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Photo of a Fiat Panda

Fiat Panda

The 1980 Panda: designed for two 50-liter wine jugs and a full load of passengers.1

Researched October 25, 2026 from 25 sources

At a glance

0100200
19–111.3 hpPower
050100
9.5–36 s0–100 km/h
0100200
65–185 km/hTop speed
0150300
41–205 N·mTorque
07501,500
700–1,150 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.146910

Layout
Front-engine, FWD or 4WD (original Panda)1
Gearbox
4–6-speed manuals; Grande Panda hybrid: eDCT dual-clutch6789
Built at
141: Mirafiori, Italy; 169: Tychy, Poland; 3rd: Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy14
Units built
Over 7.8 million in 40 years; first generation: 4,491,0001

The story

In 1976, Carlo De Benedetti wanted a roomy, spartan car at Fiat 126 weight and cost. Giorgetto Giugiaro and Aldo Mantovani shaped the Panda in 15 days, with a rear seat that could double as a bed.1

1980: Geneva debut, 70,000 orders19801981: Compasso d'Oro for Giugiaro19811983: Steyr-Puch makes the Panda a 4x419831986: FIRE engines replace the original units19862003: Gingo becomes Panda20032004: Car of the Year and Compasso d'Oro20042011: Third generation lands at Frankfurt20112013: Cape Town–London in 10d 13h 28m2013 Fiat 126 (126): 1972–2000126Fiat Panda (first generation) (141): 1980–2003141Fiat Panda (second generation) (169): 2003–2012169Fiat Panda (third generation): 2011–presentFiat Grande Panda: 2024–present 19801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones148913
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1972–2000Fiat 126 (126)
1980–2003Fiat Panda (first generation) (141)
2003–2012Fiat Panda (second generation) (169)
2011–presentFiat Panda (third generation)
2024–presentFiat Grande Panda
1980Geneva debut, 70,000 orders
1981Compasso d'Oro for Giugiaro
1983Steyr-Puch makes the Panda a 4x4
1986FIRE engines replace the original units
2003Gingo becomes Panda
2004Car of the Year and Compasso d'Oro
2011Third generation lands at Frankfurt
2013Cape Town–London in 10d 13h 28m
  1. 1980

    Geneva debut, 70,000 orders

    The three-door Panda makes its Geneva debut in March; more than 70,000 orders arrive within two months.1

  2. 1981

    Compasso d'Oro for Giugiaro

    Giugiaro wins for the Panda and credits technical partner Aldo Mantovani with an equal share of the honor.2

  3. 1983

    Steyr-Puch makes the Panda a 4x4

    Steyr-Puch's selectable drivetrain makes the 965 cc Panda 4x4 the first small transverse-engined production 4WD car, with an ultra-low first gear.13

  4. 1986

    FIRE engines replace the original units

    New 769 cc and 999 cc FIRE fours arrive. Front-drive cars trade rear leaf springs for an Omega axle; the 4x4 keeps its leaf-sprung rear end.1

  5. 2003

    Gingo becomes Panda

    The five-door successor drops Gingo after Renault objects to the name's similarity to Twingo; the original ends its 23-year run.14

  6. 2004

    Car of the Year and Compasso d'Oro

    The second-generation, five-door Panda takes European Car of the Year and the Compasso d'Oro.14

  7. 2011

    Third generation lands at Frankfurt

    The third Panda debuts at Frankfurt in September, with design directed by Roberto Giolito and production at Italy's Pomigliano d'Arco.1

  8. 2013

    Cape Town–London in 10d 13h 28m

    Philip Young and Paul Brace take a Panda TwinAir from Cape Town to London in 10 days, 13 hours and 28 minutes, cutting the road record by over a day.5

Every generation

  • Fiat 126
    1261972–2000
  • Fiat Panda (first generation)
    1411980–2003
  • Fiat Panda (second generation)
    1692003–2012
  • Fiat Panda (third generation)
    Fiat Panda (third generation)2011–present
  • Fiat Grande Panda
    Fiat Grande Panda2024–present

Power over the years

From 30 hp to 99 hp in 26 years.

0255075100 19801985199019952000200520102015 hp 1980 · 30 hp · Panda 30: 652 cc twin1980 · 44 hp · Panda 45: 903 cc four1983 · 48 hp · Panda 4x4: 965 cc1986 · 34 hp · Panda 750 FIRE1986 · 36 hp · 1.3 L diesel1986 · 44 hp · Panda 1000 FIRE1990 · 19 hp · Panda Elettra1992 · 24 hp · Elettra power upgrade2006 · 99 hp · 100HP: 1.4 L FIRE2013 · 69 hp · 1.2 L FIRE2015 · 89 hp · Panda Cross 0.9 TwinAir 99 hp 100HP: 1.4 L FIRE 30 hp Panda 30: 652 cc twin
16781011
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
198030Panda 30: 652 cc twin
198044Panda 45: 903 cc four
198348Panda 4x4: 965 cc
198634Panda 750 FIRE
1986361.3 L diesel
198644Panda 1000 FIRE
199019Panda Elettra
199224Elettra power upgrade
200699100HP: 1.4 L FIRE
2013691.2 L FIRE
201589Panda Cross 0.9 TwinAir

Versions

12 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Panda 30/45, Super and L/CL/S

    Standard

    Panda 30/45, Super and L/CL/S

  • Panda Young

    Standard

    Panda Young

    1987

    34 hp
  • Panda 4x4 (original generation)

    Standard

    Panda 4x4 (original generation)

    1983

    48 hp
  • Panda 4x4, Climbing and Cross (second generation)

    Standard

    Panda 4x4, Climbing and Cross (second generation)

  • Panda 4x4 and Cross (third generation)

    Standard

    Panda 4x4 and Cross (third generation)

  • Grande Panda Pop, Icon, Business and La Prima

    Standard

    Grande Panda Pop, Icon, Business and La Prima

    2026

  • Panda 100HP

    Performance

    Panda 100HP

    2006–2010

    99 hp

  • Special

    Panda 30 College

    1985

  • Panda Italia 90

    Special

    Panda Italia 90

    1990

  • Panda Elettra

    Special

    Panda Elettra

    1990

    19 hp
  • Panda Alessi

    Limited

    Panda Alessi

    2006–2009

  • Limited

    Panda 4x4 Sisley (1987 UK edition)

    1987

    500 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Original generation: three-door body with flat glass in every window.1
  • Early original: one-sided metal grille; the 30 and 45 have their vents on opposite sides.1
  • Second generation: five doors, square headlights and a tall, boxy mini-MPV outline.16
  • Third generation: rounded-square headlights, window surrounds and reversing light.16

Year by year

  1. 1982–1984

    Super introduced five diagonal silver grille bars in 1982; all trims adopted the corporate grille in 1984.1

  2. 1986

    Original Panda facelift: front quarter windows vanished, rear arches matched the fronts and the rear plate moved to the bumper.110

  3. 2003

    The replacement switched from three doors to five and grew into a taller, boxy mini-MPV shape.146

  4. 2009

    Second-generation facelift: larger mirrors and roof rails with satin-silver center sections.4

  5. 2011

    Third-generation debut: rounded-square shapes appear in the headlights, window surrounds and reversing light.16

  6. July 2026

    Grande Panda La Prima adds optional black-roof two-tone paint; the red combination is called (RED).9

Against its rivals

  • Suzuki Swift 4x4

    Panda vs Suzuki Swift 4x4

    Peak torque

    Panda145 Nm
    Suzuki Swift 4x4118 Nm
    11
  • Kia Picanto GT-Line S

    Panda vs Kia Picanto GT-Line S

    Power

    Panda99 hp
    Kia Picanto GT-Line S99 hp
    12

Prices

Value today $5.3K–$9.1K12

Price when newAuction saleValue today
$0$10K$20K$30K 19801990200020102020 Value today: $5,330–$9,100 1980 · $4,670 · Italy Panda 30, approx. ITL850/$11980 · $5,530 · Italy Panda 45, approx. ITL850/$12006 · $18,490 · UK 100HP, approx. $1.85/£2015 · $24,400 · UK Cross TwinAir, approx. $1.53/£2026 · $19,690 · Italy Pop Turbo 100, approx. $1.10/€2026 · $23,540 · Italy Icon Hybrid, approx. $1.10/€2026 · $26,290 · Italy Pop Electric, approx. $1.10/€ 2024 · $26,000 · 1985 Panda 4x4, 93k km shown, BaT2025 · $1,600 · 2009 Panda 100HP, mileage 105,988, Ewbank's (hammer)2025 · $6,150 · 1991 Panda 4x4 CLX, 280k km shown, BaT2025 · $7,300 · 1987 Panda 750CL, 78k km shown, BaT2026 · $10,500 · 1986 4x4, ~62k miles shown, Bring a Trailer2026 · $17,000 · 1997 Panda 4x4 Country Club, 149k km shown, BaT $26.0K BaT, 2024
16891011192122232425
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
1980Price when new$4,670Italy Panda 30, approx. ITL850/$1
1980Price when new$5,530Italy Panda 45, approx. ITL850/$1
2006Price when new$18,490UK 100HP, approx. $1.85/£
2015Price when new$24,400UK Cross TwinAir, approx. $1.53/£
2026Price when new$19,690Italy Pop Turbo 100, approx. $1.10/€
2026Price when new$23,540Italy Icon Hybrid, approx. $1.10/€
2026Price when new$26,290Italy Pop Electric, approx. $1.10/€
2024Auction sale$26,0001985 Panda 4x4, 93k km shown, BaT
2025Auction sale$1,6002009 Panda 100HP, mileage 105,988, Ewbank's (hammer)
2025Auction sale$6,1501991 Panda 4x4 CLX, 280k km shown, BaT
2025Auction sale$7,3001987 Panda 750CL, 78k km shown, BaT
2026Auction sale$10,5001986 4x4, ~62k miles shown, Bring a Trailer
2026Auction sale$17,0001997 Panda 4x4 Country Club, 149k km shown, BaT
2026Value today$5,330–$9,100

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 12 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “10 days, 13 hours and 28 minutes”
    • “PanDakar finally finished the Dakar in 2017”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 25 sources
  1. Fiat Panda - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. Panda - Giorgetto & Fabrizio Giugiaro Designers giorgettofabriziogiugiaro.it
  3. Fiat Panda 4x4 MkI and MkII Buying Guide motorious.com
  4. Fiat Panda (2003) - Wikipedia it.wikipedia.org
  5. Fiat Panda beats the Cape Town to London record | evo evo.co.uk
  6. Fiat Panda super test: the 45-year evolution of Italy’s small car icon | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  7. 2013 Fiat Panda First Drive - First Review of the European-Only Fiat Panda roadandtrack.com
  8. Fiat Panda 100HP buying guide, history and review - Octane Magazine octane-magazine.com
  9. Fiat Grande Panda Turbo 100: L'A prima prova - L'Automobile lautomobile.aci.it
  10. Fiat Panda (1980) - Wikipedia it.wikipedia.org
  11. Glorious mud: Fiat Panda Cross vs Suzuki Swift 4x4 | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  12. Used Fiat Panda 100HP (2006 - 2010) review: a bargain driver's supermini but buyer beware | evo evo.co.uk
  13. Fiat 126 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  14. “To bring the PanDakar to the end in Buenos Aires” dakar.com
  15. Una Fiat Panda al traguardo della Dakar 2017 - alVolante alvolante.it
  16. Fiat Panda spotted in development for Gran Turismo | Traxion production.traxion.gg
  17. Appeal of iconic Panda spelt out at Pandino gathering irishexaminer.com
  18. Euro NCAP | FIAT Panda euroncap.com
  19. No Reserve: 1986 Fiat Panda 4x4 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $10,500 on May 15, 2026 (Lot #242,670) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  20. 472 used Fiat Panda for sale | AskCar askcar.co.uk
  21. 1997 Fiat Panda 4x4 Country Club for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $17,000 on June 15, 2026 (Lot #247,737) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  22. LOT:4033A | 2009 (09) Fiat Panda 100HP 1.4 Petrol. Registration num... ewbankauctions.co.uk
  23. No Reserve: 1991 Fiat Panda 4×4 CLX for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $5,300 on March 3, 2025 (Lot #182,290) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  24. 1987 Fiat Panda 750CL for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $7,300 on February 14, 2025 (Lot #180,398) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  25. No Reserve: 1985 Fiat Panda 4×4 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $26,000 on October 3, 2024 (Lot #165,291) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • giorgettofabriziogiugiaro.it
  • motorious.com
  • it.wikipedia.org
  • evo.co.uk
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • roadandtrack.com
  • octane-magazine.com
  • lautomobile.aci.it
  • dakar.com
  • alvolante.it
  • production.traxion.gg
  • irishexaminer.com
  • euroncap.com

Photo credits

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