MOTORING NEWS - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) presented the refreshed 2017 Fiat Panda after nearly a decade and Autodealer had the chance to drive a pre-loved version, courtesy of Carpointe.
The biggest question of the test drive was why anyone would give up this nippy little city car.
It has everything one could ask for in a small car, plus lots of personality - and it is a fun drive.
The level of comfort and high specifications, functionality and simplicity of the instruments mean it punches far above its class and it has that European feel in the clever use of interior space. We drove the metallic Colosseo Grey, one of the new colours added in 2017. The steering is firm and precise with a modern double central spoke matching the dashboard and seat upholstery, which has accents of red stitching for a nice finish.
The graphics of the instrument panel has very good readability thanks to its modern design.
With its five doors and large opening angles, the Panda is easy to get in and out of and although small, it has the largest boot in its segment: 225 litres that turns into 870 litres when the rear seat backrest is folded down. The interior of this pre-loved Panda is in mint condition and the car has travelled 17 000km.
The Panda also has several storage compartments and different front and rear seat configurations. It has air-conditioning that is efficient and quiet. The Panda is a quiet drive, although the engine is quite busy - which means the designers paid attention to noise insulation.
Fred Ferreira.
The engine line-up features Fiat's unique two-cylinder 900cc3 TwinAir petrol engine producing 63kW of power at 5 500r/m and 145Nm of torque at 1 900r/m, driving the front wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission. The Panda has electric front windows, a radio and CD as well as an alarm and central locking.
"This is the ideal small car for city and town. The fuel efficiency and willingness of the engine over longer distances will delight its new owner. On top of that, there are several convenience factors that give the car extra punch. It has four airbags and many other features to come and see for yourself," says sales executive Fred Ferreira.
The Fiat Panda is priced at R134 900. For more information on this fiery little city car, contact him on 044 874 4193.
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