Fiat Panda running costs and mpg

• Mild hybrid is the best performer
• Should be 30% more efficient than petrol
• Still bettered by Fiesta and Corsa rivals

The most efficient engine in the Panda’s line-up is the 1.0-litre mild-hybrid – this promises an improvement in fuel efficiency of up to 30% when compared with the 1.2-litre petrol.

Fiat says it’s capable of 49.6mpg and will emit 89g/km of CO2, which is bested by diesel options in the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa ranges.

Previously available engines

The 0.9-litre TwinAir engine promised an average economy of 67mpg and 99g/km of CO2, also thanks to the inclusion of stop/start technology and a gear shift indicator. In reality drivers found the fuel economy figure to be a bit fanciful, to put it kindly.

Reliability

• Recall issues should have been sorted
• One well used engine, one not so much
• Sold and hard-wearing interior

The previous model was subject to some minor recalls, although these only affected a small numbers of cars and should have been ironed out in this latest version.

Engine-wise the 1.2-litre unit has been used elsewhere but the newer 1.0-litre mild hybrid is relatively untested, but is also used in the Fiat 500 hatchback,

In terms of interior quality the Panda seems a well-built and solid car with lots of plastic that may not necessary feel like the most luxurious material in the world, but will at least be hard wearing.