Fiat Panda 2024 review
Photo: Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The 2024 Fiat Panda is the end of the line for one of Britain's favourite little cars. Production of the third-generation Panda ended in summer 2024 after a remarkable 12-year run, before the all-new Grande Panda arrived as its spiritual successor. As a final hurrah, the 2024 Panda stayed true to the formula that made it a legend: a tiny, tall, honest five-door city car costing around £14,800 on the road — among the very cheapest new cars in the UK.
Under the bonnet sits Fiat's 1.0-litre three-cylinder Firefly petrol engine with a belt-integrated starter-generator mild-hybrid system, good for 70hp and 92Nm. A 6-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive are the only options — no CVT, no EV complexity, no turbos to worry about. The result is 0-62mph in 14.7 seconds, a 96mph top speed and a WLTP combined figure of 49.6mpg, with CO2 from 122g/km. The 4x4 version keeps the Panda's cult following among rural and winter drivers.
What you really buy with a Panda is simplicity. It is only 3,686mm long — shorter than almost everything else with five doors — yet the tall body gives genuine headroom and a 225-litre boot that grows to 870 litres with the rear seats folded. There are no parking sensors to calibrate and no giant touchscreen to freeze; just easy driving, low insurance groups and Fiat's 3-year unlimited-mileage warranty. The Panda was always the antidote to car bloat, and the 2024 model is the last of its breed.
Related reviews: Fiat 500e 2024 review · Volkswagen Golf 2024 review · Ford Focus 2024 review
UK price from: £14,800
Specifications
| Engine | 1.0L 3-cylinder Firefly petrol mild hybrid (12V BSG) |
| Power | 70 hp |
| Torque | 92 Nm |
| 0-62 mph | 14.7 seconds |
| Top speed | 96 mph |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive (4x4 available) |
| Fuel economy | 49.6 mpg WLTP combined |
| CO2 emissions | 122-132 g/km |
| Boot space | 225 litres (870 litres seats folded) |
| Length | 3,686 mm |
| Euro NCAP | 0 stars (2018 retest; 4 stars in 2011) |
| Warranty | 3 years / unlimited mileage (Fiat UK) |
Features
- 1.0-litre Firefly three-cylinder petrol with mild-hybrid assistance (70hp, 92Nm)
- 6-speed manual gearbox; 4x4 version available for rural drivers
- Just 3,686mm long — one of the shortest five-door cars on UK sale
- Tall body with excellent headroom and visibility
- 225-litre boot, expanding to 870 litres with seats folded
- Claimed 49.6mpg WLTP combined; CO2 from 122g/km
- Low insurance groups keep premiums affordable for young drivers
- 3-year / unlimited-mileage Fiat UK warranty as standard
Common parts & prices
| Part | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oil filter (1.0 Firefly) | £9.99 | |
| Engine air filter | £14.99 | |
| Spark plugs (set of 3) | £17.99 | For 3-cylinder Firefly engine |
| Front brake pads (set) | £29.99 | |
| Front wiper blades (pair) | £18.99 | |
| 12V battery | £74.99 |
Pros
- Among the cheapest new cars in the UK at around £14,800
- Honest, simple mechanicals: no turbo, no complex electronics
- 49.6mpg economy and tiny dimensions make it ideal for cities
- 4x4 variant is a genuine winter-warrior cult classic
- 3-year unlimited-mileage warranty included
Cons
- Zero-star Euro NCAP result (2018 retest) is hard to ignore
- 14.7-second 0-62mph time feels very slow on fast A-roads
- Discontinued in summer 2024 — new-car supply is drying up
- 225-litre boot is small beside modern rivals
