For many years, small cars from Fiat were hysterical sales hits in Israel. To the younger generation this may sound strange, but in the 1980s of the previous century we drove here in a Fiat Uno, and after a decade the Punto from the same house became a bestseller. Older people will also fondly remember the Fiat 127 that flooded the roads, and with your permission we will stop the time travel here.

This is distant history, and Fiat's current situation is completely different. While the previous 500 was a refreshing and successful breeze, its electric successor received a cold reception in Europe and here, leading to the halt of its marketing. The Italian manufacturer, finding itself at a crossroads, continued to market only commercials here - a gloomy picture for a proud brand.

But the new Panda, as Fiat hopes, symbolizes change. The recipe is familiar - a veteran and beloved name, design that returns to the roots with modern elements, significantly larger dimensions than before and components that have proven themselves at the parent company Stellantis. Renault did it nicely and very successfully with the electric 4 and 5, so why not? Accordingly, the declared goal is identical - returning Fiat to its high status in the small car category.

Summary: After the failure with the electric 500, Fiat needed a new success story - and it seems it has arrived. The Panda, it must be said, is far from perfect: its powertrain is not brilliant, it is not a quiet companion on intercity driving, the driving assistance systems spec is basic only and the material quality is average.

Direct competitors: Citroen C3, Seat Ibiza, Suzuki Swift
Test car price (base): 126 thousand shekels (119 thousand shekels)

Good: Original design, usability, ride comfort
Okay: Powertrain, dynamic ability, material quality, equipment
Needs improvement: Noise insulation, no manual gear control
Score: 9

But it is still charming. With a look and driver-passenger environment that are nothing less than brilliant, surprising usability relative to its size and good ride comfort. And in an era where the road is flooded with dozens of models that even the most experienced among us struggle to distinguish between and identify the manufacturer behind them, how fun it is to meet a motor creation that raises a smile and encourages joy of life. Give us more of that.

How it looks: Great. The Panda is one of the most fun-looking cars we have met in recent years and the number of glances we received will attest to that. All without exception accompanied by a huge smile, whether in central Tel Aviv or the Jezreel Valley. It combines unique retro that winks at the first Panda from the eighties, and a futuristic look with pixel LED lights and unique wheel rims, alongside countless appearances of the brand and model name in every possible corner. So you do not get confused, heaven forbid.

The passenger compartment continues the direction with numerous name mentions, but also with impressive color combinations and original materials (a storage compartment made of bamboo fibers). And yet, the material quality is rather basic in line with its class and the price tag required of it.

A pair of 10.25-inch screens serve as a digital instrument cluster and central touch screen, the latter a bit slower than required. But, kudos for choosing to preserve physical buttons for the air conditioning system for convenient operation. The front seats are comfortable and support the body well, do not tire even on long drives and the field of vision is excellent thanks to the relatively high seating position. On the other hand, the steering wheel has too limited adjustment range for distance and the seat belts have no height adjustment option and that is not good.

Compared to the previous Panda, the new one is no less than 34.5 cm longer (400 cm), 12 cm wider (176 cm), 5 cm taller (160 cm) and with a wheelbase 24 cm longer (254 cm) - which explains the leap to the supermini category and the name Grande Panda.

The added size allows decent space for rear passengers and believe it or not, a couple of adults sat there without special complaints, except for grumbling about the narrow door opening that makes entry difficult. Service conditions include USB sockets, but there is no interior lighting and no ceiling grab handles. The trunk has a volume of 350 liters, similar to what is common in compact family cars and enough for a baby stroller. It is a pity only that the high loading threshold will make it difficult to pull out heavy items.

The equipment spec in the test car includes a smart key, rearview camera and wireless charging pad, but the safety array is modest and includes only autonomous braking and lane departure correction, without adaptive cruise control and blind spot warning. Physical buttons allow convenient disconnection of lane departure control and traffic sign recognition and it is nice that way.

How it drives: After we met the Panda in Europe with electric drive, this time we are driving the gasoline version - which is the only one marketed in Israel. With Stellantis' familiar turbocharged gasoline engine, three cylinders with 1.2 liter displacement and a mild hybrid system (48V), incorporating a small electric motor inside the 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. The combined output stands at 110 hp and the sprint to 100 km/h takes 10 seconds.

Although the feel at low speeds is not always smooth, it is agile as expected between traffic lights and provides available power at low rpm. Even at higher speeds it copes respectably, but the transmission is slow in its responses, delays power delivery and requires calculated planning before performing an overtake.

It is also a pity that the transmission has no mode that allows more vigorous shifts, or manual control of gear changes that would also allow engine braking and save intensive use of the brakes. Since L mode in the transmission hardly changes its function and on long descents the driver is unnecessarily required to burden the pads. Fuel consumption was only reasonable for a car with a modest engine, 13.5 km per liter during the test days.

Ride comfort on the other hand is very good, certainly relative to the Panda's size. Successful suspension tuning - even if soft at times - allows it to absorb urban bumps well at low speed, and not to scatter on bumps at higher speed. It is a pity only that the noise insulation is not successful, and too many wind and road noises penetrate the passenger compartment.

Road holding is good, safe and predictable, partly thanks to quality Goodyear tires (205/55R17), but the steering and brakes lack sufficient feel.

Engine: Turbo-gasoline, 3 cylinders, 1.2 liters
Power: 110 hp at 5,500 rpm
Torque: 20.9 kgm at 1,750 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed dual clutch, front-wheel drive
Length: 399.9 cm
Width: 176.3 cm
Height: 162.9 cm
Wheelbase: 254 cm
Curb weight: 1,380 kg
Trunk volume: 350 liters
0-100 km/h, top speed: 10 seconds, 160 km/h
Fuel consumption (manufacturer): 18.5 km per liter
Airbags: 6
Safety rating (Euro NCAP): Not yet tested
Test car price (base): 126 thousand shekels (119 thousand shekels)

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