Is the Fiat Panda 4X4 Cross good for new drivers?

Not many people would opt for a Fiat Panda 4X4 Cross as the ideal vehicle to kick off their driving career. However, its unique blend of safety and dynamic features actually make a lot of sense.

Stuart Johnston

14 Jan 2020 · 12:28Buying a Car

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The Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross is the only all-wheel-drive vehicle in the entry hatchback segment, along with its Panda 4x4 sibling. The Cross features the same drive-train as the 4x4, but with some additional comfort and drive-train features, as well as more-distinctive “urban warrior” looks.

What’s the Panda 4x4 Cross’ appeal for young drivers?

Firstly, this little Fiat looks seriously funky. It features a ride-height that is raised compared to the conventional Panda, as well as all sorts of bodywork enhancements such as skid plates front and rear, 15-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres, and optional alloy wheels.

The raised ride height is good for new drivers, as outward vision from behind the wheel is enhanced. The Panda also has a high glass-to-metal ratio, improving sightlines when parking and making it easier to see surrounding vehicles in traffic or when parking.

The Panda’s highly distinctive looks will appeal to young drivers, and instill a sense of pride in their car. This will in turn lead to a cautious approach to certain driving maneuvers — they'll want to look after the vehicle.

What about the performance levels for a young driver?

The tiny 900 cc turbocharged two-cylinder engine is rated at a useful 66 kW in the Panda 4x4 Cross (the normal 4x4 is endowed with 63 kW). Torque is again impressive for such a small engine at 145 Nm, with the torque peak arriving at 1 900 rpm. This should make accelerator control quite easy for a first-time driver.

Six-speed gearbox with low first-gear ratio

The 4x4 Cross version of the Panda is fitted with a six-speed gearbox. Normally, this is one ratio too many for a new driver to deal with, but in the case of the 4x4 Cross the first gear ratio is very short. In other words, its maximum speed in this gear is lower than it would be in conventional 5-speed versions of the Panda.

What this means for the first time driver is that it makes pulling away easy. There is no flat spot to deal with after letting out the clutch, as the short first gear puts the engine right in its power-band’s sweet spot, with instant power on tap. Fiat's engineers configured this short gear ratio with mild off-road driving in mind, but it works great for the first time driver as well.

Speed and consumption figures

With these power- and torque outputs, and a kerb (unladen) weight figure of 975 kg, the little Fiat has moderately quick acceleration, again ideal for a first-time driver. The 0-100 km/h sprint time is rated at 12.0 seconds, which is quicker than average in the A-segment, and the top speed is a moderate 167 km/h. In other words it’s fast enough to get by, without having so much power that a novice driver would get into trouble.

Fuel consumption will appeal to young students, because they're always short of ready cash. The average consumption is manufacturer-rated at 4.9 litres/100 km, and daily driving in traffic should see 6.0 litres/100 km easily attainable.

Dynamic and passive safety

Small cars are always going to be vulnerable in a serious collision. However, the good news is that the Panda 4x4 Cross comes with a total of 4 airbags, and for many people this alone will make the little Fiat worthy of consideration for novice drivers. It also has ABS, hill-start assist and stability control, which is electronic assistance that brakes individual wheels to correct unintentional skidding. In addition, LED daytime running lights are standard, which is an added safety feature in terms of other road users being aware of this vehicle.

Related: Our review of the Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross revealed an appealing city slicker that can climb sidewalks...

Four-wheel-drive system a safety boost.

The Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross comes with full-time all-wheel-drive. This is installed mainly as an enticement for Panda owners to explore rougher dirt roads and mild trails, but it has a big safety benefit too. In heavy down-pours on tarmac, the variable-torque all-wheel-drive system provides much greater vehicle stability than a two-wheel-drive system.

The Panda Cross’s system also includes a special diff lock mode for use in very slippery off-road conditions. When “Lock” is selected, power is distributed to equally to the front- and rear axles, while any wheel that starts spinning is automatically braked to transfer power to wheels that have better traction. Lock mode is not to be used during normal driving on tar, however.

Short length and minimal overhangs make for easy parking

The sort wheelbase of the Panda and the short overall length (3.55-metres) makes it very easy to maneuver during parking. The short body overhangs also make it easier to judge when the extremities of the vehicle are approaching an object of the unmovable kind!

Verdict

The Fiat Panda 4X4 Cross makes an ideal vehicle on which to learn to drive. It’s also quite rare, with Fiat sales being what they are in South Africa, so for a youngster keen on establishing some sort of hip identity, it is a sure-fire winner.

The only downside is that, at R270 900, it is not exactly cheap. But all those safety features mentioned should make up for that, and the price includes a 3-year/100 000 km service plan as well as a 3-year warranty.