Real Road Test: Fiat Panda Mk3 1.1 Active Eco! What's it like? 

I’ve owned many cars from Polo’s to focus and Astra…but the car I loved the most and miss the most is my 2008 Fiat Panda 1.2. That car was so much fun, reliable and very nippy. Had it for almost 11 years until someone rear ended it and wrote it off. I was devastated.

The main thing I remember about driving one of these back in the day was how easy It was. Light controls, all-round visibility, comfy enough. A good basic machine, really.

I drove one of these around ireland a few years ago when the ex and i hired it for five days. She hated it because it wasn't the ford fester she expected (she didn't drive, she just didn't like the car for no real reason that i could ever actually discern). It was fine to drive but her constant complaining spoiled things and i'm now tempted to buy one just to spite her memory....

My grandparents brought one of these new in 2009 as part of the dreaded car scrappage scheme (don't worry it was only a 1100 Fiesta popular with optional rust holes that got axed). I had a Citroen C1 at the time which was much faster and more economical but the little panda always made me smile when driving. The car's still in the family and I definitely have a soft spot for it.

They certainly didn’t waste any paint under the bonnet!

What a great video, great camera work from Miss Hubnut, she is definitely an asset🇬🇧🤘☀️

I’ve just bought one and i like it, 1.2 Dynamic Auto in bright yellow 🤣

If you can find a 1.3 multijet diesel version your visits to the petrol station are so rare it becomes an event.

I love these cars, small efficient easy to work on great around town. Running around in a little Citreion C1 which I bought for my daughter to learn in. I find I am using it much more than the Honda estate I own as it brings a smile to my face every time I drive it and I love ringing out the maximum of its tiny engine.

1:36 the same old good sohc fire is still being produced around the globe! In Brazil they still make the 1.0 and 1.4

A great review. Had my Panda Active Eco from new still serving me well after 12 years a fun little car, easy to park living in London with limited space.

You are certainly keeping busy! Love it :)

My daughter had one of these for about 5 years, and I got to drive it a few times. Great little car!

Always loved the Panda styling. This generation not quite as iconic as the original which is a pure LEGO box car but still looks good and cute. Immediately thought about getting one as a cute city beater and then Twingo popped in my head. When are we going to see you in a Twingo mr. HubNut? If anyone has driven this Panda and a Twingo and knows how they compare please let me know.

Love the panda, was pleased to see you reviewing one. 6 minutes online and a thumbs down already. There really are some sad people about.

Learned how to drive and passed my driving test on those things, at the time all the driving schools in my part of Poland were using it. Really like those cars and wouldn't mind owning one someday.

Brilliant video Ian 👍 I had one when I lived in Spain absaloutly loved it

Love this car, so practical, so easy to use, does everything well.

Currently driving a 2010 1.1 active eco. Love the little thing.

What a pleasant surprise to see you driving this thing around my neck of the woods! Greetings from Brighton

I currently have a MkIII (2013) Panda with the 1.2 FIRE, and I absolutely love it. Such an endearing little car

Got one on the drive now. So many parts I remember from my mk2 Punto of nearly 10 years before. It's a joyous little machine, fun cornering at low speeds makes other cars feel boring in comparison.

The FIRE switched to twin overhead cams in 1997 with the 1242cc '85' (86bhp) version. I have one in my Punto Cabrio. It's excellent. These 54bhp 1.1s were also fitted to the earlier MK1 Punto as their entry-level engine.

About 11 years ago I look at one of these as a possible replacement. Liked the look of them and it ticked all the boxes, sat in one in the showroom, very nice and comfortable ( must have been a top of the range). Arranged a test drive but when I turned up the model I'd arrange to try wasn't available and I was given a sub-basic model with non-adjustable everything. I can't remember driving anything as bad as that ever and I've driven some horrors in my time.

Excellent filming with great 'tempo' in the shots, good pointers (visibility). I hope a Climbing or Cross version comes your way to review in rural Wales. And perhaps for the next road test episode, include build year of the car as an extra RU-vid search option. Thank you very much Team HubNut👊😎

Hi Ian, another great review, not a bad little car, can't wait to see what you test next.

Love them engines. Great that the belt snaps and its just a new belt and away you go.

My 1st car was a 09 plate panda dynamic multijet diesel. Good for fuel economy. Wish I kept it

Always wish I'd had one of these, loved my 1986 1000CL back in the day, and great to see you tearing along the A27!

Hi Ian. My wife still has her 2009 1.2 Active Eco Panda (with air-con) which she bought in early 2011 here where we live in sw France. In all this time, apart from normal wear and tear and servicing the car has not cost one penny (or centime !) in repairs. It has now done 120,000 kms and does not appear to have deteriorated at all. I agree that the engine could do with a little more low down grunt but it's a great little car, we both love it.

Ahhh the memories!! My mum had a black version of this. We went absolutely everywhere in it, even took us through the snow to get a Christmas tree! Incredible machines! My mum then passed it on to her sister, who used it as a mobile tack shed, because she had or used to work on a racehorse stud. She ran it into the ground. These engines never break, it died, eventually, in about 2017.

When I first road tested one of these I didn't haven much hope for it based on how it looked but I was so surprised, it's one of my favourite cars to drive now

I've driven both the Mk 3 & 4 as hire cars on holiday, with both that engine and the 1.2 - the 1.2 does give you that little extra edge, and is still hugely economical. I really rate the 'new' Pandas- well put together, nicely styled, pretty comfortable, no nasty surprises. We need to get a car to live at our place in France, and I'm seriously considering a Panda for that, because they tick every box, and as you say, easy to continue to maintain!

You are right, they will be classics in the future. That engine was designed for Italians to rev the nuts off. I like the body design best, so original and nobody else copied it. Big back doors and maximum use of wheelbase with the vertical back. A very clever car.

I like how the 0_60 test features a sign written car at the end giving the brief impression of been on a race track!

Great to see a car of this age on the channel. Can see cars from 00-09 disappearing almost utterly, as they're binned off, much like 80s cars were. If you're ever in Yorkshire, I have an 07 Mazda 6 you can play with, and if you're very lucky, maybe a modded Minor.

I’ve had two Panda first series and now a Panda third series, bought new in 2012: this one is by far the most joyful little car I’ve ever had. But also the most reliable! Not a single tiny issue in more than 10 years! Unbelieveble. And in the past I had also a BMW, which was full of issues, very expansive to fix

The TwinAirs sound great. Had a 1.2 as a hire car in Tenerife. Also thought it was fun to drive and deliciously simple.

I'm loving these interviews with the inclusion of a camera operator. Well done Miss Hubbut (I presume)

My second car in 2014 was a 2009 1.1 Active Eco. They're excellent. I added the bigger mirrors to mine, and changed the clocks to a newer model's with rev counter and trip computer, etc. 169 Panda is my favourite car of all time.

My first encounter with one of these was in Valencia in Spain where I had booked a Fiesta but when I turned up at the airport they could only offer me a Panda with much apologies. I drove the Panda with two days and as you found for all its faults it put a smile on my face. 2 days later I got a call saying they had a Fiesta and I could change it. I made mistake of doing that because whilst in every measurable way the Fiesta was a better car it was lacking in joy. Some 5 years later in 2010 I needed something cheap but new to run and I leased a Panda 100 and loved it almost as much as I loved my 205 GTi 25 years earlier and would go as far to say that the Panda 100 was the last of the genuinely cheap hot hatches.

Absolutely stonking little cars 👌 had mine as my first car, little 1.1 just like this, but black Done almost 22k miles in it, upto just shy of 107k miles at present, and still going strong 👌 and you do get used to the lack of power, and I live in hilly old Devon 😂 even did a Paignton-Great Yarmouth run in it once, with just one stop for fuel Done all sorts of mods to it too, but it's always a joy to work on! Can't recommend them enough 👌

I had a Fiat Uno 45 Fire as a first car, roomy for a 6ft guy, compared to other small cars, and was utterly reliable. Fiats are best when small and simple, add size and complexity and you're asking for trouble.

I love Amanda, my 2007 1.2 dynamic Panda..... That feeling of not being able to get anywhere near 70 uphill is familiar.... Particularly in a headwind..... Amazed at the lack of electrical issues on your example, but I love her.... Interesting that you compared the Panda with the Morris minor, the minor would be my ideal car, but for now my quirky flowery Panda is perfect!

You make all the cars you look at seem better, thanks.

The colour matches all those joke Pandas that James May was previously featured in. Hopefully this one doesn't end up with a big construction skip on top of it.

Hired one of these while on holiday on the Greek island of Kos a few years ago (who remembers holidays abroad?). Very nice little car.

I have to say Miss hubnut (Carly?) Does an excellent job of filming and keeping you and what your talking about in the frame at all times 👍

These Pandas are great little cars - the Italian car specialist I use to service my Alfa has them as courtesy cars - just 1.1 models, but they are tremendous fun. Not so keen on the follow-up model - decidedly odd steering. The 100HP looks hilarious, and is a car I’ve considered buying. Didn’t know about the Bertone connection - top Panda fact. The fact that James May has owned one gives it kudos in my view!!

I had one of these briefly, we used them as courtesy cars at Fiat, driven like a stereotypical Italian they're hilarious! The smart wipers system is great, no sensors but just knocks the wipers speed down one when coming to a stop then back up when pulling away + rear wiper speed is related to the front ones. Sold mine eventually as I had to do lots of motorway commuting, it got exhausting! Great to see one on the channel, on to autotrader I go..... 😋

Another great video on what is most definitely a Modern HubNut car. I also laughed out very loud at the outro.... (and did a bit of Dad Dancing to the catchy music.)

Out of curiosity I tried the newer generation of Panda with the Twinair engine. What an endearing little bundle of fun. Slow, unpretentious, practical... but quirky. 'Squircles' (squared off circles) everywhere in the cabin, including the steering wheel, and I loved the sound of the little Twinair engine. 😁

Great review. Hope you get to drive the first gen 107 / C1... I always thought they had loads of character and love the raspy engine note! 😊

A classic of the future, nice review Mr HubNut.

iv drove one of these in same colour as a temp whilst my vectra was in garage and they are very good

I've had a 2011 Panda 1.2 Eco for the last 6 months and its really good, comfy, can hold it's own on the motorway and does 45mpg without trying. The ride can be a bit jolty on poor roads and you're right about hills, even with 69bhp it can struggle if someone pulls out and you have to ease off then get your foot back down but other than that I love the little car, it's certainly a keeper.

My mum just bought a 0.9 TwinAir and it's absolutely hilarious to drive

I really like these. Excellent review

I had a panda, and loved how easy it was to work on. My solution to door rust, was I went with my Nan, who had the largest boot, to the local dismantlers, and came back with both front doors and a tailgate. An afternoon of socket spinning and the rust was abolished.

Great review again Mr Hubnut, I test drove the 4x4 1.3 multi jet Diesel panda in 2009 with the view of purchasing, but I didn’t find the drive all that inspiring at the time, but then a lot of the drive was on the A483 Wrexham by pass so that may explain it. Yes Fiat engines like to be revved to get the best out of them I found, which is what I found with my Fiat Seicento 1.1 a couple of years ago, but the Panda is a fun little car just like it’s Predecessors.

Had one of these with the 1.2 engine in champagne beige. Excellent little car. Surprisingly well built and refined for its price. Even drove it to Spain once, no hassle. The screeching sound of the rear wiper was probably the end of the plastic stalk touching the window. My Panda had a long scratch on the window along the end of the stalk when I bought it second hand. I'm guessing the wiper blade has never been replaced ;)

I've not been keeping up for a while but back again and great vid, I always mean to have a 1.4 oe day. Ans you have an outro! You achually make fine videos about average cars.

Love these Pandas. My daughter had one and commuted from Bristol to Gloucester 5 days a week over a three year period. Never any problems. They are a very honest reliable cars. Buy one that has been looked after and they will give you reliable and cheap motoring for many years. Better than any equivalent VW, PSA or Ford. Good review thanks.

I borrowed my friends panda 100hp. It was a very enjoyable drive and the handling was brilliant. I’ve always had a soft spot for Fiats as I past my test in a cinquecento.

my old 1.1 active was so nippy it got me 3 speeding tickets and i'm 74.. just changed it for a 1.2 dynamic... tuned to be more sedate as represents by my age and wallet...passed the 2 speed awareness courses which were very good.. my tutor on my last sac asked if i was collecting the air miles which was nice ...

Wow final titles and music hmmmmmm lovely ,good video mr an mrs hubnuts antics and shenanigans excellent worth the patronage , my bro in law bought one when scrappage scheme going got rid soon after for citroen c3 picasso as utterly under powered .

Great little cars especially as urban runabouts. Their simplicity is and will be a huge plus. Great styling too.

A nice review thanks for posting 🙏

I looked at one of these before buying a K12 Micra back in 2004, still a great looking little car, would love to have a shot of one or a 100hp version

Absolutely adore the Panda, even more first generation, boxy and totally utilitarian! Johnny Smith met a guy that had a lot of Pandas! Please mr HubNut, try to find first generation Tipo, the one that chief inspector Montalbano drives in the detective story. Really those with digital dashboard!

Another Fiat liked by Hubnut 👍👍😁 Great car this generation of Panda! The 1.2 is the engine to go for indeed. Thanks for this charming video 👌

A friend of mine has one.Very nice and practical with a lovely engine. Nippy and funny around town, like any Italian city car. The dogs love it too, and still haven't chewed it through.

it made me want one. great music at the end

Great review. Nice drive down Old Fort Road, it's a really lovely area by the beach there. I'm not a huge fan of the A27 though, especially the airport area which only reminds me of the horrific airshow crash in 2015. Traffic is a nightmare too. Having driven a 1.3 diesel Panda along the A27 for a few years I'd say it is good for short to medium distance journeys but too loud and exhausting for long distance. Great for town driving but the petrol will probably do that job better.

I remember having fun sitting in the back of one of these owned by a uni student... Was slow, had no synchro in first, missing interior trim peices, and rolled around corners like nobodies business, but it did make a cool noise!

It's the prime example of a car you can have lots of fun with at normal speeds with a little revvy engine and skinny tyres. I like the space inside for a little footprint too.

The rear seat bench also slides forwards and backwards for either a much bigger boot or for more rear legroom. I had a Multijet diesel 06 plate and the only source of annoyance was the seats which you would slide off when going around corners! Happy memories :)

I daily a metallic blue one of these, true poverty spec, didn't even come with a cigarette lighter! Fairly nice to drive, although a lot of roll in the corners (and it's very slow!). Since getting it four years ago I've added a lot of things, new audio system with sub, armster armrest, short shifter, sound deadening and lots of other little bits. Next on the list is some alloys!

Makes a lovely rorty Italian noise when you drive it in 'Italian Tune Up' mode.

I enjoy all these reviews about cars that will never set foot in my country. That Panda seems like a nice basic car for basic transportation. Keep up the good work and Kudos for the Mrs. HubNut on her camera work and occasional hand or finger on the screen.

I bought a new 1.2 in 2009, l still have it, traded it in for an Vauxhall that l paid £150 for, £2000 scrapage scheme and a 30% discount because my bother worked in firm associated with Fiat, new car for £4000 l couldn't go wrong. its been very reliable.

I’m seriously considering getting one for a winter car, very impressed by the video and I love how long the passenger side wiper arm is with a small wiper blade at 5:05 😂

The secret to driving low powered cars, as my pal told me, is not letting the RPM lower and drop as you change up.

Had a panda going up and down the south Welsh valleys and up to Notts and back . Had a micra doing the same .Loved the Panda but , the micra won hands down . Mind you ! MY BACK ! MY PAINFUL BACK ! lol. Good vid pal : )

Excellent choreographed pchoo.

Thought I recognised that road!!!!!! As I’m around the corner in Worthing.with obligatory hubnut sticker on the vectra c.

As a former owner of a 1.2 8V, I can only recommend that car. 69 hp is perfect for this car, it had AC and for city hooning it is pretty much perfect. Tiny, yet amazingly roomy. And even with a lead foot, you can't get them to sip more than 6 liters/100 km. Also, as a former owner, I can assure you the central locking for the boot is broken. It is like that on every one and a replacement costs 160€ because you have to buy the whole assembly. :P

Whenever we go to Italy the Panda is always our hire car, we always get one and have loved them all, good honest little cars. Would love to find a 100HP one, hard to find.

I remember back in the 80s an Aunt told us she had bought a Jeep and then she turned up in a Panda! We did laugh.

Just when I'm about to give up we have OMG not a French car!! WTF!! I enjoyed this one. Please do get a Panda 4x4!

My sister had a mk1 Panda with the 1.0 litre FIRE engine and I remember that motor had so much gusto and pizzazz. Really was a fun car .

My ex bought one of these brand new in 2011 when she first passed her test. It was the 1.2 which was a little quicker and slightly more economical than the 1.1, but that must have made all the difference, because it was a lot of fun to drive. 0-60 wasn't great and driving at 70 was a little twitchy, but 0-40 felt very quick around town, often sneaking through green lights that I would ordinarily not make and cost about a fiver a week in fuel. The city button was certainly overkill, given you could already turn the wheel with one finger without it activated.

I covered 85K miles in the diesel variant and arguably the best car I have ever owned or driven. Totally reliable, comfortable and just ate up the miles. Spacious and easy to enter/ exit. I wish I have never sold it but had to move on.

The sticker on the underside of the bonnet helpfully states "Engine oil: We recommend you use oil". Always made me chuckle..

My first car was a panda 100hp. Had a 1.4 16v and was absolutely wicked. Miss it

I remember these at launch. I big step up in quality over previous Fiat's. The 100hp is gaining a following and I've been in a friend's Panda 4x4 cross TwinAir off road and it was awesome. The Panda makes a lot of sense being cheeper than a 500 and having a boot that is a better shape. Of course the heart rules the head sometimes so we run two 500s with TwinAir 85 hp and TwinAir 105 hp engines which produce about 50% more torque than the 1.2 four cylinder engine at around 2000 rpm so they feel very gutsy and make an ungodly noise.

I have a 3rd Gen Panda with the 1.2 FIRE engine. Still a SHO cam. It's not powerful, it's not fast but it's delightful, cheery, comfy and nice to drive.

I did consider one of these when I was car hunting in Sept 2010. Bought something else with an engine nearly twice as big instead and was a greater liability.

I had a 2004 1.2 Dynamic as my first car. My plan was to just keep it for a year and then get something else, but I ended up keeping it for four years. I absolutely loved it, but I can confirm the 1.2 isn't that much more powerful, and it certainly struggled in the hilly area I lived in, which was ultimately why I got rid of it. Those FIRE engines can take a beating though, and they really love to be wound up! It takes a while to get them there, but once they're revving high, they're great fun.

Had several Panda 100hps. Great fun little cars with, as you say, no suspension!