Couple of years ago I was up on the Cairngorm,s, the Mountain rescue people and found out they were still running around in market one Pandas 4x4 because they said they found they could get to places in snow that the bigger four-wheel-drive couldn’t, the thought of a Land-rover stuck and a little Panda whizzing past I think that deserves a little respect I think
The Sandero is an incredible deal, especially the version with LPG. It's a last gen Clio, which in its own right was a great car, but can't be beaten in terms of value.
@@Luckyjo21 in my country " Netherlands " a new Jimny costs 45000 ish Euro .... can't compare that with the money of a Panda or Sandero ... not even close
@@andrewthornegeo I am downsizing to a Panda cross, so I to will have to get used to a small engine vehicle, for cost and saving the planet 🌏 Thanks for your feedback anyway.
Delighted you get it Ian - we have one, and it's been flawless for 3 years. Honestly, I can't stop laughing when I drive it (it's the wife's car and school run machine), bags of charisma, hilarious engine note, and it rides wonderfully for a small car. We live in the Chiltern Hills and get snow in winter, Fiat specced it with All Season tyres, and it's a proper mountain goat. On snow, and the green stuff, unstoppable. 1st is short, on ice and snow, you let the clutch out and all the EBD/4x4 gummings takes over. The torque is there, it'll idle happily and crawl you along. So you can just work the throttle, one less pedal to worry about. It embarrasses a lot of heavy Teutonic machinery (usually on the wrong tyres). We'll definitely be getting another, and we won't be parted with the one we have.
I had the diesel 4x4 Panda in 2015 but it was doing 4k RPM at 70 in fifth, really poor, no idea what thats all about. Im considering the twinair version in a few months as its awful weather in winter at my girlfriends. Great on motorway with the 6 speed box.
I had a bright yellow fiat 500 twinair, as a male, mid-30's, I think a lot of people thought I was a wolly. I honestly loved driving that around, really nippy and that smile inducing engine sound. May keep an eye open for one of these Pandas.
Hi Hubnut. I am a 77-year-old retired car mechanic. In my time I have owned many cars, and have also modified many, my first was a 100e van that I fitted a 1340cc Ford engine in, I later installed a Mk1 2263cc, Ford Zephry engine and gearbox with a Wooller Engineering floor change conversion, fast and fun, but it kept breaking half shafts. Some of the other cars I have modified was a Mk 2 Cornina, that I fitted a 289 small block V8 ford engine and RUG 4 speed gearbox from a written off Sunbeam Tiger. My most fun car a 1959 Mk1 Austin A40 Countryman, that I fitted with a 1608cc twin cam Fiat 125s, with twin IDA weber carbs, Mk3 Sprite discs, Riley 1.5 diff, and rear brakes, Morris 1000 rack and pinion steering. In that car I was clocked at 117 mph on the M2 motorway, by a police Rover 3500s, lost my licence for a year! Anyway, to the point, if you ever get a chance, try a Smart Fourtwo 453, auto, turbo, 2014 on. I have one, and it is amazing, I am the third owner, I wonder if it has been remapped. The engine is three cylinder 898cc turbocharged with supposed 89bhp and 100lb of torque, and mine has the six speed auto/manual gearbox. It is so fast I cannot believe it, going up quite steep hill, it will hit 90/100 mph! Maybe mine has been remapped, but if not, wow! Celtic Tuning, down here in Cornwall where I live, tell me they can stage one remap the engine to 129bhp and 142lb torque. I am tempted. If you were nearer to where I live I would bring my Smart over to you for a drive, but in any case, if you can, get a test drive of a 453 Smart Fourtwo Turbo, It is like a mini Porsche 911, with the same swap end tendency, in short a real driver car, well mine is, as to top speed, I chickened out at 115 recorded on my satnav. Best regards, Len. PS don't tell the fuzz!
I bought my son a Alfa Romeo MiTo with the 105HP Twin Air engine. I love it! Such a characterful happy car. We have had a fantastic summer with the Alfa Romeo Club and even took it around Brands Hatch. I think you need a MiTo TwinAir in your life. You are welcome to try out our one.
@@toyotaprius79 Not great if I am honest - 40mpg 'ish. However, it makes such a cool nice when you floor it........so. I am sure if you were a bit more restrained you could get 50mpg and perhaps more.
I’m tempted to get one as a cheap to run car so I don’t have to use my Alpina as much, as my Dad has a Skoda Superb estate I’m insured on if I need to haul big loads around. Totally not just looking for an excuse to satisfy my desire for a small Italian car with a little engine….
Fiat Panda 4x4, even going as far back as the originals, has always been the best small 4x4 for the money...great little workhorses. Very difficult to find second hand ones, even the previous generation, as owners just hold on to them forever
Ive had two twinair Fiats. The lag and surge between gears I found tiring after a while due to there only being two cylinders, and learned that the key to smooth progress is to change up gears quickly before the revs get too high. Its not built for fast acceleration, its built to pull from low down the rev range and is a more relaxing journey by driving the way I mentioned.
Love this! I had a Mk1 Panda back in the early 90’s, not new, and was a really good, honest little car. Loved it. I have a 1970 500 these days, my small, slow, noisy, air cooled but really enjoyable Italian ‘Super car’. Well, you know. The Panda is so much better than the new 500. Great review.
Fab video, Ian, thanks a lot. Glad you liked it. Our Panda 4x4 Twin-air is epic. Feels extremely solid, is very nippy, and goes great on the farm as well as the road. Mud & snow tyres do help! The Naples build quality is top notch. All of the tech tricks work and seem well implemented. Couple of anomalies noted: Ours is the 'normal' 4x4 and has a funky two tone dash with rear centre seatbelt and head rest. Legroom in rear is fine and I'm 6 foot tall, odd that you didn't fit.
Actually Ian if you don’t thrash it all the time you’ll discover that it is “acceptably smooth” and refined, especially at motorway speeds, and due to the torque it is nicer to drive than say a 107/Aygo/C1. The non-turbo variant which was sold here in the Netherlands (first 65 and then 60 horsepower) is much louder outside and has a very distinct exhaust sound. Not *that* engine sounds like something from the past.
I agree with CreRay......but as I have discovered with hubnut, the moment he gets behind the wheel he turns into his alter ego Ernest Thrasher.....and then wonders why he has soo many problems with his fleet. Ian, it's a city car with (very) good offroad capabilities.....so treat it for what it is, stop thrashing the nuts off it and fer chrissake stop picking holes with every little niggle you can think of......and breathe. So apart from the above, an interesting road test.......though there's absolutely no way I'd let you test one of my cars, as I expect to get several years out of them and still be able to sell them afterwards.
I do spank the arse off pretty much everything. It isn't why my cars all suffer - the issues are all generally because I buy poor examples. And don't look after them as well as I could... Elly's original engine put up with 80,000 miles of thrashing with scarcely any bother, making it to 170,000 miles in total. As long as you're not over-revving, hard use is more likely to benefit an engine than ruin it.
Well, at least you know what to look out for in 10-15 years time when you're looking for a "Hubnut" car,,, I love small fiats, they have character and (for the driver at least) are more comfortable than you'd imagine for cars of their size.
@@Snarfcat Unlikely, there are still many older Fiats on the road. I sold my 1998 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo a few years back and it's still going strong with it's new owner at 23 years old. Loads of Puntos around still as well.
@@Snarfcat Do you not think these small petrol cars will become very desirable, especially where charging an electric car is not practical for some owners ?
@@nigelbaldwin752 The network is getting better by the week, most supermarkets now have chargers and I can see a day when every space has one for when you shop. We are moving into generation 4 with cars now having 800 volt charge systems and minimum of 300 miles ranges. In the next couple of years we will see more solid state batteries and batteries with 1 000 mile ranges that can be charged in 5 minutes. A UK team has proven this technology and it will not take long to come to market.
I had a twinair panda trekking, 4x4 styling but front wheel drive with a button on the console that improved traction. Absolutely loved the engine, really sad when I had to let the car go. Really glad you've had the chance to feature this car, I'd definitely have another if one came along!
I really like the panda. There's something sort of plucky about it with that boxy practicality and shrunken off roader looks. The engine sounds brilliant too. Also, loved that the day running lights appeared to flicker in time to the music at the end
Subaru made a two cylinder engine in the late 80's that fired simultaneously and rotated in unison. It was smooth and free revving and a bundle of fun to drive. I had one in a Sherpa.
Always loved the look of the Panda Cross's, I had a 1965? 500 nova and drove it for many years, maybe 6, I know that sound, and often wished it had a turbo on it... I brought an Uno Turbo, and now have a couple of 20vt coupes. I am now looking for a Panda Cross again, thanks Hub Nut, for reminding me of how driving flat out in an under powered car is more fun, and safer, than doing it in a wildly over powered one. I say all power to the under powered, you have to drive it, not the other way round... As always a good watch.
I agree! One of my favourite cars was an Uno 1100.... it was an absolute hoot! I don't recall ever going over 80 in it (probably wasn't much more available anyway!), I wonder why I got rid of it now....? I think it still worked....
I think Fiat didn't market this engine properly. It was hailed as a fuel-sipper, but it actually is quite an enthusiast's engine, fun to drive and... Not as economical as people expected, consequently. Brilliant piece of engineering though.
When you lifted the bonnet and revealed the lack of paint, that bugged me alot but other than that , the styling and function is really good and i think these cars keep Fiat in the market place. I think they really moved on from the Fix It Again Tomorrow Jokes. A four wheel drive system in a small car, not alot of companies do that .
I work as a spray painter in an accident repair centre and I can tell you that fiat aren't the only manufacturer who don't paint the underside of bonnets,boot floors , etc
Yes, it would have cost an extra pound to properly paint the underside of that bonnet. But hey, those in the upper echelons of Fiat might have missed on a few extra Euros in their executive bonuses, perhaps?
I had a MK2 in 1986 and was really happy with it, 4 speed and a 999cc F.I.R.E. engine(which i found funny at the time a fire engine in a panda car that just happened to be 999cc) and it cost a whopping £3400 new on the road, Like the look of this panda but i would have no use for a 4X4. Thanks for the video Ian
When you mentioned the MK 3 Panda had no 12V outlet, I immediately remembered renting one on holiday in Ireland back in 2014. My wife flew from the US and we were very jetlagged crawling all over the interior of the rental Panda trying in vain to find the outlet to plug our satnav in. Since it was a modern car, we were sure there had to be one - after all cigarette lighters have been featured in cars for at least the last 60 years. But we eventually gave up, returned to the rental counter, and demanded another car with the sheer luxury of a 12V outlet! :). Got a nice Renault Clio instead.
I love engines with character. This Panda sounds great. I had a Fiat Seicento Sporting Schumacher edition back in the day! We currently have two Dacia Dusters. One is a 1.3 4 cylinder turbo and goes really well, but my favourite is our 1.0 3 cylinder turbo! I know you don't do modern stuff, but would be nice to see what you make of the 3 cylinder Duster. I am pleasantly surprised with the performance for such a big lump of a car! The computer in the Duster definitely suggest gear changes way too early too!
I drove a Fiat Panda 4x4 twin air quite a lot for work some years ago and got a love/hate relationship with the drivetrain. My direct comparisons were a boring diesel van and a 75hp VW Up with a naturally aspirated 3 cylinder. I quite like cruising at low revs and being careful not to labour the engine, but you probably discovered the same as me at 15:35 that this engine starts to vibrate quite a lot at low revs and mid-high torque. Eco mode helped a lot here because it significantly reduced torque and minimized the shaking or forced you to downshift. The high torque is not helping economy either since high boost usually means high fuel to air ratio. Low revs in general were strange because you had all the torque at 2000, but coast down to 1500 and the car would apply throttle as if that was the new idle. I think it’s a six speed simply to give you enough ratios with the narrow power band. The performance was great for a cheap small car, even in Eco mode you still got most of the power if you revved it out and it was much better than the Up I drove which requires frequent downshift. The economy was pants though and even with my best effort in Eco mode (I weirdly like hypermiling) I couldn’t get the fuel economy anywhere closer to the Up. The 4x4 capability was excellent in the snow, I think the ELD brakes spinning wheels too as a faux LSD and I dug through really deep snow with it. I felt a lot more confident than in the 4x4 van I usually drove.
The Up! is gutless, and I do wish that a used TSI didn't cost twice as much as a 60/75 HP version. I bought a 60HP with sunroof for my wife at had it remapped to 75 HP (82 on the dyno). It revs out at app 85 kph in second gear.
@@jonreid7957 most be funny painting things and not full covering the part. Like one of my re spray cars I changed the colour and it looked fine till you opened any of the doors or the boot or bonnet. Still it was only a £200 paint job for a whole car re spray.
Mrs. has had the standard 4x4 TA for 7 years now and totally loves it. It's only used as a city car and it's really good at its job. It's quick and nippy in traffic, un-stopable in snow and has been very reliable to boot. Mpg = @32 but on the occasional run can get to @50mpg. It's well equipped too as well as all the stability/traction controls, it has a heated front screen + heated front seats. 6 air bags, autonomous braking, stop/start and hill hold assist. It also has a sliding rear bench seat enabling you to choose between more rear leg room, or boot space. It does take a bit of getting use to the TA engine though but, when mastered it'll reward you with a very amusing and pleasant driving experience. It's a car that has character, not flaws or so I'm told.😀
@@stefanobio7045 last September pads were at 60% f & 50% r worn, so should get through the next mot. Then it's being sold, to make way for new EV company car. So not our problem, as they say. I know they can be a bit of a problem though but, as it's always been serviced by FIAT I'm sure that they'll cope if need be.
@@stefanobio7045 Only if they're seized. Discs are fine, so only pads might need changing. So not all doom and gloom. It's still got under 23k on the clock too.
@@Hell-Hound1 Hi Hellhound ....new disc thickness are 11mm and require replacement at 9.2mm or less.....the pads are easy to change but the rear discs are not....even some Fiat garages do not know the correct procedure for removal.....
My Kia Ceed company car with it's 3 cylinder turbo engine also has an annoying computer telling you to change up far too early with the same labouring as you have experienced here with the Panda. Definitely another modern Hub Nut car in my opinion.
I have the normal (85 hp) version, driving it for 8 years now and stil liking it. No need to rev up the engine so much. Mine rarely gets over 3000 rpm. Then it's also verry fuel efficient, i never even used the eco mode.
A real car designed for the job, no fuss and ego, and not the size of a bus either. There is no future for cars like this given the modern driver.. Love that HubNut almost certainly never gets in a modern car and knows what is going on. Kudos to him. Twin air has the mpg of a Boxster flat 6 though...
Great review Ian. A friend of mine had one of these and we took it off road a few years ago. We took it off road along with a Discovery 2 and the Fiat went everywhere the Land Rover did. The only difference would be that push come to shove the Landy could have towed the little Fiat but not the other way around. I run two 500 TwinAirs. We've had an 85hp version for over ten years and a 105 hp for over three years. The 85hp 500 is five speed and the 105 has six with closer ratios (top is same in both cars). The 105hp produces the same torque but at 100rpm higher and had better brakes. The TA engines as you pointed out produce the most go in the mid range and start to run out of steam as soon as they got peek hp at around 5500 rpm. I think the gearbox in that Panda is set lower ratio than in the 500 to substitute a low range gearbox. Whichever TA you go for they are great fun. The Panda in many ways is the better car if you look at price and practicality.
I think it adds a lot to the drive having a characterful engine sound, much better than than a 4 cylinder drone, got a D5 Volvo and I love the noise it makes
I wasn't intending to watch this but then I heard "twin cylinder 360 deg crank", sounds like a motorbike! The styling cues carried over to the dash are nice for a modern car, they only just managed to avoid overdoing it. That has to be the shortest bonnet stay I have ever seen. Enjoyable, thank you.
Did someone mention how cute the MK3 cross is? That's why we bought ours. Next time your over Oxfordshire way Ian I'll make sure the o/h has taken my car to work.
Here during Winter in the French Pyrenees, people are dusting off their Panda 4x4 and Lada Niva. This annual practice serves as a warning to drivers who have not heeded the local laws regarding requiring snow tyres and chains to go to the weekly village market. The latter to be found awaiting a passing Lada Niva driver to haul them out of roadside ditches and hedges.
I drove a Lancia Ypsilon with the same engine for a few days, really quite impressed with the performance. Not terribly economical once your journeys are on motorways a lot, but otherwise pretty fun.
Great review! I've got the mk3 1.1 eco going in for my fifth MOT next month..will have over 140,000 miles on by then! Engine is sweet.. gearbox or linkages aren't great anymore TBH. Very notchy..did change the box fluid..I just drive it like I used drive older trucks..rev balance and the gears drop in..lol..no racing car. I've replaced the front struts/springs and disks, pads about 40,000 miles ago along with the rear dampers. Still on the original exhaust system! The sump did rust..a very common issue on the fire engine but cheap and reletevly easy to replace. I change oil twice a year. If she passes next MOT I'll fit a new cam belt kit from Gates and mebe some gear linkage cables;) Then to hit 200,000 miles! That's my goal for her! My old very rusty Cinquecento got to 170k miles...but with a lot of welding and head work etc etc etc.
I love seeing stuff like this. Over here, U.S, we are not allowed to buy cool things like this groovy little thing. I think the twin cylinder with a turbo is a brilliant way to do it.
I got my Panda Twin Air 4x4 in 2015. Absolutely loved it and it made country lanes so easy as I never had to worry about pulling on to verges to allow other vehicles to get by. Sadly, I found it was too much of a challenge for my existing vestibular problems (ear infection, had to stop working, couldn’t drive for 18 months, need walking sticks so I don’t fall over). Oddly, as a driver (once I’d been cleared to resume) it was just about okay but as a passenger it was too bouncy. The small wheelbase and overall height were just too much for my head (I have oscillopsia - bouncing vision) and I’d get car sick very quickly. I was gutted to see it go after two years but bought another Skoda Yeti (the car I’d had when my balance went in 2012, and which I’d sold because I wasn’t sure I’d ever drive again) which my head can cope with fine. I still miss my Panda, though. It could go anywhere, was a dream to park, handled beautifully and was the nippiest car I’ve ever had. Could never quite work out how such a tiny engine could be that responsive. Yes, it had drawbacks. It WAS noisy (road noise), yes, it was cramped in the back but that was only used by the dog, and the seatbelt height wasn’t adjustable. But still, if I could afford to have two cars I’d jump at the chance of owning another Panda 4x4 but would just be careful when and where I used it. The very fact that I’ve just watched this whole video tells me I’ll never quite get the Panda 4x4 out of my system. Super little cars, and I envy anyone who already has one, or is about to get one.
I'm not a fan of most new cars but this is a nice blend of old school and modern tech. Surprising performance from a twin cylinder. Fiat does need to up their quality game. It's killing them in the states. Thanks for sharing
Great review Ian. On the subject of quirky cars I'd love to see you review a smart four two 451. Yes the gearbox is awful (but you get used to it) and the suspension is crashy but it's so far out there and fun to drive.
There’s very few modern cars I like but the Panda, and the 500 “classic” and maybe the Ford Fiesta ST are the only new cars I would happily own. I like that dash and centre console where the gear lever is “near to hand”. Great review again Ian, thanks!
I can see why it's likeable. I'm not a 3 cylinder engine fan but I think I could warm to a 2 cylinder! It sounds like a Briggs and Stratton v twin. I think the cars overall simplicity is very hubnut, and something I like too.
Well congratulations on your purchase of Fiat Panda 🚗 I have the cross they are a great little car and fantastic off road and in snow ❄️ I’m sure you will have grate times ahead 👍🏻 Love the channel
When I last called out the RAC for a check engine light on my twinair alfa mito, the guy said it also had a missfire. I couldn't convince him that they just sound like that haha
At one point there was a rumor FCA would bring this car to the US (with the already Federalized Tigershark four). I think it would be a case of branding mattering - as a Fiat it would've disappeared without a trace but as a Jeep it would've been a million-selling, segment defining hit.
@@kamrankhan-lj1ng Not entirely true. The Fiesta was successful, as well as the Ford Festiva, which was a rebadged Kia. The Fiat 500 did reasonably well, especially during very high fuel prices. Honda Fit. Nissan Cube.
OH MY GOD I NEED IT its one of those no nonsense perfect car! that twin air with 6 speed manual and 4x4 is an interestingly good combination, obviously in a good way!
Love Pandas.... I have a 100HP as my modern classic and a FIAT 500x as my main car but very tempted to get one of these as the daily runner..... Just the leg room in the back that puts me off.
Have to say, I did look at buying a Mk4 Panda. Saw one in a well known dealer's forecourt (sounds like Barnold Bark) and I noticed that the paint had flaked off the rear wheel arch near the back door on the passenger's side. Asked if it would be fixed when I bought it. Salesman said no, but we do sell you the paint. Walked out at this point. The flaking paint on the rear wheel arch seems to be a 'thing' with this mark of Panda.
Fascinating car which I think is one of the best in the small car market . My Mk 1 Panda back in the day was a great wee car but it sure did rust . Hope Fiat red paint is more stable than it used to be . It rapidly became pink .Great video
With the black headlight surrounds it would look really cute painted like an actual Panda. The 1st edition of the Panda did not have the ability to charge a mobile phone as they weren't around then, well not pocket size ones, they had to be charged in a base station and had about an eight hour battery life on stand by, only about an hour or less call time. Carrying a charged extra battery was essential.
We had one of the earlier regular modern Pandas with the huge back light unit which I liked very much. Slightly cramped driver leg room due to the central gear change unit but we loved it, they are great fun and great little cars! Thanks for posting.
I did say first gear was ridiculously short! I love the sound they make though, so much like a 126, but much, much faster! Impressed with the MPG on that one though, I can only seem to get 32mpg out of my (105bhp) 500 twinair, admittedly driven hard, in town 90% of the time..
Ive got one and its an amazing car. Way better than the usual soft roaders or heavy range rovers. Great in cities. I even head up the dales in the worst snow and it ploughs through drifts and never ever gets stuck. One amazing car off road as its got so much grip and its so light. Clutch gave up at 33,000 miles though. Only does 40mpg. Eco mode kills the character of the engine. First gear is very short but really helps off road. Otherwise a great car, full of character, one of the best off roaders around and ill keep it till it dies.
I had a 2012 non-Cross one of these (e.g. a very early Mk4, think that was the year they came out) with the 1.2 engine. It was actually a surprisingly capable car, even on long motorway trips. Note that was a Pop (e.g. super low spec) so no AC and no boot latch either, you had to open it with the key--you had to get a higher spec to get such luxuries.
I've been waiting to see your reaction to that engine, glad you liked it! You really do make you change your driving style to suit. Imagine the board meeting 'Right, new idea, we'll chuck away 2 cylinders and the inlet cam, add a turbo and balance shaft and see what happens, ok?...... 😋 only Fiat. Fun little things 😁 I can't believe they've been around that long (I was still an apprentice when they appeared) look up 'Uniair module' on RUclips for some interesting technical bits
In 30 years the shopkeepers of Naples will be using these to get to their stores at the top of Vesuvius, just as the present owners use Mk1 Panda 4x4s!
Live on a small (hilly) Greek island and almost got one of these, but went for the new Jimny instead. Would have been equally happy with both. Great review as always Ian. Thanks.
The original Panda 4X4, that was a serious offroader if there had ever been one, didn't have reduced gears. It only had a very short first gear (you normally started in second on road). That's why this car has six gears. You really don't need reduced gears in a so lightweight offroader, only a very short first.
I had the last revision of the Punto for a few years with the TwinAir, whack a discrete ish pod filter on and you get an even more pleasant two cylinder thrum and turbo flutter, very amusing!
These Fiats look very cool with granulated military green matte paint and black wheels. They are incredibly capable off road, almost as capable as a Mercedes G Class or a Suzuki Jimny.
Great road test; I too like the new camera angles; gave a better view of what scenery you're driving thru...the engine note reminds me of the old Honda N600 we got in the States; a similar parallel twin w/ a 360 degree crank; even-firing, but very shaky on anything of larger displacement (extreme e.g. being a John Deere R model diesel twin)!
Love the sound of that little engine, I think my 19 year old C3 might get replaced with a Panda, when I can finally wear it out! I too dislike the 'Change Up Now' indicators on modern cars. Our C4 Picasso isn't happy until 6th is engaged, but unless it's at motorway speeds the car is less economical than in 5th, which all seems a bit pointless.
Yeah, I have ignored the warnings to move up the gears when I have taken out hire cars. Thankfully my old MG ZR doesnt have such nonsense installed. Allows me to enjoy a revvy engine that thrives on high revs, without being annoyed by Mr Policeman on the dashboard! Only time I will deliberately change up gear early is when the engine is cold.
Couple of years ago I was up on the Cairngorm,s, the Mountain rescue people and found out they were still running around in market one Pandas 4x4 because they said they found they could get to places in snow that the bigger four-wheel-drive couldn’t, the thought of a Land-rover stuck and a little Panda whizzing past I think that deserves a little respect I think
The non 4x4 panda from the 80's was great in snow on the road with its narrow wheels and boxy styling and low weight...so any panda 4x4 must be great
The Fiat Panda is one of the few modern cars that I actually like. The other notable one is the new Dacia Sandero.
Suzuki Jimny isn't that bad either, nice shape
I quite like the dacia duster
The Sandero is an incredible deal, especially the version with LPG. It's a last gen Clio, which in its own right was a great car, but can't be beaten in terms of value.
@@Luckyjo21 in my country " Netherlands " a new Jimny costs 45000 ish Euro .... can't compare that with the money of a Panda or Sandero ... not even close
Totally agree!
I drove it back from North Wales to Dorset today. I took me 9 hours because I wanted to go the long way :).
Thanks for letting me drive it. Very enjoyable.
Was the car really as slow as it looks with the lawnmower engine?😂
@@jonjones6583 It was OK. Nothing special but 85hp in a small light car is not too bad.
@@andrewthornegeo I am downsizing to a Panda cross, so I to will have to get used to a small engine vehicle, for cost and saving the planet 🌏 Thanks for your feedback anyway.
It's so great to see that quirktastic, small-ish cars are still being made, and it's undoubtedly Italian
Not any more, it’s been replaced with a 3 cylinder engine somewhere in 2020 I think.
@@CreRay Aw that's a shame, though it wouldn't surprise me since the average buyer isn't looking for quirky and characterful
@@CreRay The 4x4 still comes with the TA engine.
Fiat don't make a three pot I don't think. They may get their hands on the PSA one now they're in the same family.
@@HubNut The new “mild hybrid” Fiat 1.0L engines are 3 cylinder units.
Delighted you get it Ian - we have one, and it's been flawless for 3 years. Honestly, I can't stop laughing when I drive it (it's the wife's car and school run machine), bags of charisma, hilarious engine note, and it rides wonderfully for a small car. We live in the Chiltern Hills and get snow in winter, Fiat specced it with All Season tyres, and it's a proper mountain goat. On snow, and the green stuff, unstoppable. 1st is short, on ice and snow, you let the clutch out and all the EBD/4x4 gummings takes over. The torque is there, it'll idle happily and crawl you along. So you can just work the throttle, one less pedal to worry about. It embarrasses a lot of heavy Teutonic machinery (usually on the wrong tyres).
We'll definitely be getting another, and we won't be parted with the one we have.
I had the diesel 4x4 Panda in 2015 but it was doing 4k RPM at 70 in fifth, really poor, no idea what thats all about. Im considering the twinair version in a few months as its awful weather in winter at my girlfriends. Great on motorway with the 6 speed box.
I had a bright yellow fiat 500 twinair, as a male, mid-30's, I think a lot of people thought I was a wolly. I honestly loved driving that around, really nippy and that smile inducing engine sound. May keep an eye open for one of these Pandas.
Oh, do you need a BMW to be a real man? That's what I've been doing wrong all these years.
Hi Hubnut. I am a 77-year-old retired car mechanic. In my time I have owned many cars, and have also modified many, my first was a 100e van that I fitted a 1340cc Ford engine in, I later installed a Mk1 2263cc, Ford Zephry engine and gearbox with a Wooller Engineering floor change conversion, fast and fun, but it kept breaking half shafts. Some of the other cars I have modified was a Mk 2 Cornina, that I fitted a 289 small block V8 ford engine and RUG 4 speed gearbox from a written off Sunbeam Tiger. My most fun car a 1959 Mk1 Austin A40 Countryman, that I fitted with a 1608cc twin cam Fiat 125s, with twin IDA weber carbs, Mk3 Sprite discs, Riley 1.5 diff, and rear brakes, Morris 1000 rack and pinion steering. In that car I was clocked at 117 mph on the M2 motorway, by a police Rover 3500s, lost my licence for a year! Anyway, to the point, if you ever get a chance, try a Smart Fourtwo 453, auto, turbo, 2014 on. I have one, and it is amazing, I am the third owner, I wonder if it has been remapped. The engine is three cylinder 898cc turbocharged with supposed 89bhp and 100lb of torque, and mine has the six speed auto/manual gearbox. It is so fast I cannot believe it, going up quite steep hill, it will hit 90/100 mph! Maybe mine has been remapped, but if not, wow! Celtic Tuning, down here in Cornwall where I live, tell me they can stage one remap the engine to 129bhp and 142lb torque. I am tempted. If you were nearer to where I live I would bring my Smart over to you for a drive, but in any case, if you can, get a test drive of a 453 Smart Fourtwo Turbo, It is like a mini Porsche 911, with the same swap end tendency, in short a real driver car, well mine is, as to top speed, I chickened out at 115 recorded on my satnav. Best regards, Len. PS don't tell the fuzz!
I bought my son a Alfa Romeo MiTo with the 105HP Twin Air engine. I love it! Such a characterful happy car. We have had a fantastic summer with the Alfa Romeo Club and even took it around Brands Hatch. I think you need a MiTo TwinAir in your life. You are welcome to try out our one.
..................and the MiTo has farmless windows!
What's the fuel consumption like?
@@toyotaprius79 Not great if I am honest - 40mpg 'ish. However, it makes such a cool nice when you floor it........so. I am sure if you were a bit more restrained you could get 50mpg and perhaps more.
Grande Panda cross 4x4 👍 💪🐼🇮🇪
I’m tempted to get one as a cheap to run car so I don’t have to use my Alpina as much, as my Dad has a Skoda Superb estate I’m insured on if I need to haul big loads around.
Totally not just looking for an excuse to satisfy my desire for a small Italian car with a little engine….
"I like goth chicks"
Hubnut for life 🤘
Heck yes!
Does Mrs. HubNut know this!? :P
She is aware. Not averse to a bit of dark eye makeup...
@@HubNut what you or her?
My first thought was that this must be Mrs. HubNut's car.
You see a Hubnut road test and you soon learn about the good and bad points of a car.
As always very watchable.
It is a damn Fiat. There are none. Every damn one we had lived up to its Fix It Again Tony name.
Every time I’m watching one of your videos I quickly find myself flicking over to auto trader to see if I can have whatever you’re driving in my life
Fiat Panda 4x4, even going as far back as the originals, has always been the best small 4x4 for the money...great little workhorses. Very difficult to find second hand ones, even the previous generation, as owners just hold on to them forever
These always make me happy when I see them - cheerful and purposeful at the same time. Loving the fuctionalist approach of all Pandas.
Ive had two twinair Fiats. The lag and surge between gears I found tiring after a while due to there only being two cylinders, and learned that the key to smooth progress is to change up gears quickly before the revs get too high. Its not built for fast acceleration, its built to pull from low down the rev range and is a more relaxing journey by driving the way I mentioned.
Love this! I had a Mk1 Panda back in the early 90’s, not new, and was a really good, honest little car. Loved it. I have a 1970 500 these days, my small, slow, noisy, air cooled but really enjoyable Italian ‘Super car’. Well, you know.
The Panda is so much better than the new 500. Great review.
Fab video, Ian, thanks a lot. Glad you liked it. Our Panda 4x4 Twin-air is epic. Feels extremely solid, is very nippy, and goes great on the farm as well as the road. Mud & snow tyres do help! The Naples build quality is top notch. All of the tech tricks work and seem well implemented. Couple of anomalies noted: Ours is the 'normal' 4x4 and has a funky two tone dash with rear centre seatbelt and head rest. Legroom in rear is fine and I'm 6 foot tall, odd that you didn't fit.
Some models have the rear seat slide backwards and forwards.
Actually Ian if you don’t thrash it all the time you’ll discover that it is “acceptably smooth” and refined, especially at motorway speeds, and due to the torque it is nicer to drive than say a 107/Aygo/C1.
The non-turbo variant which was sold here in the Netherlands (first 65 and then 60 horsepower) is much louder outside and has a very distinct exhaust sound. Not *that* engine sounds like something from the past.
the aygo doesnt break near as often
I agree with CreRay......but as I have discovered with hubnut, the moment he gets behind the wheel he turns into his alter ego Ernest Thrasher.....and then wonders why he has soo many problems with his fleet. Ian, it's a city car with (very) good offroad capabilities.....so treat it for what it is, stop thrashing the nuts off it and fer chrissake stop picking holes with every little niggle you can think of......and breathe. So apart from the above, an interesting road test.......though there's absolutely no way I'd let you test one of my cars, as I expect to get several years out of them and still be able to sell them afterwards.
I do spank the arse off pretty much everything. It isn't why my cars all suffer - the issues are all generally because I buy poor examples. And don't look after them as well as I could... Elly's original engine put up with 80,000 miles of thrashing with scarcely any bother, making it to 170,000 miles in total. As long as you're not over-revving, hard use is more likely to benefit an engine than ruin it.
Most engines benefit from an "old Italian tune up" so keep it up Ian.😉
@@HubNut Nothing wrong with giving cars a good spanking........Mine get spanked all the time ...and mine don't break down lol......
I own a 2CV and a Panda 4X4 TwinAir, I'm a very happy man! So pleased you got the chance to try out the Panda. Great content as always Ian.
Well, at least you know what to look out for in 10-15 years time when you're looking for a "Hubnut" car,,, I love small fiats, they have character and (for the driver at least) are more comfortable than you'd imagine for cars of their size.
It would have been scrapped long before it's 10th birthday
@@Snarfcat Unlikely, there are still many older Fiats on the road. I sold my 1998 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo a few years back and it's still going strong with it's new owner at 23 years old. Loads of Puntos around still as well.
@@ferrumignis I was thinking scrappage schemes to move people over to electric with big incentives
@@Snarfcat Do you not think these small petrol cars will become very desirable, especially where charging an electric car is not practical for some owners ?
@@nigelbaldwin752 The network is getting better by the week, most supermarkets now have chargers and I can see a day when every space has one for when you shop.
We are moving into generation 4 with cars now having 800 volt charge systems and minimum of 300 miles ranges.
In the next couple of years we will see more solid state batteries and batteries with 1 000 mile ranges that can be charged in 5 minutes.
A UK team has proven this technology and it will not take long to come to market.
Great video Ian you should make some stickers with the text "hubnut tested" to put on tested cars!
I had a twinair panda trekking, 4x4 styling but front wheel drive with a button on the console that improved traction. Absolutely loved the engine, really sad when I had to let the car go. Really glad you've had the chance to feature this car, I'd definitely have another if one came along!
I have had my 2014 panda 4x4 for over 3 years now , best car I have ever had such a novelty to drive
I really like the panda. There's something sort of plucky about it with that boxy practicality and shrunken off roader looks. The engine sounds brilliant too.
Also, loved that the day running lights appeared to flicker in time to the music at the end
Subaru made a two cylinder engine in the late 80's that fired simultaneously and rotated in unison. It was smooth and free revving and a bundle of fun to drive. I had one in a Sherpa.
Daihatsu did as well. Twin cylinder was the way for kei cars for a time.
Well that went badly. My sisters first car was a 665cc 2 cylinder Sherpa, characterful little car and hoot to drive.
What with you raving about the X1/9, loving this and buying a Multipla, I'd say you're finally converted to the Fiat life 😉
Grew up as a teenager with a 1993 Fiat Panda 999cc!
Always loved the look of the Panda Cross's, I had a 1965? 500 nova and drove it for many years, maybe 6, I know that sound, and often wished it had a turbo on it... I brought an Uno Turbo, and now have a couple of 20vt coupes. I am now looking for a Panda Cross again, thanks Hub Nut, for reminding me of how driving flat out in an under powered car is more fun, and safer, than doing it in a wildly over powered one. I say all power to the under powered, you have to drive it, not the other way round... As always a good watch.
I agree! One of my favourite cars was an Uno 1100.... it was an absolute hoot! I don't recall ever going over 80 in it (probably wasn't much more available anyway!), I wonder why I got rid of it now....? I think it still worked....
I think Fiat didn't market this engine properly. It was hailed as a fuel-sipper, but it actually is quite an enthusiast's engine, fun to drive and... Not as economical as people expected, consequently. Brilliant piece of engineering though.
Correct... it was supposed to appeal to people who liked to thrash old 2-stroke scooters and motorbikes....
When you lifted the bonnet and revealed the lack of paint, that bugged me alot but other than that , the styling and function is really good and i think these cars keep Fiat in the market place. I think they really moved on from the Fix It Again Tomorrow Jokes. A four wheel drive system in a small car, not alot of companies do that .
I work as a spray painter in an accident repair centre and I can tell you that fiat aren't the only manufacturer who don't paint the underside of bonnets,boot floors , etc
Yes, it would have cost an extra pound to properly paint the underside of that bonnet. But hey, those in the upper echelons of Fiat might have missed on a few extra Euros in their executive bonuses, perhaps?
I had a MK2 in 1986 and was really happy with it, 4 speed and a 999cc F.I.R.E. engine(which i found funny at the time a fire engine in a panda car that just happened to be 999cc) and it cost a whopping £3400 new on the road, Like the look of this panda but i would have no use for a 4X4. Thanks for the video Ian
When you mentioned the MK 3 Panda had no 12V outlet, I immediately remembered renting one on holiday in Ireland back in 2014. My wife flew from the US and we were very jetlagged crawling all over the interior of the rental Panda trying in vain to find the outlet to plug our satnav in. Since it was a modern car, we were sure there had to be one - after all cigarette lighters have been featured in cars for at least the last 60 years. But we eventually gave up, returned to the rental counter, and demanded another car with the sheer luxury of a 12V outlet! :). Got a nice Renault Clio instead.
I love engines with character. This Panda sounds great. I had a Fiat Seicento Sporting Schumacher edition back in the day! We currently have two Dacia Dusters. One is a 1.3 4 cylinder turbo and goes really well, but my favourite is our 1.0 3 cylinder turbo! I know you don't do modern stuff, but would be nice to see what you make of the 3 cylinder Duster. I am pleasantly surprised with the performance for such a big lump of a car! The computer in the Duster definitely suggest gear changes way too early too!
It's worth saying that the twin air engine really smooths out after bedding in around 25,000 miles; after that they remain buzzy, but silky smooth.
That's when they are on the flatbed truck going to scrap?
@@jusb1066 how original. Well done.
@@anthonyknox1493 I've had two, a 500 and a panda, never again, both suffered ECU issues and the gearbox failure
@@jusb1066 that's bad luck, both mine never skipped a beat; more than can be said for the Audi I owned previously!
@@anthonyknox1493 I had a ford fiesta for 20-years never even changed a light bulb,
I had a twin air in my Alfa Mito 105 bhp ,i found the twin air put a smile on your face ...Now have the Miito with the multiair
I drove a Fiat Panda 4x4 twin air quite a lot for work some years ago and got a love/hate relationship with the drivetrain. My direct comparisons were a boring diesel van and a 75hp VW Up with a naturally aspirated 3 cylinder.
I quite like cruising at low revs and being careful not to labour the engine, but you probably discovered the same as me at 15:35 that this engine starts to vibrate quite a lot at low revs and mid-high torque. Eco mode helped a lot here because it significantly reduced torque and minimized the shaking or forced you to downshift. The high torque is not helping economy either since high boost usually means high fuel to air ratio.
Low revs in general were strange because you had all the torque at 2000, but coast down to 1500 and the car would apply throttle as if that was the new idle. I think it’s a six speed simply to give you enough ratios with the narrow power band.
The performance was great for a cheap small car, even in Eco mode you still got most of the power if you revved it out and it was much better than the Up I drove which requires frequent downshift. The economy was pants though and even with my best effort in Eco mode (I weirdly like hypermiling) I couldn’t get the fuel economy anywhere closer to the Up.
The 4x4 capability was excellent in the snow, I think the ELD brakes spinning wheels too as a faux LSD and I dug through really deep snow with it. I felt a lot more confident than in the 4x4 van I usually drove.
Nice analysis. I read over and over that the twinair is not economical, which is a shame.
The Up! is gutless, and I do wish that a used TSI didn't cost twice as much as a 60/75 HP version. I bought a 60HP with sunroof for my wife at had it remapped to 75 HP (82 on the dyno). It revs out at app 85 kph in second gear.
I have a 2018 Fiat 500 twinair with 85 hp - love it - great sound. The two pistons up at the same time is the same as my old Triumph twin bike.
I've just bought a 2013 Panda 4x4 Twinair for my new daily. Can't wait to pick it up
I agree, this is a modern car done right! All it needs is some color to the interior.
Some colour to the bonnet would be nice too...
@@jonreid7957 most be funny painting things and not full covering the part. Like one of my re spray cars I changed the colour and it looked fine till you opened any of the doors or the boot or bonnet. Still it was only a £200 paint job for a whole car re spray.
The last couple of BMWs I had used a similar strategy - odd to peer into the boot of a £33,000 car and see unpainted metal!
@@simonhodgetts6530 i can buy four 2CVs with that amount of money
@@Wok_Agenda I'm pretty sure you can't anymore.
Mrs. has had the standard 4x4 TA for 7 years now and totally loves it. It's only used as a city car and it's really good at its job. It's quick and nippy in traffic, un-stopable in snow and has been very reliable to boot. Mpg = @32 but on the occasional run can get to @50mpg. It's well equipped too as well as all the stability/traction controls, it has a heated front screen + heated front seats. 6 air bags, autonomous braking, stop/start and hill hold assist. It also has a sliding rear bench seat enabling you to choose between more rear leg room, or boot space. It does take a bit of getting use to the TA engine though but, when mastered it'll reward you with a very amusing and pleasant driving experience. It's a car that has character, not flaws or so I'm told.😀
Hi Hell hound......wait to your rear brake discs and pads need changing......
@@stefanobio7045 last September pads were at 60% f & 50% r worn, so should get through the next mot. Then it's being sold, to make way for new EV company car. So not our problem, as they say. I know they can be a bit of a problem though but, as it's always been serviced by FIAT I'm sure that they'll cope if need be.
@@Hell-Hound1 Hi Hell Hound...thats good news for you, its an expensive job at Fiat.....
@@stefanobio7045 Only if they're seized. Discs are fine, so only pads might need changing. So not all doom and gloom. It's still got under 23k on the clock too.
@@Hell-Hound1 Hi Hellhound ....new disc thickness are 11mm and require replacement at 9.2mm or less.....the pads are easy to change but the rear discs are not....even some Fiat garages do not know the correct procedure for removal.....
My Kia Ceed company car with it's 3 cylinder turbo engine also has an annoying computer telling you to change up far too early with the same labouring as you have experienced here with the Panda. Definitely another modern Hub Nut car in my opinion.
I have the normal (85 hp) version, driving it for 8 years now and stil liking it.
No need to rev up the engine so much. Mine rarely gets over 3000 rpm.
Then it's also verry fuel efficient, i never even used the eco mode.
I like that, it is different and stands out. That engine is very interesting as well.
You should try a 100hp. I owned one of these a while back and for what it was it was a hoot to drive!
I can confirm (I own a 2008 100HP). With a real "sport" button. ;)
I also owned a 100hp absolutely mad machine, one of the most fun cars to drive, owned for four years, much missed.
this car looks so happy and sounds peppy
A real car designed for the job, no fuss and ego, and not the size of a bus either. There is no future for cars like this given the modern driver.. Love that HubNut almost certainly never gets in a modern car and knows what is going on. Kudos to him. Twin air has the mpg of a Boxster flat 6 though...
Great review Ian.
A friend of mine had one of these and we took it off road a few years ago. We took it off road along with a Discovery 2 and the Fiat went everywhere the Land Rover did. The only difference would be that push come to shove the Landy could have towed the little Fiat but not the other way around.
I run two 500 TwinAirs. We've had an 85hp version for over ten years and a 105 hp for over three years. The 85hp 500 is five speed and the 105 has six with closer ratios (top is same in both cars). The 105hp produces the same torque but at 100rpm higher and had better brakes. The TA engines as you pointed out produce the most go in the mid range and start to run out of steam as soon as they got peek hp at around 5500 rpm.
I think the gearbox in that Panda is set lower ratio than in the 500 to substitute a low range gearbox. Whichever TA you go for they are great fun. The Panda in many ways is the better car if you look at price and practicality.
I think it adds a lot to the drive having a characterful engine sound, much better than than a 4 cylinder drone, got a D5 Volvo and I love the noise it makes
I wasn't intending to watch this but then I heard "twin cylinder 360 deg crank", sounds like a motorbike! The styling cues carried over to the dash are nice for a modern car, they only just managed to avoid overdoing it. That has to be the shortest bonnet stay I have ever seen. Enjoyable, thank you.
Did someone mention how cute the MK3 cross is? That's why we bought ours. Next time your over Oxfordshire way Ian I'll make sure the o/h has taken my car to work.
Here during Winter in the French Pyrenees, people are dusting off their Panda 4x4 and Lada Niva. This annual practice serves as a warning to drivers who have not heeded the local laws regarding requiring snow tyres and chains to go to the weekly village market. The latter to be found awaiting a passing Lada Niva driver to haul them out of roadside ditches and hedges.
I drove a Lancia Ypsilon with the same engine for a few days, really quite impressed with the performance. Not terribly economical once your journeys are on motorways a lot, but otherwise pretty fun.
Great review! I've got the mk3 1.1 eco going in for my fifth MOT next month..will have over 140,000 miles on by then!
Engine is sweet.. gearbox or linkages aren't great anymore TBH. Very notchy..did change the box fluid..I just drive it like I used drive older trucks..rev balance and the gears drop in..lol..no racing car.
I've replaced the front struts/springs and disks, pads about 40,000 miles ago along with the rear dampers.
Still on the original exhaust system!
The sump did rust..a very common issue on the fire engine but cheap and reletevly easy to replace.
I change oil twice a year.
If she passes next MOT I'll fit a new cam belt kit from Gates and mebe some gear linkage cables;)
Then to hit 200,000 miles! That's my goal for her!
My old very rusty Cinquecento got to 170k miles...but with a lot of welding and head work etc etc etc.
I love seeing stuff like this. Over here, U.S, we are not allowed to buy cool things like this groovy little thing. I think the twin cylinder with a turbo is a brilliant way to do it.
I got my Panda Twin Air 4x4 in 2015. Absolutely loved it and it made country lanes so easy as I never had to worry about pulling on to verges to allow other vehicles to get by. Sadly, I found it was too much of a challenge for my existing vestibular problems (ear infection, had to stop working, couldn’t drive for 18 months, need walking sticks so I don’t fall over). Oddly, as a driver (once I’d been cleared to resume) it was just about okay but as a passenger it was too bouncy. The small wheelbase and overall height were just too much for my head (I have oscillopsia - bouncing vision) and I’d get car sick very quickly. I was gutted to see it go after two years but bought another Skoda Yeti (the car I’d had when my balance went in 2012, and which I’d sold because I wasn’t sure I’d ever drive again) which my head can cope with fine. I still miss my Panda, though. It could go anywhere, was a dream to park, handled beautifully and was the nippiest car I’ve ever had. Could never quite work out how such a tiny engine could be that responsive. Yes, it had drawbacks. It WAS noisy (road noise), yes, it was cramped in the back but that was only used by the dog, and the seatbelt height wasn’t adjustable. But still, if I could afford to have two cars I’d jump at the chance of owning another Panda 4x4 but would just be careful when and where I used it.
The very fact that I’ve just watched this whole video tells me I’ll never quite get the Panda 4x4 out of my system. Super little cars, and I envy anyone who already has one, or is about to get one.
Glade to see you testing this fab little 4x4🏴
I'm not a fan of most new cars but this is a nice blend of old school and modern tech. Surprising performance from a twin cylinder. Fiat does need to up their quality game. It's killing them in the states. Thanks for sharing
Great review Ian. On the subject of quirky cars I'd love to see you review a smart four two 451. Yes the gearbox is awful (but you get used to it) and the suspension is crashy but it's so far out there and fun to drive.
There’s very few modern cars I like but the Panda, and the 500 “classic” and maybe the Ford Fiesta ST are the only new cars I would happily own.
I like that dash and centre console where the gear lever is “near to hand”.
Great review again Ian, thanks!
if these were sold in the USA, id know my next car. absolutely adore that sound, and that it doesnt look angry
I can see why it's likeable. I'm not a 3 cylinder engine fan but I think I could warm to a 2 cylinder! It sounds like a Briggs and Stratton v twin. I think the cars overall simplicity is very hubnut, and something I like too.
Well congratulations on your purchase of Fiat Panda 🚗 I have the cross they are a great little car and fantastic off road and in snow ❄️ I’m sure you will have grate times ahead 👍🏻
Love the channel
Wowsers, multi-camera shoot… just like the car itself, so modern! :-)
Loving your work, as always Ian.
I really appreciate cheap and small cars, you get to see careful engineering to cut costs while jamming as much features as you can.
When I last called out the RAC for a check engine light on my twinair alfa mito, the guy said it also had a missfire. I couldn't convince him that they just sound like that haha
My daughter just bought a twin-air Panda Trekking. It's a wonderful car and not that small either :-)
At one point there was a rumor FCA would bring this car to the US (with the already Federalized Tigershark four). I think it would be a case of branding mattering - as a Fiat it would've disappeared without a trace but as a Jeep it would've been a million-selling, segment defining hit.
It has a great sound! And that’s plenty of horsepower for most people. Surprised this configuration isn’t more common.
I prefer this twinair to most three cylinders with the exception of the shared 1.5 in the Yaris and Mazda 2 hybrids, plus the 1.5 in Mini and BMW.
I like this, I like this a lot! I LOVE the sound of the engine!
How I wish Fiat would import this to the US!
Smallish cars never succeeded in the US, except perhaps the Beetle and the Rabbit.
@@kamrankhan-lj1ng Not entirely true. The Fiesta was successful, as well as the Ford Festiva, which was a rebadged Kia. The Fiat 500 did reasonably well, especially during very high fuel prices. Honda Fit. Nissan Cube.
OH MY GOD I NEED IT
its one of those no nonsense perfect car!
that twin air with 6 speed manual and 4x4 is an interestingly good combination, obviously in a good way!
Out-tro music and a blooper… you really are spoiling us
What a nice soundtrack! The first generation Panda also had a twin (30bhp!) as an option for some markets, as did the Cinquecento of the 1990's.
Love Pandas.... I have a 100HP as my modern classic and a FIAT 500x as my main car but very tempted to get one of these as the daily runner..... Just the leg room in the back that puts me off.
some of the earlier ta pandas had the option of a sliding rear seat.
Nice that it's still recognisable as a Panda, just updated like the 500.
Have to say, I did look at buying a Mk4 Panda. Saw one in a well known dealer's forecourt (sounds like Barnold Bark) and I noticed that the paint had flaked off the rear wheel arch near the back door on the passenger's side. Asked if it would be fixed when I bought it. Salesman said no, but we do sell you the paint. Walked out at this point. The flaking paint on the rear wheel arch seems to be a 'thing' with this mark of Panda.
What a GREAT sound !!! Its very very much a FIAT !
Fascinating car which I think is one of the best in the small car market . My Mk 1 Panda back in the day was a great wee car but it sure did rust . Hope Fiat red paint is more stable than it used to be . It rapidly became pink .Great video
i think this is the only car review i have seen where someone actually shows off the Wipers
With the black headlight surrounds it would look really cute painted like an actual Panda.
The 1st edition of the Panda did not have the ability to charge a mobile phone as they weren't around then, well not pocket size ones, they had to be charged in a base station and had about an eight hour battery life on stand by, only about an hour or less call time. Carrying a charged extra battery was essential.
We had one of the earlier regular modern Pandas with the huge back light unit which I liked very much.
Slightly cramped driver leg room due to the central gear change unit but we loved it, they are great fun and great little cars!
Thanks for posting.
Is it just me, or does this car look like Deadpool?
All the Panda models are built in Italy, not only the 4x4, the 4x2 too
They are now, but the MK3 Panda was built in Poland.
I did say first gear was ridiculously short! I love the sound they make though, so much like a 126, but much, much faster! Impressed with the MPG on that one though, I can only seem to get 32mpg out of my (105bhp) 500 twinair, admittedly driven hard, in town 90% of the time..
Ive got one and its an amazing car. Way better than the usual soft roaders or heavy range rovers. Great in cities. I even head up the dales in the worst snow and it ploughs through drifts and never ever gets stuck. One amazing car off road as its got so much grip and its so light. Clutch gave up at 33,000 miles though. Only does 40mpg. Eco mode kills the character of the engine. First gear is very short but really helps off road. Otherwise a great car, full of character, one of the best off roaders around and ill keep it till it dies.
I had a 2012 non-Cross one of these (e.g. a very early Mk4, think that was the year they came out) with the 1.2 engine. It was actually a surprisingly capable car, even on long motorway trips. Note that was a Pop (e.g. super low spec) so no AC and no boot latch either, you had to open it with the key--you had to get a higher spec to get such luxuries.
Ian really enjoyed this test - twin cylinder ! Yes surprising how civilised it is Another fine. In depth test with a commentary to match ! 👍🇬🇧👏
I've been waiting to see your reaction to that engine, glad you liked it! You really do make you change your driving style to suit. Imagine the board meeting 'Right, new idea, we'll chuck away 2 cylinders and the inlet cam, add a turbo and balance shaft and see what happens, ok?...... 😋 only Fiat. Fun little things 😁 I can't believe they've been around that long (I was still an apprentice when they appeared) look up 'Uniair module' on RUclips for some interesting technical bits
In 30 years the shopkeepers of Naples will be using these to get to their stores at the top of Vesuvius, just as the present owners use Mk1 Panda 4x4s!
Live on a small (hilly) Greek island and almost got one of these, but went for the new Jimny instead. Would have been equally happy with both. Great review as always Ian. Thanks.
More Fiat appreciation from Hubnut, wonders will never cease 👍
The original Panda 4X4, that was a serious offroader if there had ever been one, didn't have reduced gears. It only had a very short first gear (you normally started in second on road).
That's why this car has six gears. You really don't need reduced gears in a so lightweight offroader, only a very short first.
I had the last revision of the Punto for a few years with the TwinAir, whack a discrete ish pod filter on and you get an even more pleasant two cylinder thrum and turbo flutter, very amusing!
These Fiats look very cool with granulated military green matte paint and black wheels. They are incredibly capable off road, almost as capable as a Mercedes G Class or a Suzuki Jimny.
When you revved it at the end, it sounded like a 2 straoke. I was waiting for the ring.. ding ..ding on the overrun.
I just got a Mk3 1.2 which I think produces 102Nm And I believe it. But it’s absolutely brilliant
A thumbs up for the inclusion of the outtake at the end.
Amazing little cars australia missed out on. We never got the 4x4 here.
Great road test; I too like the new camera angles; gave a better view of what scenery you're driving thru...the engine note reminds me of the old Honda N600 we got in the States; a similar parallel twin w/ a 360 degree crank; even-firing, but very shaky on anything of larger displacement (extreme e.g. being a John Deere R model diesel twin)!
I don't like much after 2000 or so, but I really like the little Fiat ☺️
Love the sound of that little engine, I think my 19 year old C3 might get replaced with a Panda, when I can finally wear it out!
I too dislike the 'Change Up Now' indicators on modern cars. Our C4 Picasso isn't happy until 6th is engaged, but unless it's at motorway speeds the car is less economical than in 5th, which all seems a bit pointless.
Yeah, I have ignored the warnings to move up the gears when I have taken out hire cars. Thankfully my old MG ZR doesnt have such nonsense installed. Allows me to enjoy a revvy engine that thrives on high revs, without being annoyed by Mr Policeman on the dashboard! Only time I will deliberately change up gear early is when the engine is cold.
The 4x4 selector in the original panda 4x4 was a floor mounted handle the same shape as the modern handbrake, a little nod to the past.