2017 FIAT Panda City Cross 1.2L 5MT FWD (69 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Fiat introduced the City Cross version of the Panda in 2017, offering it as a crossover with either front- or all-wheel drive system.

Ever since the first Panda generation, the small Italian hatchback was offered a 4×4 version. While in the ’80s, that was needed to access country roads and muddy terrains, things changed over time. In 2017, small-sized crossovers were mainly used inside cities and didn’t even require all-wheel drive systems. In addition, customers asked for off-road-looking vehicles not to drive them through the woods but to crawl above a curb in a parking lot.

And that’s exactly what Fiat understood and provided. Thus, the Panda City Cross featured plastic cladding around the vehicle, with an oversized bumper up front that mimicked an underbody shield. A pair of small, round fog lamps were fitted next to the headlights on their inner side. The higher ground clearance was emphasized by additional side sills and fender trims.

Inside the cabin, Fiat installed hard plastic trims, easy to wash. It was a great idea since those pieces were far cheaper than soft ones, although they didn’t look bad at all in a crossover. The high-mounted front seats didn’t provide any side bolstering, but they were designed for urban comfort. In addition, that solution allowed the passengers seated in the back to slip their feet underneath the front seats. The rear bench featured a 60/40 split-folding system, increasing the otherwise tiny trunk.

Under the hood, Fiat installed a 1.2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. Depending on the market, Fiat offered it with either front- or all-wheel-drive system.