Secondhand Sense: It is easy to forget what Fiat does best - making good, small and clever cars that are very well priced. Not for nothing were so many small cars like the original little 500 cc Fiats sold and, to this day, rural and urban Italy seem to depend on cars like the Fiat Panda.
The latest Fiat Panda is only two years old now and while this column normally reflects over a four-year history at least, the Panda has emerged as a very good second-hand option with almost-new cars going for more competitive prices than many older competitors. And the car embodies some of the best qualities of small Fiats - it is well designed, spacious by small car standards, easy to drive, cheap to run and practical. The Panda has the looks and some of the practicality of a small MPV. It is tall, with a wide glass area, smart and modern looking and makes for a good small family car. It comes with a choice of 1.1 and 1.2 petrol engines with a 54bhp or 60bhp output respectively. Both will do less than 100 MPH but they are nippy and frugal. The car may have a relatively high centre of gravity but it is stable, has a good ride and handling profile and it is a perfect city car.
Everything is practical and within easy reach and the driver and front seat passenger will travel in comfort. Adults in the back may not be quite so comfortable, especially over longer distances. Despite all the interior space, however, the boot is very limited and not all cars have fold down rear seats.
The Panda does not have a recall record, which is encouraging, and I have not heard of many complaints. However, one of its main failings has been in the EuroNCAP crash tests. The car was found to have a high risk of chest injuries in front and side impacts and the door of the car even opened during a side impact test. Child protection was also found to be "disappointing" and pedestrian protection was also poor.
If you are happy to accept three stars out of a possible five for safety, then the Panda might be the car for you. A 2004 model with a 1.1 petrol engine and 10,000 miles on the clock is on offer for only €7,950, while a 1.2 version of the same age and with 30,000 miles costs about €7,700.
FOR: Excellent small car for the city and even does well on motorways.
AGAINST: Lacking when it comes to safety in crash tests.