We review the Fiat Panda Cross from price to economy and all its features

CROSS a Panda with something and you'll usually end up with a cringe-worthy punchline - but this funky new Fiat is anything but a joke.

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Seemingly crossed with a mountain goat, this car's genuine off-roading capabilities, bold new looks and city car economy make the wildest of Pandas seriously family-friendly.

Based on the regular Panda 4x4, the Panda Cross sits 9mm higher and has improved "approach and departure angles" — the ability to go up and down hills — that make it perfect for everyday mountain passes.

Beefed up with over-sized tyres, swathes of plastic mouldings, highmounted foglights and a metallic skidplate, it's visually up for it too.

How does it drive?

On the road isn't the Panda Cross's forte. The vocal sixspeed TwinAir suffers from a frustratingly short first gear — primed for optimum off rather than on-road performance. The quieter and more frugal five-speed Multijet diesel fares better but laments that lack of sixth gear. The choice diesel carries a £1,000 premium.

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In its element... The Panda Cross thrives off-road

Having finally reached motorway pace, those niggles fade away as the Panda Cross defies the high-speed twitchiness of most city cars.

But it's off-road where the Panda Cross is truly in its element.

At the Balocco test ground in Italy, it tackled obstacles you'd think twice about tackling even with a Land Rover. We gave the fun-sized Fiat's hill descent and electronic locking differential to heavy use, limiting wheel slip and transferring torque to whichever wheels need it most.

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What's it like inside?

Given its city car dimensions, this mini SUV is surprisingly roomy and has 225litres of boot storage (870litres with seats folded). Setting it apart from the rest of Panda pack, the squircle-inspired interior gets a unique copper colour dash while the seats are further bolstered for support.

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Interior... Stylish copper dash and large boot space

It's well kitted out too, with automatic climate control, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a navigation dock, leather steering wheel and heated electric mirrors all standard. The Panda Cross arrives here in October.

VERDICT: The best looking Panda to date and will get you to Tesco in the snow too.

ROB LEWIS