The Fiat Panda is immensely charming.
Which helps make up for its wheezy acceleration, noisy engine, basic equipment and poor safety rating.
Thankfully, the Fiat Panda isn’t the only characterful small car you can buy – here are the best picks for cars similar to a Fiat Panda.
Fiat Grande Panda
Better than the Panda for: nearly everything
We’d like you to read all the way through this article, but it’ll be hard for you to look past the Fiat Grande Panda. Compared to the old Panda, it’s bigger, more versatile, safer, more economical and better to drive. Plus, it’s lovely and quiet, there’s a good amount of modern tech, it’s full of recycled materials and it’s even more stylish.
The only things the old Panda offers that the new one doesn’t are super-cheap insurance costs, the option of four-wheel drive and a low cash price. The Grande Panda can be really affordable if you're paying monthly.
Read our Fiat Grande Panda review
Fiat 600
Better than the Panda for: boot space
Want to stay within the Fiat family but need more space for your family? The Fiat 600 is your best pick – until the bigger Fiat Grizzly arrives, that is. With 360 litres on offer, the 600’s boot is around 50% more capacious than the Panda’s 225-litre cubbyhole, and it’s enough to chuck in a couple of suitcases, a weekly shop or a bulky pushchair. Like the Grande Panda, the 600 is available with a choice of petrol or electric options.
Shop used Fiat 600 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Fiat 600e review
Suzuki Swift
Better than the Panda for: 4x4 availability
A cornerstone of the old Panda was its four-wheel-drive Cross model. You’ll still find many of these in rural Italy, plugging away up a gravel track like a plucky mountain goat. But you won’t find a new example any more so, if you need a small car with some off-road capability, head towards a Suzuki Swift with the brand’s AllGrip system instead. Make sure to check out the SUV-styled Suzuki Ignis too if you’re checking out used Swifts – we reckon the Ignis is a bit more fun.
Shop used Suzuki Swift cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Suzuki Swift review
Kia Picanto
Better than the Panda for: warranty
Even the last-of-the-line Pandas don’t have much warranty cover left. If you want a small car that’ll go the distance, the Kia Picanto is a top choice. Used examples have the balance of Kia’s seven-year warranty, giving you years of reassurance behind the wheel. The best part is that you'll probably never need to use it, because the Picanto is a simple and dependable machine.
Shop used Kia Picanto cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Kia Picanto review
Renault 5
Better than the Panda for: style
The Renault 5 has been a big seller for the French brand, but our mood still lifts slightly every time we see one. A perfect mix of retro nostalgia and slick modernness, the 5 hits the high notes in terms of style. The fully electric R5 manages up to 252 miles on a full charge, and it’ll be cheaper to run than a Panda if you can charge at home.
Read more about the new Renault 5 here
Hyundai i10
Better than the Panda for: tech
Towards the end of its time on sale, the Panda got a small and basic touchscreen for phone connectivity. But it still feels quite old inside (because it is), while a newer alternative like the Hyundai i10 feels much more up-to-date. Impressively, the i10 gets much of the same tech as a much more expensive Hyundai, giving you the feeling of driving a big, expensive car while actually driving a cheap and easy-to-park runabout. It's a bit short of power for regular motorway journeys, but the i10 is a lot more refined at high speeds than the Panda.
Shop used Hyundai i10 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Hyundai i10 review
Dacia Sandero
Better than the Panda for: value for money
Like the Panda, the Dacia Sandero is proud to be a simple car, and the Sandero wears its affordability on its sleeve. Dacia’s no-nonsense supermini is a lot bigger inside than the Panda, and feels a lot more durable as well. Using tried-and-tested Renault parts inside means the Sandero is cheap to build but doesn’t miss out on modern creature comforts.
Shop used Dacia Sandero cars for sale or read our Dacia Sandero review
Peugeot 208
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Better than the Panda for: interior quality
The Panda is obviously built down to a price, and that’s fine because it’s a cheap car. But, depending on your Panda budget, you might be able to look at the Peugeot 208 instead. Instantly it feels more premium inside, with a nicer selection of materials used on key touchpoints. Have a poke around and the 208 feels considerably better built than the Panda, too.
Shop used Peugeot 208 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Peugeot 208 review
Vauxhall Corsa
Better than the Panda for: having a wide choice of used examples
For a long time, the Panda was the best-selling car in its Italian homeland, but it never sold particularly well over here. We’ve probably hit some of the reasons why. If you’re picky about colour and spec on a used car, you’ll find every combination of Vauxhall Corsa for almost any budget. The cheap Design trim still has equipment that a Panda could only dream of, while Ultimate cars max out with things like a heated steering wheel and a massaging driver’s seat.
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Citroen C3
Better than the Panda for: comfort
The Panda is pretty soft and lollopy, but it isn’t refined. For something smooth and soothing, check out the Citroen C3. Its curved looks give it a similar approachability to the Panda, and its seats are soft and squidgy. Citroen also developed a suspension system with extra hydraulic bump stops to improve the car’s damping and ride quality – making worrying about potholes feel like a thing of the past.
Shop used Citroen C3 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our used Citroen C3 review
