18.12.2010 FIAT PANDA CROSS 4X4 COLLECTS UK OFF ROAD HONOUR

FIAT PANDA CROSS 4X4

The Fiat Panda Cross has collected an off-roading honour in the UK from Total Off Road magazine’s 4x4 of the Year awards; judges praising its styling, handling, ease of controls and its punchy 1.3 16v MultiJet turbodiesel engine.

The rugged Fiat Panda Cross has collected an off-roading honour in the UK in the "Junior Crossover" class in Total Off Road magazine’s 4x4 of the Year awards.

Launched in July 2005, however the Panda Cross 4x4 didn't arrive in the UK until 2008 due to the tiny SUV's four-wheel-drive platform not being engineered for right hand drive, the highly capable car has continued to be a favourite not just among customers but with media experts as well.

Total Off Road’s judges praised the Panda’s styling, handling, ease of controls and its punchy 1.3 16v MultiJet turbodiesel engine. The car’s crisp steering, ride and brakes were also highlighted by the magazine’s testers, as the Panda Cross beat 11 other vehicles in this class to the title. “The Panda Cross has loads of style but plenty of substance too,” say the awards’ judges. “It’s great fun in town, a rough diamond on B-roads and pretty acceptable on the motorway. And it can do remarkable things off road.”

“The Panda Cross is one of a long line of Pandas that have surprised and delighted customers for years,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland. “I am pleased that it is still collecting top honours – it certainly deserves them.”

As with any Panda, the Cross’s fuel consumption and emissions are low. It returns 42.1 mpg in the urban cycle, 67.3 mpg extra-urban, and 54.3 mpg combined. The CO2 figure is 136 g/km. Standard equipment in the UK includes ESP with Hill Holder, air conditioning, alloy wheels, radio/CD/MP3 player with steering wheel audio controls, and electric power steering. The Panda Cross costs £13,695 on-the-road in the UK.
 

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