Fiat Panda 4×4 1.3 JTD 75 CV, test drive (Equipment, price and review)

Today we bring to a close the test drive of the Fiat Panda 4×4 that we have published these past few days, a Panda that we tested with the 1.3 JTD 75 CV diesel engine. Everything about the engine, off-road capabilities or handling we analysed in the first part of the test.

In the second part we talked about the design, both the exterior design, which differs from the conventional Panda, and the interior, which has no changes. And now in the third part we turn to the standard equipment, the safety equipment, the price of the Fiat Panda 4×4 and our overall verdict on the car.

Equipment

Within the equipment, the Panda 4×4 comes with only one trim level available. And as standard in terms of safety it includes: ABS with EBD, front driver and passenger airbags, curtain airbags (front and rear), stability control with ELD and four-wheel drive. As for Euro NCAP stars, it has only achieved four, partly because it lacks ESP across much of the range.

Optionally, the safety equipment can be completed with fog lights (155 euros) and automatic city braking, which stops the car below 35 km/h if it detects an imminent collision (260 euros). This last item is significant in the city car segment, besides having a very low price.

The rest of the standard equipment on a Panda 4×4 is as follows: air conditioning (the climate control is optional), CD-MP3 radio (with USB port, steering wheel controls and optional Bluetooth), mirror caps in body colour, door handles in body colour, longitudinal roof bars, height-adjustable steering wheel, Dualdrive electric power steering with City mode, electric and heated mirrors, front electric windows, among other elements.

The Tecno Pack is recommended, which adds Blue&Me, i.e. steering wheel controls, USB port and Bluetooth for your phone (310 euros), and the five seats are optional. The radio sound stands out, it lacks bass power but in return offers a powerful, clear, high-quality sound, unusual in this segment.

The list of extras includes the climate control, the smoker’s pack or the three rear seats (150 euros) with their respective headrests, among other elements.

Price of the Fiat Panda 4×4

The Panda 4×4 is available with only two engines: on one hand the 0.9 cc petrol with 85 CV from 14,550 euros (although with a promotion it can go down to 11,650 euros for the petrol engine), and the 1.3 JTD 75 CV diesel from 15,331 euros.

Specifically, our unit, fully equipped (climate control, City brake, five seats, radio with Blue&Me, etc.) had a price of 16,585 euros.

Overall verdict

The Fiat Panda 4×4 is ideal for anyone looking for a small off-roader, to get through difficult terrain or narrow tracks, as well as a competitive price, since for 11,000 euros there is no off-roader on the market that comes close in performance. The closest is the Dacia Duster, but with all-wheel drive it is more expensive and, with equal equipment, also more expensive (besides being bigger).

The 75 CV diesel engine is more than sufficient, the traction system is good when we need good grip in tricky situations, and it also has several features to perform very well off the asphalt, both in snow and in mountainous areas.

It is not the ideal car for motorways, nor is it designed for them, and the interior space is tight for four occupants, with no great luxuries in terms of space but with practical interior solutions and fairly complete equipment (you don’t have to pay for the radio, the standard bumpers don’t come in black, you don’t have to pay for air conditioning…).

In short, for the city and towns where you need a car that is practical and small, the Fiat Panda 4×4 has no known rival, its best feature precisely is being practical. Although let’s not kid ourselves, it is still a city car with understated finishes and the typical space of a city car.

Photos | Test team