The Fiat Panda is an exceptional city car with a sizeable cabin that can carry up to four people and a decent trunk. It is also compact, making it ideal for city driving. But is the Fiat Panda a good car?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Fiat Panda is a nice car for people who want a compact, spacious, affordable, efficient, and cheap car to maintain. On the contrary, people who want quality, performance, power, and reliability may find it unattractive.
History of Fiat Panda
The Fiat Panda is a compact city car made by Fiat. This car has been in production since 1980. During this period, Fiat has managed to come up with three generations, with the first generation lasting for more than 23 years. The first generation of Fiat Panda was made between 1980 and 2003, the second generation from 2003 to 2012, and the third generation from 2011 to the present.
In over 40 years of production, Fiat Panda has sold more than 7.8 million units, making it one of the best-selling Fiat models ever. The first generation Fiat Panda was a two-box, 3-door hatchback, while the second generation was a 5-door hatchback. The current generation is also offered as a 5-door hatchback.
The current Fiat Panda is based on the same platform as the FCA Mini. Its closest competitors are the Hyundai i10, Fiat Uno, Fiat 500, Ford Ka, and Lancia Ypsilon.
Features of Fiat Panda
Appearance
The Fiat Panda is a nice-looking hatchback with excellent finishes. But while the Fiat Panda looks more beautiful on the outside, most of its rivals look better with more advanced features in the interior. Furthermore, most of its rivals feature upscale materials inside the car, making them slightly better than the Fiat Panda.
Performance
If you’re looking for a high-performance compact hatchback, the Fiat Panda is not the best option. While this car has improved power and performance compared to other Fiat models, it’s still not at par with most of its rivals. Additionally, different Fiat trims are fitted with different engine options.
Nonetheless, the most popular engine option is the 1.0-liter TwinAir 12 that runs on petrol. Other engines include a 1.2-liter FIRE I4 petrol engine and a 1.0-liter GSE FireFly I3 mild hybrid engine. The TwinAir engine is the fastest and it delivers a maximum of 84 hp. It also has a top speed of 102 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 12.7 seconds.
Comfort and cargo space
Most city cars are considerably small and uncomfortable for average people. However, that’s not the case with Fiat Panda as it is quite comfortable with a spacious cabin. Unfortunately, it can only seat up to four people, unlike most of its competitors which can accommodate up to five people.
When it comes to trunk space, this car is also somewhat lacking as it provides a total of 7.95 cubic feet of space. This is only good for a few packs. Aside from the confined trunk space, the Fiat Panda’s cabin is quite spacious with a good height. But the quality of the interior is not up to the competition.
Fuel-efficiency
One of the reasons why many people love small cars is because of their efficiency. Fiat Panda is very efficient, meaning users will spend little money on fuel. It has a fuel economy of 6.7l/100km in the city, 4.3l/100km on the highway, and a combined 5.2l/100km.
Safety
Fiat Panda is no match for most of its competitors when it comes to the number of safety features it comes with. Therefore, Fiat should improve on safety to make the car more desirable. Regardless, this unit is equipped with some fantastic safety features that include vehicle dynamic control, tire pressure monitoring, remote central locking, fog lamps, and electronic stability programs.
Price
The third-generation Fiat Panda comes in six different trims, including Panda Natural Power, Panda EasyPower, Panda Trekking, Panda 4X4, Panda Cross, and Panda Hybrid. All of these models vary in price with the Panda Natural Power being the cheapest, while the Panda Hybrid and Cross being the most expensive.
On average, you will have to pay between $14,600 and $20,500 to acquire a new Fiat Panda.
FAQ
Is Fiat Panda worth buying?
Yes, the Fiat Panda is worth buying as it is affordable, comfortable, spacious, fuel-efficient, and practical. However, if you desire a more powerful, luxurious, faster, and reliable city car, the Fiat Panda is not the best choice. There are several car options with more advanced features and better performance than the Fiat Panda.
How fast is the Fiat Panda?
The Fiat Panda may not be the fastest car in its class, but it is faster than most of its siblings. This car has a top speed of 102 mph and it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 12.7 seconds. If you want a faster car with similar or even better features, consider getting the Hyundai i10.
What are the common problems with Fiat Panda?
While the Fiat Panda is comfortable, spacious, and somewhat practical, it still has several problems to deal with. Some of the common issues that users should prepare to tackle are engine issues, transmission problems, trunk not opening, suspension issues, steering issues, faulty wiper, and condensated lights.
What is the high mileage for Fiat Panda?
Most Fiat Panda models can clock over 200,000 miles if they are well-maintained. Nonetheless, most of them start experiencing serious problems when they hit over 150,000 miles. So, if you’re planning to buy a used Fiat Panda, consider one with less than 150,000 miles. Besides, the condition of the car and its history are also crucial.
Which car is better – Fiat Panda or Hyundai i10?
The Fiat Panda and Hyundai i10 are two excellent city cars. Both cars have some advantages over the other, but the Hyundai i10 stands out more. While the Fiat Panda has a bigger engine and shorter wheelbase for easy maneuver in town, the Hyundai i10 provides more power, faster acceleration, better efficiency, and more seats.
Summary
The Fiat Panda is a wonderful city car for people on a budget. It is affordable, efficient, spacious, and comfortable. On the contrary, it lacks in performance, quality, and reliability. So, if you desire a more reliable and high-performance car with a better interior and exterior features, you should consider other options.