Test Drive Fiat Panda since 2003 Hatchback

All photos Fiat Panda since 2003

Fiat Panda 4x4.

At all-wheel drive Panda a long history, in which there are even legends. One of them says that it was Fiat Panda 4x4 at the beginning of the eighties won the Swiss postal tender in Gelandewagen. As a result of the competitive selection, which was arranged by the Swiss postal department, the final was released in the final with a full drive and MB Gelandewagen.

As a result of the competitive selection, which was arranged by the Swiss postal department, the final was released in the final with a full drive and MB Gelandewagen. The applicants needed to perform a simple task to urgently deliver the parcel high in the mountains late in autumn. Gelandewagen easily broke forward in the valley and foothills, but when the road reached the snow, and after and before the glacier, the brutal SUV began to bounce increasingly and in the end could not take a cool slippery ascent, and the light Panda immediately escaped forward and reached the target. Truthful this bike or not, is unknown, however, anything, who saw Panda 4x4 on off-road, could not frankly believed his eyes. The crumb, similar to the raccoon, rippled on the shoots and the rods, scattering the Kisa clay, jumped on the slopes and overcoming half-meter brodes. The crisp was put on Panda toothy wheels and, half a day, sentenced the clutch, forced the owners of authentic SUVs to remove the hat before this mad raccoon. (From the editors: Panda is not a bear, it is from the raccoon family.)

First crossover

In general, Fiat Panda 4x4, which appeared in 1983, can well be declared the first crossover, because he easily combined passenger traffic and short-lived comfort with very decent off-road abilities. In our time, the baby grew, but did not become big, it did not have a silent of a bit. He took abilities with the efforts of the famous German company GKN, which developed a four-wheel drive for a new generation, which in turn added to the equipped mass of the front-wheel drive version 120 kg. That's where they came from: Cardan, power take-off box, rear gearbox with viscous coupling, semi-axes with shurts, actually suspension and all sorts of little things like protection of the suspension bearing, ABS sensors. The previous Panda model has a drive diagram similar, except that no electronics smelled. Today, the EDB button has been kept on the central console, which activates the anti-test system, which is noticeably improving the permeability. This option is only at the climbing version. I must say that if you do not require the baby impossible, you can do without it. But without an electric powerful with the function City, I don't know at all how to live ...

Plastic in the masses

Panda Salon is frankly plastic, it is the layer and it is a massive inexpensive, simple and cute to everyone. It is quite comfortable, high, truth, and cramped. Machine is a soft only 3550 mm in length. Four adults will fit, but wall and aq. Two or in 2 + 2 mode, that is, two adults and two children will be better. Even quite a conquer, like me, a person can fit driving with tolerant comfort. But if the pillow of the chair was not regulated by the tilt of the jack, then I would also cry and walked and went on foot ... And so only the knee beats on the bumps about the corner of the central console, but the elbow has to be put on the ledge of the door panel, which, however, is perceived Naturally enough. Armchairs are spread wide, close to the doors, and Sedoki shoulders do not rest in each other. The gear shift mechanism is installed on the console, like some minivans. The location is comfortable, but the mechanism itself works not exemplary, although no one has never missed the transfer. Large and unambiguous climate buttons and impressive audio are placed in the center of the front panel. It is easy to operate with all switches, and the control algorithm for the operation of various systems is simple and understood. However, there are exceptions. For example, the washers and glasses cleaners operate on such a difficult scheme that the first time can be solved as if they were spoiled. You pull the steering switch, water is poured, the brushes lie. Starting four, the wipers begin to work, and at the same time in front and behind. Or here you touch the switch to remove the brush with one squeezing, the brushes are rushing, and then without requests once again slid along the glass, but slower, removing the remnants of moisture ... The headlight has an interesting feature that used to have a lot more solid. Now for PANDA, you can set the headlight time after turning off the engine. The function is called me home. Who will say it is an unpleasant little thing? Pleasant!

The trunk Panda is small, it's true. Its volume does not exceed 260 liters, but if folded the seats of the second row, the load for cargo increases to quite acceptable 780 liters. On the roof, by the way, you can also attach the trunk, for which arcs are installed. In Europe, it is quite realistic to meet Panda, over which it will be proudly to rob boxing length barely not more than FIAT himself. Machine is just for European travel: riding not far, but the mountains can get caught, and a broken primer to the lake, and forest roads, and Brody. And for the daily use of the trunk, Panda is enough and so.

Manevur in the complex of inferiority

Fiat Panda 4x4 enters us with one engine 1.2-liter 60-strong. In Europe, versions with a 1.3-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 70 liters are greater popular. With., But there are not enough them there, and the domestic diesel fiber is ... Our petrol motor Bodr and a nasitist, travelers, but not too elastic. He has enough thrust in a rather wide range of revolutions, but power, alas, does not allow to sleep for a quick Moscow flow and keep high speed on the highway. Yes, and to start as it should be a pretty gearbox to work hard, the benefit of the transfer numbers are approximate and in urban accelerations up to 70 km / h there were no problems. But the power of Fiat Panda is not in speed, but in agility. Hello he is before Azart: On Panda, it is possible to very much even pour in the stream, sneaking on the opening windows. There are only two problems: a terrible visibility in side mirrors and the lack of any respect by the neighbors of traffic. Partially lack of size mirrors is compensated by an excellent view of the salon rear-view mirror and an active ton of head. But one pleasure is parked: the steering wheel switches to the urban mode, which makes the electric powerful twice as more powerful. The rotation radius barely exceeds 4.5 meters, the review is beautiful. One bad hood is not visible. It is inconvenient and in close places, and when driving down off-road. What else annoys in Panda is the noise coming from tires. Of course, the contribution of the tires to this cacophony is not so large, solo the uneven asphalt under the accompaniment of tough suspension with the connivance of the overall notability. Occasionally through all this breaks through the rear voice of the motor.

Strong but light

On an uneven road with solid coating residues, it is necessary to either drop the speed of up to 20 km / h, or accelerate to 60, otherwise it is difficult to go. The suspension is designed and configured to the European asphalt and our directions although it is withstanding with honor, but the saddle tries to tell everything that he thinks about them and about such a coverage. On the frank off-road, where it is simply stupid to go quickly, the stiffness of the suspension turns into energy intensity. For the entire test, I have never heard a serious breakdown of elastic elements. Several times the lever concerned the bombard, but very carefully, although Panda jumps at this time hardly with the separation of all wheels from the ground. In general, the jump is a normal style of behavior of this car at rough terrain. Despite the strongly shortened box and increased to 4.93: 1 transfer number of the main pair, the obstacles are better passing. Sometimes you simply can not be different. In the meantime, Fiat has at least some kind of inertia, it will crawl, jump, cling, roll out, slide, cling again and ride, but not surrender to the last. Moreover, the white flag of wheels are first thrown out. Then the anti-test system is surrendered. It happens like this: you swim to some bug, you press the EDB button and under the creak of the system climb the top. When the limit is achieved, the system seems to be disconnected and the wheels begin to be mad bounce. It is important to immediately hit the clutch pedal, otherwise you can easily bury. Just let go of the gas, the motor also has inertia and is able to turn the wheels more than once before the anti-duct system works. It is better to roll back and start the assault first, on another trajectory. The road clearance into real 165 mm does not allow too much to be takenlated and a ripple, but some kind of supply allows. Considering that the soles are practically no, and the wheelbase is small, and the depth of the overcome fodder is equal to 400 mm, and the angle of lifting 23, the off-road characteristics of this tiny car can be called outstanding!

Trouble or victory?

But with market prospects, the real misfortune ... It is FIAT PANDA 4x4 climbing under 20 thousand dollars. For a car size with Daewoo Matiz is too. His nearest and actual competitor Suzuki IGNIS 4x4 will cost approximately 17 thousand, which is also unreasonably expensive. Suzuki Jimny from the same opera (in the sense of value), but sings completely different notes. Ford Fusion is not at all hence although he is morally ready, but did not come out the drive. Suzuki SX4 is noticeably larger. Toyota Rush with us may never appear ... Panda is too special on his little Olympus, it is pointless road and recklessly nice. It can only buy it who himself a little mad. Plus, again, it is terrible that there is now Fiat with quality, we do not know. Still, for our climate, for our roads and downloaded cities is difficult to find a more suitable car. Is that only Panda 4x4 with a variator and diesel engine, but there are no such beasts in the Red Book.