Should You Buy a MK3 Fiat Panda? (Test Drive & Review 2010 1.3 JTD) 

Spot on with your analysis. The world needs more cars like this to save the planet rather than 3 tonne EVs. Great video.

I loved mine, an 06 example. I originally I got it to use as a run around as my 4x4 was expensive to run, but I ended up using all the time. I got rid of the 4x4 as I just ran the Panda in the end, I liked it so much. My daughter owns it now.

I had a Panda 4x4 and it was a great little car. Became our second car and lasted years.

I know it's a huge cliche but what I love about the Panda is how honest it is. There's something incredibly charming about it. Definitely a city car, though. Nothing wrong with that and as a city car it does its job incredibly well

Wow, excellent review. Clear, concise and unbiased. I'm debating to buy one of these and I think you just sold me. Worried about the accident protection, but I am mostly in the city.

Been waiting 11 months for my new Panda Cross 4x4 but it will be worth the wait. All Panda generations are great

You really have taken automotive geekdom to a whole new level, with the origin of ‘Panda’. I think I can go one better 😂It took me a while, but I knew already those turning air vents were used on the Alfa 33, but I also knew they were used on a Ferrari dashboard in the 80s. Google Ferrari 328 dashboard 😂

An elderly acquaintance of mine had the 1.2 Panda & despite it not having much go in it the car was comfortable & very very easy to drive & it suited my Friend perfectly..just shows you don't need to spend thousands of pounds for something reliable & practical for every day use..

I've had a 1.1 active eco for a year now. Group 1 insurance, £30 a year to tax and around 60MPG around town. These are going up in value right now.

Our 2005 1.2 Dynamic is up to 105,000 miles and still going strong. Always puts a smile on my face when I drive it. V reliable and cheap

Another cracking fact filled video on a very humble method of transport that we have all become detached from with our modern swanky vehicles 👍

I've been driving a Fiat Punto mk2a since 2001, even though it was supposed to be a cheap temporary transportation solution, due to the purchase of a house, it stayed until today, it got under our skin... The mechanics are the same as on the Fiat Panda (type 169), same problems, but and durability... Inexpensive maintenance and servicing (only 2.8 l of oil goes into the gasoline variant with the 1.2 FIRE engine!) and, due to its simplicity, a very stable vehicle. We have changed a lot of cars since 2001, but the Punto always remains, my wife and daughter love it too!

Hi Mat When you arrived in Marbella you thought the car had gone on “Limp mode” What turned out to be the problem. O r did fix itself after a rest. Best wishes Alan

To answer your question - YES! An emphatic YES! Wonderful little cars 😍

02:39 panda power steering has "city mode" you can activate for easier parcking

Cheap, cheerful and with a bit of charm. That’s the Panda all over really. Honest little thing

It just looks adorable and cheerful.

For sure. Not just one, but a couple

I love this channel because a lot of it is about affordable cars for the average Joe. Not been just lambos and rolls Royce that most can dream of

Quality working class journalism

D'yknow, I'd never even bothered to think about WHAT it's named after! It's just a car called 'Panda'...! ...owned a newish one a few years back - loved it, but turned out to be too small for us....they really are the kind of car a LOT more of us should be driving.....

I bought a Panda last year as my Chrysler 300c was costing a fortune on my daily commute. The car has paid for itself in fuel savings alone. It is a car you can easily grow attached to. It's cheap, fun and very practical. I'd forgotten how easy a small car is to get into regular parking spaces. It's brilliant for shopping runs, tip runs and fun runs. I agree that they look better with roof rails and alloys but my only regret is not getting one with air con. Seriously considering a Panda 4x4. I still can't part with the Chrysler though!

Definitely YES!!

Great preview Matt. Your in my local area. Mijas Pueblo. These Fiat Pandas. Like most second hand cars in Spain, are a 3rd higher than in UK. On Spanish web sits the Panda Mk3 4x4 are well over €5000! The model your driving is never less than €1500. Great " Campo" car for Spain.

These are so good I've owned three of them. First one I had was a 2nd gen like yours but a 1.2 Active (poverty spec) petrol and coming from a Citroen C1 it felt like a car a class above as opposed to a glorified golf buggy. That got traded in for a 3rd gen 1.2 Easy model in metallic grey with air con and I loved that car, but unfortunately it got written off after six months. However two years on I'm in another 3rd gen Panda - after the accident I bought a 500 Twin-Air which I loved driving but did about 30mpg and just encouraged me to drive everywhere like Ayrton Senna because of its power delivery and THAT sound. Rising fuel prices amongst other things led me back to a Panda.... And it's versatility, and the fact you can throw it around anywhere without fear or triggering a speed camera. I'm in a basic 1.2 Pop albeit with a aftermarket Bluetooth stereo and I'm glad to be back in it

Watching it a second time, thanks for another panda video!

This was the successor to the 500/126 not that Ford Ka think! Dam good car!

My friend has a 2006 model from new. He used to commute in it and has clocked up more than 250,000 miles. He still has it but his main car now is a Skoda EV, he is a green nut. To be fair he is buying a new hybrid as he has had lots of charging issues driving from Devon to Kent. Regarding the Panda's poor lights I hired one once in Spain, more than once really but this time I drove about a hundred miles through the mountains in the night. It was a nightmare as I have seen glow worms give off more light. When I bought one for a second car back in Blighty the first thing I did was upgrade the lights, this was the 1990's. I always think the Panda is underated and is a good no nonsense work horse, cheep to buy and cheep to run.

This is like when Jeremy Clarkson went to Sydney to check if the glovebox worked in the BMW X6. Interesting video, I’m not that fond of the Panda, I like the Aygo more, or a Sandero Stepway actually.

I wouldn't mind a Panda as I'm only 5'2 and I like cars that are easy to park

What happened about the engine light which appeared at the end of the last episode? I take it it was something minor, as you’re buzzing around Spain quite nicely now 😊

That seriously is ‘cheap’ motoring 😳 the tea light joke was a cracker Matt! 10 out of 10😂

Surprising attractive in diesel form would happily commute in that. 4x4 would be a great car for where I live.

What was the actual issue you had with it after the long haul?

The rain in Spain falls mainly on Scotland.... Cracking wee cars these. Be perfect for pottering about the island. Not so good for crossing continents tho!

Such a rogue trip to drive it to Malaga, great great content matt

Completely agree matt, unfortunately cars like this will be a thing of the past in the next 10 years not many cheap easy to maintain on the road today apart from dacia.

I know it’s an automotive cliché but the 4x4 Pandas are like a plucky little mountain goat. Willing, reliable and can go anywhere.

Pity it’s so small. At 6’4 I’ve tried to drive one and I felt like I was in a stress position. For reference though the only vehicles where I can’t reach the passenger window are vans, and my legs are similarly long 😂

What was the cause of the engine alarm light at the end of your journey? Was it a major problem?

This is the MK2 Panda produced between 2003 and 2012, the MK3 has been produced since 2012 so far.

Great video, great car!

We need a review of the infamous Rover Cityrover the Panda's rival at the time

My mom and sister both have the next gen Panda, they both love them. Sisters is the auto with the 2 cylinder turbo engine that is fun to throw around but sometimes needs to be turned off and on again to get the gearbox to work lol.

I’ve got better. 16 seconds it’s been uploaded and I’m watching 😂😂

As somebody who drove in America, most of the life , It would be great if you did a show about how to drive on the right hand side of the road. I mean left! I’m afraid I would kill everybody if I had to try to turn across an intersection . 😂

I'm driving a tipo at the minute as a courtesy car. Sore on fuel and not very responsive, very comfortable and a decent finish for a fiat

I would like to see you buy and assess a Renault Zoe, probably the ZE50 please

Does it Panda to your needs? …… I’ll get me coat.

If you want something a little better I can highly recommend the Vauxhall Agila/Suzuki Splash particularly the 1.2 which is £30 a year to tax chain driven engine , pretty quick for what it is and genuine 50 mpg, and being a Suzuki totally reliable.

I think this is a better car than the 500. Trouble is that it's not as " fashionable". Looking at getting one of these for my daughter 's first car ( the 4x4 if I can find one in good nick). I think they are a bit of a bargain imho.

I always look for a Panda to rent on holiday. I think they're a great wee car honest transport. Just don't look at the NCAP rating 🙄

What was the issue at the end of your trip and did you fix it

I have driven one recently 1.2 69hp. Great little car only 2 problems for me 1 engine is to weak on that model and clutch (gearstick) is strange, i struggled to get it into fifth grar. Other than that i liked it.

Thanks for the funny video!!

Lovely wee car ✌👍

The thinking man's Fiat 500.

Thought the engine light came on upon arrival in Spain?

The car your driving is a mk 2 face-lift, the mk 3 is completely different. I have a 05 mk 2.

Hi Matt, suggestion can you compare this to Mazda 2 2002-2007

The Panda Scored Zero points for passenger safety and Zero points for pedestrians being run over by a Panda! Oh and guess what???? The Fiat Punto scored the same 🫤

Still like them though

I thought the mk3 was the newer bubble shape one?

Did you drive it back from Spain or scrap it there? Amazing price you paid, only three available on AutoTrader across the UK, for under £1000 and they all look in terrible condition.

My logical brain says yes. My petrolhead brain differs

Matt what was the fault that gave an engine warning light.

I thought you said in the last vid that it had a fault at the end of trip from the uk?

Matt why did it go in to limp mode on your roadtrip .. what was the diagnosis? Regards Chris

Great car but my m8s would say Peter Kay of car share

The red one in the video is MK2, or am I wrong?

what happened to the engine light that came on in Spain?

The 4 wheel drive Panda is an awesome and underrated 4x4. it will go anywhere. 🏔

2003 Honda Civic is better as i saw a beautiful one in red today a 1.4 and only £995 no advisories on the MOT so a very good deal and wont break like the Panda did as i remember the ECU fault you had on that trip , I wonder if you got back in it without it shutting down ?

Be honest Mat, you can't part with it can you? It was nice to see your Range Rover...but I never thought you'd sell It for the Panda!!!!

Do you ever get weird looks driving with a right hand car in Spain?

are the version before 2011 have DPF ?

Did you sort the engine light out that come on when you spanked it up the hill 😂.

Nothing can beat £250 Panda 😀😀😀 No matter how much money a man can have ,and how expensive car can he afford, it'll always come down to a question:" Is it really worth it???" 😉

Did you fix the engine management light from your long road trip? What was the issue?

We've had a 2010 Panda 100 for 11 years now. Absolutely the best small car ever....over 100k trouble free miles now, 4 doors, economical, nippy, great handling. I've no idea what we could replace it with.

Funny to hear someone describe the Fiat Panda like that - it is exactly how I feel about mine. I have had a model 2012+ for 7 years and it has done 160.000 km, and all in all it has done all right. And I really like it.

Love my 2007 1.1 Active, was my first car then I sold it to my friends mum and after 2 years I bought it back from her, I missed it too much! Have since treated the little panda to roof rails, 4x4 alloys. Such an excellent boxy design. 1108cc FIRE engine is indestructible. Weak points are suspension bushings and front droplinks. Corrosion on the subframes is also an issue (especially here in Scotland) but the bodywork and paint is of amazing quality. Zero Corrosion on the bodywork. Love my little 🐼 many happy memories in it and many more to come.

Love the Panda, one of those cars you could become quite attached to and before you know you’ve owned it 15+ years. Also, what is that bright thing in the sky 😮😂

Despite loving fast cars, and luxurious cars all of my life, I have always also loved utilitarian and basic cars too. They make such good common sense and have a ‘feel good’ factor that you don’t get with other cars. I don’t think you can call yourself a ‘car guy’ unless you respect the cheap and cheerful as well as the expensive, fast and exclusive. Look at me - I’ve gone all philosophical 😊

I love small, cheap cars. You have to work to drive them which makes them rewarding.

Me and my wife (girlfriend at the time) were friends with an elderly couple. Unfortunately the chap died, but they had no children and not many people close to them. We didn't have a car at the time, so the lady asked if I would like to have their Panda, for nothing. Of course I didn't want anything for nothing, but she insisted. It was a fabulous fun car and fond memories.

I ran one of these for years, a cheap 4 year old buy, and it was absolutely brilliant. I ran from Stockport to Matlock through a couple of rough winters, and went all over the country in it. Brilliant little thing. Great review and extended test drive!

I would absolutely LOVE it if you could find a 100HP to buy and review. Brilliant little cars!

Remember throwing up on the drive up to Ronda from cortijo blanco, Marbella in a red Panda rental

The models further down the range always feel too dinky for me personally, but I've always loved the Panda and especially the 4x4. They look especially nice in red. A pretty good option for those looking for something ULEZ compliant.

Hola Matt, what was the warning light on the drive down in the Italian Stallion?

I've always liked the Panda, just something about how it's small but super practical. Very well made as well, given the number still on the road. Not sure if I'd want to drive one to spain mind you... 😂😂

Empanda was a Goddess of the Rustics - who liked to "give bread". Very fitting for this car. A lot better than the old number system. My first car was a 1050cc 5 speed Fiat 127 in red. My dad did it up, resprayed it. Was in perfect condition. Cheap to run, simple to maintain, cornered well.

Great little motor, they did a cloth double sun roof version & a 4x4 version back in the day. You had to stay on top of the bodywork though as it was prone to rust like all Fiats are.

Fantastic cars. I'm on my second one, with a third on order. I'll never be without one.

I was quietly hoping to see a follow up video to the road trip one.

High Peak is what the original Top Gear format was all about (pre Hammond days) but with charming Northern English wit, excellent.

Geeeez your hair is like silk not a hair out of place . MUST TAKE YOU HOURS TO DO lol

We have had an 07 100hp panda for 10 years. It has been the most reliable car I have ever driven, never broken down everthing still works as it should. 70,000 miles on the clock, still on original clutch. It does consume tyres at an alarming rate though and the fuel consumption is not great for a 1.4 litre engine, it averages 33-35 on a tank of mixed driving. However it handles like a go cart and is amazing fun to drive on the rural roads in Lincolnshire, only 99 bhp but in a car that weighs less than a door of a Range Rover it does surprise a few of the more expensive sporty hatchbacks out there. We have just bought a new car as both the wife and I have got a little older and the harsh ride was getting to us. But the Panda is staying in the family as our son is taking driving lessons shortly and it will be his first car. Hopefully it will serve him as well as it has us. Surprisingly cheap to insure for a 17 yr old too! Fiat certainly made an excellent car with the Panda range, if only red didn't fade so much..........

Thanks Matt! I’d definitely look at owning a Panda judging by your video. I have also owned simplistic cars as I learnt my lesson of car ownership in 30 years of driving that every car I’ve owned has always been damaged by others when I’ve parked it up in supermarkets or car parks etc. Now I just buy mechanically serviced cars that have okay bodywork on a budget.