Used Fiat Panda 2012-present review

The Panda is an urban car, so check the bodywork for scuffs and marks from negotiating multi-storey car parks. Also check the interior seats for excess wear and their operation. It’s worth making sure that the hatchback raises and lowers without squeak or protest.

Problems centre on engine electrics, with some faults reported in suspension components, too. On a few cars, the clutch juddered and some suffered from a jammed tailgate release mechanism. If you're shopping for the MultiJet diesel, ask the seller about its fuel and oil consumption as some owners have reported both to be abnormally high.

The Panda has always had a mixed reliability record. In our most recent survey, it finished near the bottom in the city car class, although only 20% of owners actually reported problems. Having said that, those issues spanned some crucial areas, including the engine, engine electrics and suspension. But all faults were fixed in less than a week and under warranty (the survey covered cars up to three years old).

Fiat as a brand finished poorly, ending up in 24th place out of 32 manufacturers in our most recent study.