New Fiat Panda In UK
Published: 12th January 2004
Fiat Panda
Styling
The front of the new Panda blends powerful, rectilinear headlamps with an understated grille and deep front air dam incorporating foglights and urban-essential rubbing strips, making it instantly recognisable as the latest addition to the Fiat family, and also rewarding the car with one of the best Cd figures in its class – 0.33.
In profile, the new Fiat Panda is characterised by large, bow shaped windows linked via blacked out door pillars to the rear quarterlights. This affords maximum glazing to the cabin space, whilst creating a graphic motif unique to the new car and hinting at the raised driving position and MPV practicality within.
This practicality is further reinforced by a full height, top hinged tailgate, flanked by high visibility rear lamp units designed to offer full width access to the loadspace through the low-silled aperture.
Life on board
The ultra-compact exterior dimensions of the new Fiat Panda – 1.58 m wide, 1.54 m high and 3.54 m long, with a wheelbase of just 2.30 m – belie an exceptionally spacious, flexible interior.
The new car boasts an overall passenger room coefficient of more than 68%, one of the best in its class. And, thanks to an optional innovative, split/folding, sliding rear seat, the copious, 206 litre luggage compartment may be quickly and easily increased to 236 litres.
The combination of a raised driving position, height adjustable seat, rake adjustable steering wheel and generous glazing offer the driver a comfortable, highly adaptable driving position allied to excellent all-round visibility. Unrivalled driver ergonomics have been achieved through painstaking detailing and the careful placement of even minor switchgear.
Complementing a clear, functional driver’s instrument binnacle, the prominent, high quality centre console raises the gear lever to within the closest practical proximity of the steering wheel, allowing for quick, accurate changes with minimal physical effort.
Careful consideration has gone into the placement of all other console based functions, with the stereo radio placed at the highest level to offer ease of access with minimal driver distraction.
Extensive cabin storage includes two enclosed dashboard compartments, generous door pockets, centre console cup holders and a removable rear parcel shelf.
The seats, produced in accordance with principles developed by Professor Dal Monte, head of the Biometrics Department at the CONI Sport Medicine Institute, are exceptionally comfortable, devoting particular attention to passenger posture and lateral containment.
The new Fiat Panda offers a choice of four rear seating solutions: one piece with two or three places, 50:50 split with two places, and 50:50 split/sliding with two places. Both the latter also have ISOFIX child seat attachments. All options come with a one piece cushion with anti-submarining function and a fully folding backrest for greatly enlarged load carrying capacity.
The one piece backrest can include a third inertia reel seatbelt, whilst the two place, 50:50 split option offers even greater loadspace flexibility. The sliding seat, 50:50 split option boasts the added advantage of rake adjustable backrests and the ability to boost loadspace by 30 litres without the need to fold down either seat back. In all cases, the seat folding mechanism may be operated from inside either the passenger or luggage compartments.
A comprehensive range of accessories includes rubber or carpet matting, assorted loadspace nets including a dog containment screen, a demountable load compartment tray, transverse roof bars and a wide selection of child seats, including a bespoke Kiddy Isofix seat for children weighing up to 40 lb.
Available in a choice of 10 body colours complemented by six stylish, durable, cabin upholstery finishes, the new Fiat Panda is the only car in this class to have 99% of its interior surface lined, setting new class standards for quality and comfort.
Fiat Panda
Our Fiat Panda Guide lists the full specification of the current UK Panda range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.
Price Range: £7,005 - £11,995
Body Style:
Fuel:
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Models in the range: 10
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 21st Sep 2008
