Fiat Panda Cross review 2014
Fiat is adding to its stylish and versatile Panda range with
yet another addition – the Panda Cross. It combines the slick styling of an SUV
with the no nonsense off-road capability of an off-roader.
Sitting alongside the standard Fiat Panda city
car and the Panda 4×4, the new Cross will give the Panda name an extra string
to its bow. It’ll help it to compete with other city-venturing models like the
recently launched Peugeot
108. The Fiat Panda Cross starts from just £15,945.
Exterior
On the outside is where the Panda Cross gets its standout
features. Exterior niceties include a front-mounted skid plate, larger
all-season tyres, front fog lights, electric folding heated mirrors, a new
headlight arrangement, two tow hooks for added capability and a reworked rear
bumper with underbody protection.
Not only do these changes make it more competent off-road,
but they also add distinctive flair to the model, much like an SUV.
Interior
Standard interior equipment on the new Fiat Panda Cross is very extensive.
All models feature USB connectivity, Blue & Me Bluetooth system, automatic
climate control and a unique copper-coloured dashboard design.
When it comes to practicality, the Panda Cross’s high roof
results in plenty of head room for passengers. There is also plenty of leg room
for rear passengers, which make longer journeys hassle free.
The boot comes with 225 litres of space, which means it is
perfect for fitting in the weekly shop or several rucksacks.
On the road
When you take the Panda Cross out on the road, or off it in
this case, it really comes into its own and drives like a much bigger car.
Part of the Panda Cross’s upgrades is a slight bump up in
power of its two engines available. Included is the 0.9-litre TwinAir turbo
petrol unit mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and a 1.3-litre MultiJet II
turbodiesel mated to a five-speed manual transmission.
Each powertrain gets an additional 5bhp over the standard
Panda, which means the TwinAir now produces 90bhp and the MultiJet II 80bhp.
There is also plenty of pulling power from both engines,
with the petrol offering 145Nm of torque and the diesel offering 190Nm of
torque.
To really give the Panda Cross an off-road personality, it
comes equipped with Fiat’s sophisticated Torque-on-Demand system. This is
capable of distributing optimum torque to each of the wheels when it is needed
most.
For example, if three of the wheels are slipping, torque
will be distributed to those wheels to give extra traction.
There are also several driving modes to choose from, each
offering different driving characteristics.
First mode is Auto, which is a front-wheel drive
configuration aimed at soft-road driving. Then there is Off-road, which engages
all four wheels and gives added traction.
The final driving mode is Hill Descent. This clever setting
is capable of taking control of the car when descending a steep slope, making
it roll slowly down until it reaches level ground.
Verdict
If you are prone to city venturing but want something that
can give you the freedom to explore, then the Fiat Panda Cross is right on the
money.
Not only does it have the snug dimensions of a city car and
the style of an SUV, but its off-road credentials are second to none in the A
segment.