheel drive system with ABS anti-lock brakes, complete with electronic brakeforce distribution, and MSR to modulate brake torque whilst changing down a gear.

At launch, the Fiat Panda 4x4 cost just £8995 on-the-road, and boasted just one engine choice and one trim level. It was fitted with Fiat’s proven FIRE 1.2 litre, 8 valve, 60bhp power plant mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, took a somewhat leisurely 20 whole seconds to reach 62mph from a standstill, and couldn’t pull a new age traveller off your sister.

In August 2008 the Fiat Panda Cross was launched. This features even chunkier styling and a bespoke front end, but most importantly is fitted with a 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engine, which is much preferable to the standard 1.2-litre petrol unit.

The comprehensive standard equipment package featured electric front windows, central locking, Dualdrive electronic power steering (remember the ‘girlie’ button?), twin front airbags and a Blaupunkt stereo radio cassette. Moreover, the availability of up to six airbags, automatic climate control, parking sensors, a Sky Dome electric sunroof, steering wheel audio controls and a stereo CD with MP3 player imbued Fiat Panda 4x4 with a level of on-board sophistication and refinement unparalleled in this class.

The second generation Panda 4x4 also offered a fine array of both active and passive safety features. It was the first car in its class to offer up to six airbags, whilst front seat belts with pretensioner and load limiter, three-point rear seat belts, and anti-submarining seats are all fitted as standard.

Unlike most of today’s overweight, over-complicated, electronically nannied 4x4s, the Fiat Panda 4x4 is immensely appealing to drive off road – properly involving in an old-fashioned mechanical way, and more fun than a bath full of otters. Recommended.

The  supple suspension makes the Fiat a more comfortable small car to drive than many. It leans in corners even at moderate speeds, but can be hustled along just fine, even on motorways

Around town, the 4x4 is an ideal urban terrier and you get the same City button as in other Panda models to lighten the steering for rapid parking moves. Vision for the driver is good, so swapping lanes is simple and the brakes respond quickly to any press on the pedal.

Head into the wilds and the Panda will tackle lanes and tracks with ease that you would think twice about in most more obvious SUVs.

If you want to delve deeper into the countryside, the Panda Cross will carry you even further thanks to its Terrain Control system to fine-tune the 4x4 system. It also has extra underbody protection to keep it safe from rocks and tree roots.

Fiat keeps it simple for Panda 4x4 buyers. New, only a petrol engine is now offered. Whether you’re heading up the Eiger or the Edgeware Road, it pulls well and is happy to cruise on the motorway.

The TwinAir engine comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the Cross model has an extra-low first gear to trickle over rough ground. The Cross also has Terrain Control to further help off-road with Auto, Hill Descent and Off-Road modes.

The diesel is a 1.3-litre MultiJet motor that comes with a five-speed manual gearbox as it’s only transmission choice. It’s is easy on fuel but takes a very leisurely 14.5 seconds to meander from rest to 62mph.

The Panda 4x4 has twin front and side airbags, plus ESP and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The Panda Cross gains the Terrain Control system with Auto, Hill Descent and Off-road modes. This version also has an Electronic Locking Differential to aid grip on slippery tracks.

All of this was enough to earn the Panda a four-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2011, but things have moved on since then. To improve the Panda 4x4’s safety performance now, you have to pay an extra £450 for the optional Safety Pack that comes with electrically adjusted and heated door mirrors, rear parking sensors and City Brake Control.

The Fiat Panda 4x4 driver will find headroom in abundance. You won't find great room for elbows and knees for anyone six feet tall and above. Vision from the driver’s seat is better than in most rivals to the Panda, but the oddly shaped handbrake lever makes it harder to use than it should be.

The front passenger seat’s back can be folded down flat to create a table or, more usefully, allow longer loads to pass easily through from the back on those trips home from the DIY store.

Move into the back seats and there are two seats as standard. There’s the option for three passengers with a trio of three-point belts and headrests. 

Access to the boot is among the best in this class, so it’s simple to fit in bigger boxes than you might first think would stow into the Panda’s boot.

As for other storage areas in the Panda cabin, it has door pockets in the front that easily hold a bottle of water and a large open tray in front of the passenger. Underneath this lies a small glovebox.

There’s also the Panda-wide use of ‘squircles’ rounded-off squares for details such as the heating controls.

Given the relatively high list prices of the Panda 4x4 and Cross, this thought softens the blow. However, it doesn’t take long to discover a lot of this is easy on the eye but less so to the touch.

Where many of the plastics meet, you’ll find rough edges or uneven gaps, which betrays the Panda’s origins as a cost-effective small car rather than a glamorous SUV.

The Fiat Panda 4x4 does not come with the touchscreen technology of many rivals that have been launched since the Panda’s arrival in 2012. What you get instead is Fiat’s Uconnect system that encompasses the radio, DAB and Bluetooth connection. It also has audio streaming, voice recognition and both USB and aux-in ports.

All of this is run using your smartphone and there’s a mounting point in the middle of the dash-top. You slot your phone into this and it becomes the infotainment display for navigation and other apps. It can recharge your phone while it’s in this cradle and the Uconnect system is standard with both the 4x4 and Cross models.

Shop around and you can save up to £1500 on a brand new Fiat Panda 4x4 or Cross, while pre-registered examples with delivery mileage only can be found from dealers for £2500 below list price. That’s a healthy saving to be had on a car that has a small but loyal band of customers.

Move to a one-year old example with 10,000 miles on the clock and you can expect to pay around £11,500 for either a petrol or one of the last of the diesel examples. Move the goalposts to three-years old and prices dip to £8500 whether you decide to go petrol or diesel.

At five-years old, you’ll pay from around £7000, so you can see that prices start to level off at this point. This amount of money will get you a car with 50,000 miles under its wheels and also gives you a choice of colours from sober hues to some of the funkier shades that Fiat has painted the Panda 4x4 over the years. The metallic green is popular but don’t pay any more for a car in this colour.

Go for an early version of this third generation Panda 4x4 and you can choose from plenty at £3500 with 80,000 miles.

The TwinAir turbo petrol is the only engine offered in the Fiat Panda 4x4 new. It has a claimed official fuel economy of 37.7mpg and 129g/km carbon dioxide emissions. Surprisingly, the more off-road biased Cross claims 38.7mpg, but 163g/km emissions.

Real MPG figures show the TwinAir is likely to return 41.3mpg in the 4x4, while the Cross records 39.2 in this data.

For the diesel, the 1.3 MultiJet claimed 60.1mpg but Real MPG showed this was 52.7mpg, or 88% of the claimed figure.

While some 4x4 owners will be presented with hefty annual bills for their insurance premium, this is unlikely to be a concern for Fiat Panda 4x4 owners. The standard 4x4 model falls into a lowly group 7 band, while the Cross edges up into group 10.

A Fiat Panda 4x4 with the 0.9-litre TwinAir petrol engine will land you a first-year road tax bill of £175 and then £150 for each after that. 4x4s registered before 31 March 2017 with these emissions will pay £125 each year, while the Cross will come in at a pricier £205.

For the diesel 1.3-litre MultiJet, its 117g/km CO2 output attract road tax at just £30 for cars registered prior to 31 March 2017, while newer versions will be taxed at £150 per annum.

As the top line model in the Fiat Panda range, the 4x4 comes with plenty of kit, including 15-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, chunky bumpers and plastic extensions around the wheelarches and sills. The 4x4 has seats trimmed in half cloth and eco leather, electric door mirrors and front windows, and a height adjustable driver’s seat.

You also get air conditioning, Uconnect infotainment. However, you have to pay £100 for a DAB radio, and you may well want to add the £280 Winter Pack for heated front seats and windscreen, as well as the £450 Safety Pack that brings City Brake Control and rear parking sensors. A space saver spare wheel is a further £60.

For the Cross, additional standard equipment includes its own unique front bumper and headlights, front tow hooks painted red, and Terrain Control.