Fiat Panda Cross

Fiat Panda Cross: which version to buy and why

The Fiat Panda Cross in this catalogue is a single generation — 3 generation, Mini 5-doors, on sale from 2014-04-01 with no generation end date — and five all-wheel-drive versions. Four of those five stopped on 2018-05-31. The only version still listed without a stop date is 0.9 TwinAir (85 hp).

The Fiat Panda Cross in this catalogue is a single generation — 3 generation, Mini 5-doors, on sale from 2014-04-01 with no generation end date — and five all-wheel-drive versions. Four of those five stopped on 2018-05-31. The only version still listed without a stop date is 0.9 TwinAir (85 hp). If the question is “which one to buy,” the numbers split the field into three jobs: the strongest diesel, the lightest petrol, and the one version that is still the current listing.

There is no second generation to compare. Every difference below is between versions of the same Mini 5-doors body, all AWD, all turbo, all front transverse, all Euro 6, all with a 35-litre tank, independent spring suspension at both ends, ventilated disc fronts and Disc rears.

Specs table: the five versions side by side

Same badge, different car: the three 1.3 Multijet MT rows are 95, 80 and 70 hp. The two 0.9 TwinAir rows are 90 and 85 hp. Buying by name alone is how you get the 70 hp diesel when you meant the 95.

Compression ratio is 16.8 on every Multijet and 10 on every TwinAir. Bore × stroke is 69.6 x 82 mm on the 1248 cc diesels and 80.5 x 86 mm on the 875 cc petrols. Direct injection (direct) is listed on all five.

Power per litre, torque per litre, kilograms per horsepower

Specific output (hp ÷ displacement in litres):

• 0.9 TwinAir (90 hp): 90 ÷ 0.875 = 102.9 hp/l
• 0.9 TwinAir (85 hp): 85 ÷ 0.875 = 97.1 hp/l
• 1.3 Multijet MT (95 hp): 95 ÷ 1.248 = 76.1 hp/l
• 1.3 Multijet MT (80 hp): 80 ÷ 1.248 = 64.1 hp/l
• 1.3 Multijet MT (70 hp): 70 ÷ 1.248 = 56.1 hp/l

The 90 hp TwinAir extracts 26.8 hp/l more than the strongest diesel. The 70 hp Multijet is 20.0 hp/l below the 95 hp Multijet from the same 1248 cc block.

Torque density (Nm ÷ litres):

• Both TwinAir versions: 145 ÷ 0.875 = 165.7 Nm/l
• 1.3 Multijet MT (95 hp): 200 ÷ 1.248 = 160.3 Nm/l
• 1.3 Multijet MT (80 hp and 70 hp): 190 ÷ 1.248 = 152.2 Nm/l

Petrol wins density; diesel still wins absolute torque. The 95 hp Multijet has 55 Nm more than either TwinAir (200 vs 145) and 10 Nm more than the 80/70 diesels. Peak diesel torque arrives at 1500 rpm; TwinAir torque peaks at 1900 rpm. Peak diesel power is at 3750 rpm (95 hp) or 4000 rpm (80 and 70 hp); TwinAir power peaks at 5500 rpm on both petrol versions.

Weight per horsepower (kerb mass ÷ hp), where mass is measured:

• 0.9 TwinAir (90 hp): 1090 ÷ 90 = 12.11 kg/hp (lightest per hp)
• 1.3 Multijet MT (95 hp): 1165 ÷ 95 = 12.26 kg/hp
• 0.9 TwinAir (85 hp): 1090 ÷ 85 = 12.82 kg/hp
• 1.3 Multijet MT (80 hp): 1155 ÷ 80 = 14.44 kg/hp
• 1.3 Multijet MT (70 hp): kerb mass not measured

The 80 hp diesel carries 2.18 kg more per hp than the 95 hp diesel, and 2.33 kg more per hp than the 90 hp TwinAir. The 95 hp diesel is only 0.15 kg/hp heavier than the 90 hp TwinAir despite 75 kg extra kerb weight (1165 vs 1090), because it also has 5 more horsepower.

Performance: 0–100 and top speed

Measured 0–100 km/h, fastest to slowest:

1. 0.9 TwinAir (90 hp): 12.0 s 2. 1.3 Multijet MT (95 hp): 12.7 s (0.7 s slower) 3. 0.9 TwinAir (85 hp): 12.7 s (same as the 95 hp diesel) 4. 1.3 Multijet MT (80 hp): 14.3 s (2.3 s slower than the 90 hp TwinAir; 1.6 s slower than the 95 hp diesel) 5. 1.3 Multijet MT (70 hp): not measured

Top speed:

• 1.3 Multijet MT (95 hp): 168 km/h
• 0.9 TwinAir (90 hp): 167 km/h (−1)
• 0.9 TwinAir (85 hp): 164 km/h (−4 vs 95 hp diesel)
• 1.3 Multijet MT (80 hp): 160 km/h (−8 vs 95 hp diesel)
• 1.3 Multijet MT (70 hp): not measured

The 90 hp TwinAir is the acceleration pick. The 95 hp Multijet is the top-speed pick by 1 km/h, and it matches the remaining TwinAir at 12.7 s. The 80 hp Multijet is the only measured version that is clearly slower in both 0–100 and top speed. The 70 hp Multijet cannot be ranked on either figure.

The 5 hp gap between the two TwinAir versions costs 0.7 s to 100 km/h and 3 km/h of top speed. The 15 hp gap between the 95 and 80 Multijet versions costs 1.6 s and 8 km/h. The extra 15 diesel horsepower therefore buys more performance than the extra 5 petrol horsepower.

Gear count is part of that picture: both TwinAir versions use a 6-speed Manual; all three Multijet versions use a 5-speed Manual. Drive is AWD on every row — there is no 2WD Panda Cross in this data set, so you are not paying an AWD premium versus a front-drive sibling here.

Fuel consumption, CO2, tank, theoretical range

All five share a 35-litre tank. Mixed, city and highway figures, plus CO2:

The 95 hp diesel is the economy pick on mixed consumption: 0.2 l/100 km less than the 80 hp diesel and 0.4 l/100 km less than the 90 hp TwinAir. It is also 0.4 l/100 km better in town than the 80 hp diesel (4.8 vs 5.0) and 1.1 l/100 km better in town than the 90 hp TwinAir (4.8 vs 5.9).

Highway is the one place the 90 hp TwinAir undercuts the diesels: 4.3 vs 4.4 (95 hp) and 4.6 (80 hp). That 0.1 l/100 km highway edge versus the 95 hp diesel does not survive the mixed cycle.

The 85 hp TwinAir is the thirsty outlier: mixed 5.8 vs 4.9 on the 90 hp TwinAir (+0.9 l/100 km), highway 5.7 vs 4.3 (+1.4). Same 875 cc, same 145 Nm, same 1090 kg kerb weight — 5 hp less and a much worse highway number. CO2 follows: 132 g/km versus 114 on the 90 hp TwinAir (18 g/km more) and versus 119 on the 95 hp diesel.

Theoretical mixed range on the 35-litre tank: the 95 hp Multijet covers 175 km more per tank than the 85 hp TwinAir (778 vs 603) and 64 km more than the 90 hp TwinAir (778 vs 714). The 80 hp diesel sits in the middle at 745 km — 33 km less than the 95 hp diesel, 42 km more than the 90 hp petrol.

The 70 hp Multijet lists 125 g/km CO2 (same as the 80 hp diesel) but city, highway and mixed consumption are not measured, so it cannot be sold as the “efficient base diesel” on this catalogue’s figures.

Dimensions, weight, payload — what the extra mass buys

Ground clearance: not measured on every version. Wheel sizes: not measured on every version. You cannot choose a Panda Cross here by ride height or tyre package.

Kerb / gross / payload (gross − kerb):

• 0.9 TwinAir (90 hp): 1090 / 1585 kg → 495 kg payload
• 0.9 TwinAir (85 hp): 1090 / 1585 kg → 495 kg payload
• 1.3 Multijet MT (80 hp): 1155 / 1625 kg → 470 kg payload
• 1.3 Multijet MT (95 hp): 1165 / 1625 kg → 460 kg payload
• 1.3 Multijet MT (70 hp): kerb not measured, gross not measured, payload not measured

Petrol is the light car: 65 kg less kerb than the 80 hp diesel, 75 kg less than the 95 hp diesel, 40 kg less gross (1585 vs 1625). Payload still favours TwinAir by 25–35 kg because gross does not rise as much as kerb on the diesels.

The 95 hp diesel is only 10 kg heavier at the kerb than the 80 hp diesel (1165 vs 1155) for 15 hp and 10 Nm. That is 0.67 kg per extra horsepower. If diesel is the fuel you want, the 95 hp row is the cheap mass trade.

What changed between the two TwinAir versions

Same displacement (875 cc), same 145 Nm at 1900 rpm, same compression 10, same 80.5 x 86, same 6-speed Manual, same AWD, same 1090/1585 kg, same 35-litre tank, same Euro 6.

What actually changes:

• Power: 90 vs 85 hp (5 hp, 66 vs 62 kW), both at 5500 rpm
• 0–100: 12.0 vs 12.7 s
• Top speed: 167 vs 164 km/h
• Mixed: 4.9 vs 5.8 l/100 km
• CO2: 114 vs 132 g/km
• Listing window: 90 hp stops 2018-05-31; 85 hp stop not measured (the only open-ended version)

If you can still find the 90 hp 0.9 TwinAir, the numbers say it is the better petrol: faster, cleaner, and 0.9 l/100 km less mixed fuel for the same weight. The 85 hp 0.9 TwinAir is what remains listed after 2018-05-31. “Current” in this catalogue is not “strongest.”

What changed between the three 1.3 Multijet MT versions

Same 1248 cc, same 4 Inline Turbo Diesel, same 16.8 compression, same 69.6 x 82, same 5-speed Manual, same AWD, same 35-litre tank, same Euro 6, same listing start 2014-04-01 and stop 2018-05-31.

The 80 hp version is not the efficient middle: it uses more fuel than the 95 hp version on city, highway and mixed, emits 6 g/km more CO2, and is 1.6 s and 8 km/h slower. The 10 kg kerb saving does not pay for 15 missing horsepower.

The 70 hp version shares 190 Nm and 125 g/km CO2 with the 80 hp row, but 0–100, top speed, consumption and both masses are not measured. On published figures it is the least documented diesel, not a proven bargain.

Which version to choose

Buy 1.3 Multijet MT (95 hp) if diesel is the fuel. It is the strongest, fastest diesel (168 km/h, 12.7 s), the lowest mixed consumption in the whole catalogue (4.5 l/100 km), the longest mixed tank range (778 km), and only 10 kg heavier than the 80 hp Multijet. Torque 200 Nm at 1500 rpm is the catalogue peak. Production of this row ended 2018-05-31.

Buy 0.9 TwinAir (90 hp) if petrol (92) is the fuel and you can still find the 2014–2018 listing. Fastest 0–100 in the set (12.0 s), lowest CO2 (114 g/km), lightest measured kerb (1090 kg), best kg/hp (12.11), best specific output (102.9 hp/l), extra sixth gear, 495 kg payload. Highway 4.3 l/100 km is the catalogue best. Mixed 4.9 is 0.4 worse than the 95 hp diesel. Also ended 2018-05-31.

Buy 0.9 TwinAir (85 hp) only if you need the version that is still listed without a stop date. Same weight and torque as the 90 hp TwinAir, but 5 hp less, 0.7 s slower to 100, 3 km/h less top speed, mixed 5.8 vs 4.9, CO2 132 vs 114. It is the current listing, not the better petrol.

Skip 1.3 Multijet MT (80 hp) unless price is the only lever. Versus the 95 hp Multijet you lose 15 hp, 10 Nm, 1.6 s, 8 km/h and 0.2 l/100 km mixed, and you save 10 kg. Versus the 90 hp TwinAir you are 2.3 s slower and 65 kg heavier.

Treat 1.3 Multijet MT (70 hp) as incomplete. 70 hp and 190 Nm are listed; 0–100, top speed, all three consumption figures and both masses are not measured. You cannot verify economy or performance against the other four.

Generation choice does not exist: one generation, Mini 5-doors, from 2014-04-01. The real fork is fuel (Diesel 1248 cc vs Gasoline 875 cc) and, inside each fuel, the highest-output row. On the arithmetic in this data, that is 1.3 Multijet MT at 95 hp or 0.9 TwinAir at 90 hp.