New Fiat Panda Cross is a rugged Panda 4×4 baby SUV

The new Fiat Panda Cross (pictured) debuts at Geneva

It might not be the top of everyone’s wish list as a baby SUV, but the Fiat Panda Cross has always been better than you’d imagine, and the latest Panda Cross – revealed ahead of a debut at the Geneva Motor Show – looks even more able than the last Panda Cross and better looking too. The 2014 Fiat Panda Cross (although it will really be a 2015 model by the time it arrives in the UK) looks like a proper baby SUV thanks to its new front bumper with a satin titanium skid plate full of round cut-outs, new back bumper with skid plate, new lights, big wheel arches, roof bars and a new set of 15″ alloys (with ‘All Seasons’ 185/65R15 tyres), whilst the interior gets Climate, Blue&Me Infotainment and height-adjustable driver’s seat.

The Panda Cross also gets proper baby SUV toys like automatic drive between the axles according to grip, torque control of individual wheels when off-road and hill descent control for controlled downhill descents.

The new Panda Cross gets a choice of two engine options - 80 HP 1.3 MultiJet II turbodiesel and 90 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo – with official economy of 57.6mpg for the cracking little petrol and 60.1mpg for the diesel.

The new Fiat Panda Cross will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week but won’t be going on sale until the autumn, by which time we expect Fiat to have put a price on their new baby SUV.

By Cars UK