We're unabashed Fiat Panda fans. Máté even claims the 4x4 variant is the best modern small car on the planet. And now there's this: The Fiat Panda Cross, a beefier version of the 4x4 that packs more off-road gizmos than a mid-90s Land Rover and a turbocharged 875cc engine.
Compared to the standard 4x4, the Cross is about 10mm higher with oversized tires, new front and rear ends, and even a front skid plate with a pair of exposed tow hooks poking out. A torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system pulls power from a six-speed auto 'box with a crawler first gear, while stability control, an electronic locking diff, and hill descent control keep things stuck to the ground. And while power is normally delivered to the front wheels, 100 percent of the torque can be sent to the rear.
There are two engine choices: a 1.3-liter MultiJet with 80 hp or the aforementioned 875cc mill (Fiat calls it a 0.9) putting out 90 hp and 107 lb-ft.
Even with steel underbody shields spanning front to rear, the Panda Cross comes in at just over 2,400 pounds, and loaded up with all the good bits, the price is still under £16,000. We want, but maybe in more subtle burnt orange.