Fiat is reigniting an old flame from back in 2006, the Panda Cross, which will occupy a baby SUV slot in the Panda range, alongside its current line-up of the standard city-going Panda and the Panda 4x4.

And with the success of its Panda model, much like its 500, it comes as no surprise that the Panda is getting another string to its bow.

Positioned as the most expensive model in the range above the Panda 4x4 - although still rooted in offering the capabilities of an all-wheel-drive motor - it delivers more of a beefed-up exterior as well as punchier engines and suspension tweaks.

On sale in early September, Fiat reckons the Cross is "off-road, plus SUV, plus city car, equals Panda Cross" while claiming that it will appeal to "real off roaders will buy it who live in the city but can't wait to explore".

Performance

The Panda Cross features the same two engines as the 4x4 model, although each unit gets a bump up in power of 5bhp.

Kicking off the range is the 0.9-litre TwinAir Turbo, producing 90bhp and 145Nm of torque. The second offering is a 1.3-litre MultiJet II turbo-diesel, producing 80bhp and 190Nm of torque.

We took out the 0.9-litre TwinAir for a spin first, mated to a six-speed manual, as Fiat expects this to be the bestseller. Although quoted at 145Nm, it feels a little under that, especially when setting off - although that isn't the case off-road (but we’ll come to that later).

The gearing feels a little off in the six-speed as well, especially in first and second gear, as you find yourself changing up to second before you are all the way out of a junction.

The 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engine mated to a five-speed manual, on the other hand, offers a meatier drive and feels more on the money when it comes to its torque figure of 190Nm. The gear ratio is also a lot better in the diesel.

Overall, however, the actual gearboxes are smooth and no nonsense.

Ride and Handling

The Panda Cross is very Jekyll and Hyde - a completely different car on road than off.

The Panda Cross is very Jekyll and Hyde - a completely different car on road than off. When it comes to cruising in the city at low speeds, the Panda Cross's light steering is great. However, take it anywhere that requires a bit of weight behind the wheel, like a twisty road, and it can make you a bit nervy. The lack of feedback doesn't help this either as it is incredibly difficult to keep track of where the front wheels are, even when completing a simple roundabout manoeuvre. This makes understeer a common nuisance on relatively open bends. If that wasn't enough to put you on edge, there is tons of body roll - again, even when completing simple tasks. The suspension, however, is now suppler than ever, making for a comfy ride, thanks to Fiat making a few tweaks over the 4x4 model. Off-road driving is a much more positive story though. The Cross adopts the same Torque-on-Demand system as the Panda 4x4 model, along with its all-wheel-drive mode. This is designed to give you optimum torque to each of the wheels when you need it most. The slim gear ratio issue is gone with as well. Plus, Fiat has even improved sound proofing to mute the rumble over rocks. There are three driving modes: Auto (regular front-wheel drive), Off-Road and Hill Descent. The mode you will probably find yourself playing around with most is Off-Road, as it gives added traction when your wheels start to slip. This mode is pretty noticeably effective and gives you assistance when you are climbing slopes. An extra 9mm of ground clearance (now a total of 161mm for the petrol and 157mm for the diesel) over the Panda 4x4 helps when it comes to departure angles, making it easier to clamber over the crest of large hills and avoid clipping anything when you are on three or less wheels. Hill Descent mode does its job really well. Select this at the top of a hill and simply let the car take over as it rolls you down slowly to a steady stop.

Interior and Equipment

Fiat also made an off-road derivative for the previous (second) generation Fiat Panda, which was also called the Panda Cross.

Instantly noticeable is the Cross's exterior additions. These come in the form of larger all-season tyres, extended wheel arches, a front-mounted skid plate, revised rear bumper with under-body protection, two tow hooks and a re-jumbled headlight arrangement. Standard kit on all models includes automatic climate control, Blue & Me Bluetooth connectivity with USB slot, heated electric door mirrors, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and front fog lights. Like its exterior, Fiat has tried to give the interior a unique edge with copper-coloured dash inserts and fabric upholstery with leather inserts. Interior build quality is pretty good, with everything feeling well screwed together and some of the copper highlights featuring spongy soft-touch materials. With a boot of 225 litres, the Panda Cross is not much to shout about, as it’s about par for the course in the A-segment, against models like the Peugeot 108 (196 litres) and Volkswagen Up (251 litres). Rear passenger space, however, is much like the rest of the Panda family, offering decent leg room and, due to its tall stature, loads of head room. One small thing that is frustrating is its lack of cubby holes up-front, which makes it awkward if you want to dock your wallet or mobile phone.

Cost

Fiat's 0.9-litre TwinAir engine prevails yet again as the most efficient option available.

Fiat's 0.9-litre TwinAir engine prevails yet again as the most efficient option available, emitting just 114g/km of CO2 and returning a claimed average of around 57.6mpg. The 1.3-litre MultiJet emits 125g/km. The Panda 4x4 offers a slightly plumper economy figure, albeit a claimed average, of around 60mpg. CO2 figures for the Panda Cross and Panda 4x4 are the same. When it comes to list price, the new Panda Cross starts from £15,945 for the TwinAir and £16,945 for the MultiJet. That is a premium of at least £1,650 over the Panda 4x4 and £6,850 over the standard Panda.

Our Verdict

Fiat is pushing the Panda Cross as both a city car and an off-roader, yet it seriously lacks in composure when it comes to driving in urban environments. Its off-road credentials are a different story all-together. The Cross really steps up and handles anything you throw at it off-road, and above all, it is great fun. But with its significant price difference compared to the 4x4 model, it is tough to see why you would opt for the Panda Cross over the former. Even if Fiat refines its asphalt driving, the Panda 4x4 is still cheaper and is just as competent off-road - and a lot better on it.