08 Feb 05
During our time with the Panda 4X4, we also drove the other latest addition to the Panda range, the 1.3-litre 16-valve Multijet turbodiesel, the smallest direct-injection engine of its kind in the world. The 1.3 Multijet Dynamic goes on sale this week, too, with a sticker price of £7895 on the road.
This sweet little diesel develops 70bhp, but much more importantly, it also pumps out 107lb ft of torque at just 1500rpm. The resulting performance delivers 62mph in 13 seconds and a top speed just shy of 100mph. And even though the Multijet returns an excellent overall economy of 65.7mpg, Fiat is billing this model as the 'hot' Panda because its performance is so much better than any of its siblings.
Compared to the thrashing petrol Pandas, the turbodiesel delivers relaxed, low-rev punch across a wide speed range. This engine is also used in the Punto, where it develops considerably more torque - it's detuned in the Panda to avoid overstressing the smaller transmission, so the torque curve is particularly flat across the rev range. That means you don't get fluctuating peaks of urge, just a very consistent response.
Which makes it such a crying shame that the Panda 4X4 is not available in the UK with the Multijet turbodiesel. It would be a perfect fit, and weary Fiat UK spokesmen know as much. The problem is purely economic - Fiat doesn't reckon it can sell enough right-hand-drive diesel Panda 4X4s to justify the cost of producing them.
So for the moment, the 1.3 16v Multijet Dynamic remains the pick of the range. Not only does it offer the best performance and driving characteristics, it is by far the most frugal at the pumps.
Suzuki Ignis
Suzuki Jimny
Or find a great deal on a used Panda
