Front-wheel drive Panda City Cross 05 | 07 | 2017

FIAT HAS LAUNCHED a cheaper version of its chunky crossover all-wheel drive Panda Cross. The new front-wheel drive City Cross, which gets a similar jacked-up and cladded look, is now on-sale at Scottish dealerships priced from £12,995.

The front-wheel drive City Cross drops the two engine choices from the four-wheel drive version, and replaces them with a single 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit.

The Panda City Cross — which also doesn’t get hill descent control — does come with the same modified front and rear bumper inserts and side mouldings of the 4WD Panda Cross.

The newcomer also gets its big brother’s rugged black plastic cladding and a pair of square fog lamps, plus 15in alloys and black roof bars.

Interestingly, you can also spec the City Cross to look identical to the 4x4 Panda Cross by opting for the City Cross Style Pack. The pack includes side mouldings, a front skid plate, body coloured door mirrors plus red tow hooks at the front.

Inside the cabin, the pack introduces seats taken from the more expensive model, plus a copper coloured dashboard instead of the standard matt black dashboard fascia and black and grey fabric upholstery.

Related: Fiat reveals 500L facelift

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Jim McGill