08 Feb 05
It might be cute and cuddly to look at, but beneath that upright profile beats the heart of a hero. We tried one of the first UK-spec right-hand drive Panda 4X4s to arrive on these shores and found it almost comically good off-road. Forget front-drive-only poseurs like the Rover Streetwise and VW Polo Dune, the Panda has been engineered to pull you up muddy hills that even a Discovery driver would think twice about.
The Panda 4X4, on sale this week at £9195, uses a full-time four-wheel drive system. In normal on-road driving conditions, this Panda is, effectively, a front-driver. However, if the system detects the front wheels struggling for grip, up to 50 percent of the engine's torque is transferred to the rear wheels. It's an entirely mechanical and automatic system, too, so the driver doesn't have to do anything but hang on tight.
Compared with the standard car, the Panda 4X4's ride height has been increased by 50mm (around 2 inches), and the front and rear bumpers gain protective cladding. An engine sump guard is also fitted, as are thicker rubbing strips down the bodysides. What you won't find is a Land Rover-style low-range gearbox or any fancy electronic hill-descent controls (there is anti-lock braking for those slippery moments, though). Those items would add far too much cost to the titchy Fiat, and besides, extreme off-roading isn't the point.
