My first impression of the Fiat Panda was that it is very square. I have always, however, leaned more towards smoother lines. Yet, to be fair, this is the signature look of the Panda that you can see throughout all its models from 1980 up until today.
What was unexpected was that the inside is square as well. From the handbrake to the speedometer, almost everything, except the steering wheel, is square. While the square shape of the exterior might deter me somewhat, I can’t say the same for the interior. For me, it lent itself to the aesthetics and gave the interior some character. My only concern is the quality of materials can do with some improvement, definitely not on par with competitors.
At first I was impressed that the Panda boasts technology you would not expect of it, from Stop/Start technology to a city driving option which makes the steering lighter when going around circles or parking. I soon felt disappointment, however, as the car did not deliver the technology properly.
This was especially apparent in the Start/Stop technology. The car already requires you to apply a bit more power when you start going. With the technology enabled it makes this even worse. Before I was aware of this, I drove over a particularly large speed hump and the car even stalled. Once I disabled it, this challenge disappeared and it required much less effort to get going.
There were a number of other perks as well. The one which I like the most is a built-in device holder, for those who use their phones as a GPS, complete with a charging point. The safety features are another perk as it has ABS, EBD, four airbags, front and rear park assist, tyre pressure monitor, stability control and hill-hold technology. It also has one of the largest boots in its class. A big disadvantage for me is that I found it to be a very noisy car. Noise insulation can definitely do with an improvement.
Once the Fiat Panda gets going, it maintains its speed easily. It is a 2-cylinder engine providing 63 kW of power and 120 Nm of torque. A strong selling point of the 2-cylinder engine is its claimed fuel efficiency of between 4.1 and 4.9L/100km. Carbon emissions are 99g per kilometer.
All in all, I can best describe the Fiat Panda as a nifty car intended to have all the perks to make city driving as comfortable and easy as possible. If an affordable car with a fair amount of technology and which is environmentally conscious is what you are after, this car is an ideal option. For me, however, I just don’t like square cars.
Good to know
The specs
Engine: 1.2 litre petrol
Power: 63 kW
Torque: 120 Nm
0-100km: 11.2 seconds
Top speed: 177km/h
Economy: 4.1l/100km
Price: From R184 900
Warranties: 3 year/100 000km warranty and 3 year/ 100 000lm service plan
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