[Closed] Panda 4x4 or Suzuki SX4?

I have a Suzuki Grand vitara 2010 and a Panda 4x4 2014, i looked at SX4 and 4 cross but quite low to ground so i went for Panda , fun little car , cracking on the farm . I got diesel wish i had got petrol but great car ,test drive both cars off road first .

Tried both just over 15 months ago as the Mrs was looking for a small 4wd. I really wanted to like the Panda but we both thought it was awful. Tinny, cramped (and I've nothing against Fiats). I liked the SX4. Much more roomy, easy to drive with the bigger diesel engine. My Mrs wasn't convinced though. We then saw a Toyota Urban Cruiser and she loved it, so that's what we ended up with. I'd never heard of it before then. I have to say that it's been just fine. Not the most exciting thing to drive, but reliable, economical and comfy.

Love our Panda, but it is definitely a small car. Great fun to dive. Not used it in the snow yet, which is what I am waiting for. Petrol engine is very cheerful, but not great on economy.

I like the Urban Cruiser, but as a man I feel I would have to remove that name badge from the back or invest in a cheap brown leather jacket and some stonewash jeans...

Thanks for help so far.
I don intend to go off road, but given that they are little. I wanted something that will drive safely in all weather. I'm just over 6ft but sat in a Panda (not 4wd) it didn't feel too bad. The sx4 seems to have a bit more power. Most kid my driving will bbe urban. But there will be occasional motorway drives.

Sukuzi's strike me as mummsy cars. Panda's rock. Drive both. If its the newer the twin air would win hands down.

wanted something that will drive safely in all weather.

Just remember 2 wd 4 wheel braking 2 wheel steering

4 wheel drive - 4 wheel braking - 2 wheel steering.

Ground clearance wil stop you before number of drive wheels.

A 2wd car will stop just as good as a 4wd as the brakes work on the same wheels.....but equivalent car will be lighter.

And above all your only as safe as the car in front and behind - if the car in fronts stuck so are you and if the car behind has ditch finders on and you stop too quickly - your getting rammed.

Something to bare in mind.

I was put off the Panda by its NCAP child safety score:

In the frontal impact, the 3 year dummy, sat in a forward facing restraint, did not move forward excessively. However, on rebound, the head of the dummy glanced against the rear window and the score was penalised. In the side impact, the 18 month dummy was properly contained but the head of the 3 year dummy was slightly outside the side wing of the restraint.

Whereas for the Suzuki:

Based on dummy readings in the dynamic tests, the SX4 scored maximum points for its protection of the 1½ year infant. In the frontal impact, forward movement of the 3 year dummy, sat in a forward-facing restraint, was not excessive. In the side impact, both dummies were properly contained within the protective shells of their restraints...

I love the way the Panda looks though - and we were given one as a hire car in Italy and it was fun to cruise round in (though we were on holiday, so even a PT Cruiser might have seemed fun. Maybe.).

Daihatsu Terios? Do they still make them?!

Seem to remember Jermey Clarkson disguising one as a fox and hooning round fields & woodland in it - seemed nigh on impossible to stop.

new or secondhand?

A3 quattro
Golf 4motion

Second hand. Not for radging around in. But not so I want to stick my leg out the door and push. Does the Fiat have any poke at all?

We have a Panda 4x4 and are looking at getting the new Cross. We love it to bits for razzing around the lakes in, but you have to accept that the engine isn't the last word in power and isn't that happy on the motorway.

Ours will be up for sale after Xmas and will only be on for about £2k for a 56 plate with 75k miles if you're interested 😉