2004

Fiat Panda

281 points

2nd Place
Mazda 3 - 241 points
3rd Place
Volkswagen Golf - 241 points

This model with city-car size offers the usefulness and equipment of a much bigger vehicle. A single body style was enough for this tall mini to get general praise. Roominess and cabin flexibility , as well as the reputation of Fiat to conceive clever, practical small cars at very competitive prices, were behind the election. Driving position and high-mounted gear lever are a plus. While petrol engines go almost unnoticed, the impressive, fuel-sparing 1.3 Multijet diesel is quite unusual in the segment.