Glorious mud: Fiat Panda Cross vs Suzuki Swift 4x4

The Fiat Panda Cross is the latest in a long line of four-wheel drive Pandas, and this is the most extreme yet. The Suzuki Swift 4x4 packs the Japanese brand's four-wheel drive know-how into one of the most fun superminis on the market

"It's hard not to fall for the Fiat's charms. With its chunky looks, characterful engine and mountain goat agility in the rough stuff, the Panda Cross never fails to raise a smile. If only the engine wasn't so thirsty." - James Disdale

The 875cc engine in the Panda delivers a spirited drive, while the chassis and drivetrain feel tough enough to withstand all kinds of terrain. 

The extra height of the Panda Cross does mean the car rolls in bends, plus the ride can be unsettled over bumps. 

Inside, the Cross gets a matt-effect copper dash, with contrasting silver finish surrounding the dials and centre console. There's plenty of room up front, too. 

In the back, there's plenty of headroom thanks to the Panda's tall body, but legroom is a bit tighter than that of the Suzuki. 

The boot weighs in at 225 litres, 14 litres more than the Swift. The rear seats fold with a 60:40 split, but they're not completely flat when folded. 

In challenging situations, the Panda Cross is uncompromising with go-anywhere ability to rival that of even the best, most expensive off-roaders. 

Approach, rampover and departure angles for the Panda stand at 24, 21 and 24 degrees respectively and was able to venture much further off-road than the lower-slung Swift. 

Compact dimensions, excellent visibility and light controls make the Panda a breeze to thread through crowded city streets. 

Sat nav sits on top of the dash in a special dock. 

Terrain Control system is easy to use, allowing the driver to switch between Auto, Off-Road and hill descent control. 

The Panda Cross' rugged look is enhanced by plenty of black plastic cladding around the car. 

Cross badges feature on the rear doors, as well as the front seats of the Panda. 

The Panda Cross comes with mud and snow tyres as standard, making the car much more capable off-road than the Swift. 

'City' button adds more steering assistance at low speeds, plus there's a useful Eco button that cuts engine torque in an effort to reduce fuel costs. 

Lower ride height of the Swift means it's sharper on road, but at the expense of off-road capability. 

"Suzuki 4x4 doesn't deliver any more ground clearance than the standard car. If you want to head off-road, the Panda is a better bet." - Dean Gibson, deputy road test editor. 

Dark materials in the cabin are at odds with the bright interior of the Panda Cross and give a slightly oppressive feel. 

The Swift is 145mm longer than the Panda, so rear passengers get a touch more rear legroom, although headroom is tighter. 

Despite the Swift's extra length, the boot is smaller than the Panda's at a disappointing 211 litres. It's hindered by a high load lip and small opening, too. 

The new Dualjet doesn't offer any performance gains over the old engine. It still claims the same 13.4 seconds for 0-62mph." - James Disdale, road test editor.

Despite looking like an aftermarket unit, the touchscreen in the Panda works well and is easy to use. 

There's plenty of grip and composed handling thanks to lower profile tyres. Body movement is also better controlled than the Panda.

The Panda Cross has a much more rugged look than the Swift, with bright red towing eyes and protective silver lower grille.