• A quirky and neatly detailed interior
• Basic infotainment and convenience tech
• Good quality in places, less so elsewhere

How is the quality and layout?

The Fiat Panda 4x4 feels a lot more grown-up than the older versions. The plastics are softer than the previous one, for starters, and there’s a much higher standard of attention to detail throughout the cabin. It stands the test of time well, too, with only areas such as the driver’s seat bolster and handbrake typically showing notable wear after extensive use.

Just like the regular Fiat Panda, the 4x4 sports embossed Panda lettering on the dash and door cards, and it employs the same ‘squircle’ motif everywhere – a square with rounded corners, which is used for elements such as the instrument cluster and air vents.

Go for a Panda Cross and you’ll find different interior trims and a copper-coloured dashboard. All in, the minor changes make the Cross feel a bit more upmarket and plush than the regular Panda 4x4. There are still lower-rent feeling parts in places, though, but given the price and class of the car, it’s hard to complain about.

Infotainment and tech

The Panda 4x4 is an old car and, generally, that’s reflected in its lack of modern equipment. Standard features include air conditioning, the Blue&Me multimedia system, electric heated door mirrors and remote central locking.

It’s worth opting for cars with the Winter Pack, as this adds heated front seats and a heated front windscreen. Other options include rear parking sensors, the City Brake Control system and climate control.

Later examples did get a splash of additional equipment for a slightly more modern feel and ease of use, though. Look at late-model Panda Cross or Wild 4x4, for example, and you’ll find a seven-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. This replaces the old multimedia system and phone-mount combination and makes the Panda much easier to live with.

Alternatives such as the Volkswagen Up don’t even come with a touchscreen media system, so the Fiat claws some points back here.

27

Comfort

• Good driving position and visibility
• Seats are firm but cabin access is good
• Some creature comforts are available

As is the case in the regular Fiat Panda, the Panda 4x4 and Cross variants feature firm seats with hard headrests, and there’s not much in the way of adjustability. However, if you can get comfortable with the degree of adjustment on hand, you should find the Panda tolerable on longer trips.

The doors also open wide and the lifted body of the 4x4, coupled with the Panda’s standard high-set seats, make it easy to get in and out of. There’s easily space for four adults, too, and only those six feet and above will find the rear cramped. Outward visibility is decent, too, but the large A-pillars can result in you having to crane your neck around a bit to see past them at junctions.

Fiat’s standard Panda rides in a comfortable fashion but the taller, lifted Panda 4x4 soaks up the bumps a bit more easily. The cabin is also surprisingly quiet, although tyre roar can intrude if the Fiat has winter or all-season tyres fitted, and the TwinAir petrol’s noise is notable when it’s being worked hard. It’ll prove interesting and characterful to some, and annoying to others.