ONCE upon a time there was a very cheap way to enter the world of 4x4 motoring.
It was 80s technology and very basic, but its Steyr-Puch drive system guaranteed that it could get into some almost impossible places. The Fiat Panda 4x4 may have rusted but no-one could doubt its ability.
But the years passed and this cheeky pretender to an off-road world dominated by Land Rover was consigned to the history books.
But now the Panda 4x4 is back with a vengeance and a healthy helping of attitude. The new four-wheel-drive version of Fiat's multi-award winning European Car of the Year hit the ground with all wheels whirling last February and has been busy ever since underpinning the success of the new Panda.
But this latest model is hardly a reissue of the first. It is the clearest demonstration yet that the Panda has grown up. It combines the road presence and elevated driving position of a small sports utility with the space and flexible practicality of a compact people mover. In other words, it may be compact but it has a lot of space and will get you everywhere.
Roomy was never a term you would use with the original, but the Panda of 2005 allows you to stretch out and enjoy its highly capable four-wheel-drive transmission system which can, thanks to variable torque technology, automatically transfer 50 per cent of engine power to the rear wheels.
In truth, you would never go off-roading in a smart little number like this, but it certainly has the potential to cut the mustard in snow, mud, rain and, to a certain extent, ice. It is one of those vehicles that is the favourite of vets, rural doctors and district nurses.
No matter what the heavens throw at you, there is a good chance that the little Panda 4x4 will get through - but not exactly at the bog standard price of the original. For this one you will have to shell-out £9,195 which is expensive for a Panda, bearing in mind that the lead in 1.1 Active two-wheel-drive model is just £6,595.
The Panda 4x4 features a robust low-maintenance drivetrain which is completely automatic and completely mechanical. No electronic complications in this department.
Ground clearance is increased, giving this vehicle a tough, businesslike stance with a revised and toughened suspension system.
The new Panda is a natural choice for a 4x4 version because its short front and rear overhangs make it ideally suitable for some quite extreme conditions. Indeed it will readily climb gradients in excess of 50 per cent.
On the road, you would never know that the engine was driving a 4x4 system. It feels just like an ordinary hatchback.
Under the bonnet is the proven FIRE 1.2-litre eight-valve 60bhp engine mated to a five-speed gearbox. There is one unique trim designation, which on my test car came with bright red seats which were just a bit too razzle dazzle for my taste.
Being a 4x4 does not mean that the Panda 4x4 is sparsely equipped. There are the usual goodies associated with a well-specced hatchback including dual-drive power steering, electric windows and much more. There is even the availability of an MP3 player if desired.
There used to be a saying about Italian cars and that is that they were built for the dry Italian climate and suffered elsewhere.
Not so with the Panda 4x4 because it has been tested in minus 40 degrees in Lapland and has also been pushed hard through the Kalahari Desert and driven to an advance base camp in the Himalayas at an altitude of 5,200 metres. OK so far. Let's hope it can cope with British industrial pollution, road salt and acid rain.
I'm sure that it can because modern Fiats have as much body and chassis protection as the best of the rest. This is certainly one of the most interesting Fiats of modern times.
FAST FACTS
Fiat Panda 1.2 4x4 5dr
Price: £9,195
Mechanical: 60bhp, 1,242cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving all four wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 90mph
0-62mph: 20 secs
Combined mpg: 42.8
Insurance group: 2
CO2 emissions: 156g/km
BiK rating: 18%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 8yrs anti-rust