THIS Panda is adapted for the wild and has the roar of a lion.
The 4x4 version of Fiat's city mini is a versatile beast that will appeal to those who want a compact car that can tackle country tracks and the urban jungle with equal aplomb.
It is powered by an award-winning 875cc two-cylinder Rottweiler that sounds like a supercar when revved and offers instant acceleration.
Some will find the TwinAir engine a bit too noisy but I thought it exemplified the get up and go spirit of this car and indeed brought a smile to my face. It's also quite smooth to drive thanks to an efficient six-speed transmission.
The third-generation Fiat Panda 4x4 went on sale earlier this year - 29 years after the original appeared on Britain's roads.
It offers the same fun character, versatility, style, functionality and good use of space as its predecessors, but with improved comfort and technology.
Fiat are marketing it as a smart solution for drivers who want city car features without trading the passenger room and comfort of a five-door, or the go-anywhere ability of a full SUV.
That's a lot of boxes to tick, but the Panda 4x4 makes a decent fist of it
Although it is small the styling leaves no doubt this is a 4x4 as Fiat fit body-coloured muscular bumpers with satin aluminium finished skid-plate.
The ‘don't mess with me' look is completed by black side mouldings with 4x4 logo plus black wheelarches and side skirts as well as natty 15-inch alloy wheels fitted with mud and snow tyres.
The ‘go anywhere' feel is accentuated on the model I drove by a metallic paint job - a £450 optional extra.
Fiat price the Panda 4x4 competitively and with decent fuel economy and emissions figures - thanks to a Start&Stop system and a gear shift indicator - it is reasonably inexpensive to run.
The cabin is a pleasant place to spend a journey as it boasts good quality fabrics and plastics while everything feels solid and well put together.
The Panda 4x4's high stance means that, in addition to an enhanced ability to cope with rutted and uneven terrain, there is plenty of headroom while there is also a surprising amount of leg and shoulder room considering the compact dimensions.
There's a large centre console that provides a home for the majority of the car's buttons and switches as well as the gearlever, which is nicely positioned.
The driver's seat is elevated so a good view of the motoring world around you is assured. There is also plenty of adjustment available making a comfortable spot behind the steering wheel easily achieved.
The only quibble I had with the modern interior was a lack of covered storage for valuables.
What is offered though is an efficient air conditioning system that ensures a pleasant atmosphere. Entertainment is taken care of via a radio with CD and MP3 player sporting six speakers.
The high-riding Panda 4x4 handles most humps and hollows on and off-road with aplomb while managing to avoid body lean in corners.
The light steering is great for parking, but also gives a reasonable feel when travelling at speed.
You'll be pretty safe with this Panda as it is fitted with six airbags as well as stability control. There's also the option of City Brake Control - a low-speed collision system that applies the brakes automatically when it detects an obstacle in the car's path.