11 Oct 04
This is no mini-Defender, but the Panda 4x4 has as much off-road ability as most people are likely to need. With that on-demand four-wheel drive system, it should cope well with slippery on-road conditions too. And if you need any more convincing, Fiat has taken a pair of prototypes up to the 5200-metre base camp on Mount Everest.
The Panda 4x4 is likely to be one of the cheapest 4x4s on offer when launched in January 2005, with prices starting at around £9000 and including ABS anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and anti-slip regulation, twin front airbags, foglights and electric windows as standard. We Brits get the choice of just one version, a model called Climbing, which has wider wheels and tyres and 165mm more ground clearance than the standard two-wheel drive Panda. For such sophistication and ability, it should be brilliant value.
