FIAT PANDA 1.3 Multijet 4x4 Cross 5dr (2008)

Fiat have learned how to make a car!

I know I know FIAT "Fix It Again Tomorrow", well the Panda Multijet 4x4 Cross at least seems a bit of an improvement. I got this second hand at a year old with 10k on the clock. The paperwork showed some work had been done under warranty on the suspension, but nothing major. Since then I've had no problems at all apart from a couple of tyres need replacing at a normal seeming interval, I forget when exactly but it felt like a normal sort of mileage.

I got the Fiat Panda 4x4 as a budget alternative to a Land Rover as I was planning quite a bit of off-road driving with work (outdoors corporate events), and although I was wary at first it's definitely put paid to my worries. It really performs off road, I mean even in the wet and in steep conditions. It is a small car at the end of the day and it's got its limits, and the size does limit its towing power, but if you're just wanting to move yourself and passengers around in off-road conditions then you could do a whole lot worse than the Panda 4x4 Cross. Cost wise it beats the big boys hands down, I get almost 60mpg on the motorways.

Now, if I've got passengers it's usually clients and across quite short distances around events, so the slightly cramped conditions in the back don't matter too much; but I do notice that myself and I'd be concerned about it if I was transporting them anywhere else, wouldn't look that good.

The boot is pretty tight as well, not really much space for four people's stuff. Mind you it's quite tall, so if you pack things carefully you can get stuff up to the roof, so it might work out. Still that's not ideal as it might restrict visibility. The seats fold down but not 'flat' like in a lot of modern cars, just the backs fold down.

The biggest problem I suppose is that the Panda 4x4 Multijet Cross is a bit too much of an off roader. It feels quite a bit less at home on the open road, just sort of awkward, over powered and under powered all at the same time... it's hard to describe but it's overall happier off road. it doesn't actually have much left after 80mph. Bit noisy at motorway speeds too. Another thing: when the wind gets up at speed take great care, it's very hard to control, easily blows about.