The Fiat Panda Cross has had me vexed for a while. I needed to see it in the metal in order to get my head around its dimensions, and now I have. It isn’t a chubby Panda, rather one that’s been cleverly mutated into a compact MPV and with all-wheel drive to boot. Sort of like its 500L sibling then, but lither and boxier all at once - a Pokemon box in Deadpool livery.
Obligatory side mouldings and branding - Does that say CROOO?
It’s cutesy to the max, with a boxy stance and an airy cabin awash with sunlight thanks to a tall greenhouse. To justify that Cross moniker it gets the obligatory plastic side mouldings and guards, a clue to its 24 degree approach angle, 21 degree break over angle and 34 degree departure angle. Poor thing thinks it’s a Jeep.
It also has a shiny chrome exhaust tip, because city slicker too? Obviously it is the largest of the Pandas, at 3,705mm long, 1882mm wide and 1657mm tall so plenty of living space. That means we must...
Hop aboard the Crimson Carton
It is a funky living area this, red and black and grey in between with grippy pews and no slouch in the departments marked tactile and ergonomic – mind you it took a bloody while for me to pair my phone but I figured it out eventually. Also I needed to get my head around the location of the electric window winders on the dash. And this adorable two-cylinder engine has no guts when climbing large hills.
An airy, comfy cabin is complimented by decent standard specs
On-board kit includes a six speaker audio and multimedia system with a UconnectTM 5 inch touchscreen interface, enabling Bluetooth connectivity as well as USB and AUX plus voiceover commands. And then there’s the raft of safety kit, acronyms such as ABS, EBD, ASR/MSR (traction and stability) and there’s even a new one called ERM or otherwise scarily known as Electronic Rollover Mitigation.
They’ve really named everything they could here, including the electronic steering hereafter known as DST, or Drive Steering Torque. There’s also a Hill Holder function, but sadly it isn’t called HH.
Putting Foot...
I drove this little thing everywhere - on some of Cape Town’s most enjoyable driving roads, highlights include Chapmans Peak, De Waal Drive and Ou Kaapse Weg, but more importantly I overplayed its city credential card and crushed suburbia and urbia. And with much rowing of six manual cogs – just as I like them.
This is connected to a petrol 0.9 litre TwinAir Turbo blessed with 63kW and 145Nm, divisible by 4 driven wheels a la 4x4, making for entertaining performance figures – that is a 0-100kph in 12 seconds flat and eventually topping out at 167kph. The suspension is a tried and trusted medley, McPherson struts upfront (with lower transversal wishbone and auxiliary cross member) and torsion beam at the rear.
A super light helm takes care of twirling duties. Not light enough? Thumb a button dubbed CITY on the dash and the steering wheel spins like a hula hoop made out of feathers. If you like that sort of thing. A combination of these factors then means the Panda is an energetic and predictable road companion if ultimately a slow one.
Okay, let’s wrap this up
The Cross 4x4 is to the Panda what the Countryman is to the Mini. It’s as safe as a Panda Cross-shaped house, but with the benefit of a 3 year/100 000km maintenance plan thrown in. It is also huge fun to drive, a perky little number with copious amounts of practicality and an engaging steer.
I honestly don’t know why we South Africans don’t buy more of these little cars as it remains one of the few faultless drives of 2018.
It’s actually a bit of a marvel.
Fiat Panda Cross 4x4 Specs:
| Price | R270,900.00 |
| Engine | 875cc, two-cylinder petrol, turbocharged |
| Driven Wheels | All |
| Gearbox | 6-speed manual |
| Power | 63kW |
| Torque | 145Nm |
| Avg. Fuel Consumption | 4.9l/100km |
| CO2 Emissions | 114g/km |
| 0-100kph | 12 seconds |
| Top Speed | 167kph |
