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Rating

Verdict As refined as a vacuum cleaner

Fiat has brought out a more peppy version of its loveable little car that has - wait for it - a dizzying 100 horsepower. It looks fab, too, with all sorts of sporty chickenwire grilles and zoomy lights. If it were a dog it would have patches and cockeyed ears and it would whiz round your mother’s ankles whenever she came to stay.

I’m sorry, but I pretty much hated it. The problem is that the original, proper, normal Fiat Panda was conceived as a local car for local people. It was designed to be as cheap as possible and at £7,000 it is.

The trouble is that by sticking a 1.4 litre engine under the bonnet you are now paying £10,000 for a £7,000 car. And it shows.

There is almost no refinement at all. The windscreen is right there, in front of your nose. The back window is right there, touching the back of your head, and the deep side windows complete the picture with your peripheral vision. So when you’re doing 90mph it feels like you’re doing 90mph - without the benefit of a car around you.

I’m afraid it’s time to draw pretty much the same wearisome conclusion that I seem to draw with all small car tests these days. You’re better off with the Suzuki Swift Sport.

Current price £10,250

Price when tested (Mar 2007) £9,995

Engine 1368cc, four cylinders

Power 100bhp @ 5800rpm

Torque 94 lb ft @ 4500rpm

Transmission Six-speed manual

Fuel/CO2 43.5mpg (combined) / 154g/km

0-62mph 9.5sec

Top speed 115mph