VW Up vs Fiat Panda gallery: CAR's twin test

Latest Stories

In the new April 2012 issue of CAR Magazine, we pit two of 2012's big small cars head-to-head: the Volkswagen Up and the Fiat Panda. Don't miss Anthony ffrench-Constant's seven-page twin test in the magazine - but to whet your appetite we've dug up a dozen extra pictures that we couldn't quite squeeze into the mag. Enjoy our gallery below!

Two star-struck lovers in Verona? The Fiat Panda takes on VW's Up in Italy. Where else?

The Italians went potty over the VW Up. This angle shows how much taller the Panda is.

We sent snapper Mark Fagelson scampering up the local piazza tower to get this shot. We don't think it was him who dropped his lens cap in Carla's latte below, honest.

You'll struggle to find a better city car than these two. The Panda is full of Italian brio and a hoot to drive, the Up exudes Germanic precision and depth of engineering.

At last, time to get on some proper urban roads, away from the crowded piazzas.

CAR's tallest writer, Ben Pulman, in Volkswagen's smallest car.

Save up enough bikes and you too could afford a VW Up. Ride over enough cobbles and you may prefer the Up's build quality over the marginally flakier Panda's.

Anthony somehow reversed into a big white arrow. We're not quite sure if Fiat have removed it yet.

Red for Italian flair, white for sober German precision. A cliche, but all too true.

More Italian piazza action. Cobble together pun here etc.

'So where exactly is the nearest tabac, Anthony asks bemused local.

The VW Up triumphs in Verona. The End.

Rate this article...

Average rating: Rated 3 out of 5

3 (22 votes)

Discuss this

Add your comment

VW Up vs Fiat Panda gallery: CAR's twin test

Subject

Your comment

By submitting your comment, you agree to adhere to the CAR Magazine website Terms and Conditions

Cancel

Subscribe to comments

reward badge

rickerby says

RE: VW Up vs Fiat Panda gallery: CAR's twin test

Like the new F30 3 series, the UP is another very ordinary car that the British press seem to have completely ga ga about, why? I guess like BMW, VAG have plenty of financial fire power that the likes of Fiat lack. Fine wine will flow and 5 star hotel rooms will await at any German car launch!

03 April 2012 07:22

reward badge

Ulpian says

RE: VW Up vs Fiat Panda gallery: CAR's twin test

Apologies. I've just noticed I was referring to a comparison in Top Gear Magazine, not Car! Whoops!! Anyway, my comments about the cars stand, the Up is quieter and the Panda is quicker and more fun, and easier to get in and out of, and puts a smile on your face. The Up could quickly become very boring, but most of all the 60hp version at least could never keep up with urbean traffic, let alone manage on motorways, so unless you are living in a village and the local shop is your only destination the Up just isn't god enough. Maybe the sport version woth a turbo coming later in the year will improve matters - it shoud - but then Fiat will soon have a105 Panda too. The 85 Panda is quick enough for now and driven carefully will give great mileage, and it comes tax free too: bonus. So Panda it is then.

30 March 2012 09:59

reward badge

Ulpian says

RE: VW Up vs Fiat Panda gallery: CAR's twin test

Well, I've driven them both, except I drove the twinair Panda. First of all, the stats in the article relating to the Panda are wrong, they conflate some details of the 1200 with some of the twinair, resulting in total inaccuracy. I agree with most of what they say about the cars, but the fact that the VW is lower is no advantage and the higher Panda has better visibility around the A pillars - I had to stretch forward in the VW to see at junctions - as well as benefitting from the extra height for access. It does need the optional adjustable seat though becasue both I and the salesman were able to sit comfortably, but only with the seat set at totally different heights. As far as driving is concerned the Up is indeed very quiet and comfortably suspended. Indeed, it is a revelatioin in this department. It is also, in 60hp form, terribly slow away from standstill and no fun at all to drive. Nice to be in, but with nowhere to put anything, and as for the plastics, well, they were just plastic and I couldn't detect anything special at all. It was a nicer place to sit than the gloomily dismal Polo though. The twinair Panda was a revelation after the VW. It was like driving a lag-free and powerful Diesel, so quickly did it take off with just a kiss of the throttle. It was, in short, a total hoot to drive and I laughed out loud at the fun of it all. The twinair feels like a proper machine with well weighted and situated controls adding to the pleasure - that high sited gearlever is perfect. The Up is a very competent small car but the Panda twinair is a very special small car that is uniquely fun to drive. I have driven all the competition now and only the Panda twinair is truly memorable, and for all the right reasons. It is genius.

29 March 2012 23:01

reward badge

Bishopwasahero says

RE: VW Up vs Fiat Panda gallery: CAR's twin test

'Greatly enjoyed the pictures and the article. What was most interesting was AFF-C's view that the Up was not quite as well finished inside as has beenclaimed elsewhere. He is certainly giving the appearance of wanting to de-bunk the myth. Both fabulously tempting small cars - for me the Up just nudges it, but I beg forgiveness if I change my mind next week.

29 March 2012 12:30