What type of Rental car?

If I had to choose between these three I would choose the Fiat 500.
I've driven a Panda and it's a bit of a clunky, squared off car that feels a bit tinny. The 500 has more substance and more headroom. Haven't driven a Lancia.
You really don't want a car too large on tiny, winding Italian roads. I prefer the maneuverability of a small car but it does need to be well built.
That's my personal opinion of course!
I have found with rental car companies that, often, they don't guarantee a specific make and model. They usually say that the car you will get is a certain model or one similar. Read carefully so that you don't expect a certain car but get another. It could happen that way.

Ditto the Panda comments. We had one for a week on Mykonos and came up with the following handy sarcastic phrase that we repeated regularly that best described our disdain for the car: feel the power of the panda It felt like a tin can and drove like one.

In that small of a car you almost certainly will get a manual and probably a diesel. You may have to take what they offer but hope for the Fiat.

Rent through the consolidator www.autoeurope.com or www.kemwel.com. They work with Hertz but usually they get better deals than directly.
The car you get its not necessarily the one advertised. It could be a similar in the same category.
I've driven all three, although the last time I drove a Panda was in the 1980's so the new model might be better. The 500L is the bomb, especially the diesel (50miles per gallon). If you are lucky enough to get it, you'll want to buy one when you return home.

We have rented Pandas, Puntos, and the 500L. The 500L was the most comfortable by far. Manual with diesel.

Another vote for the Fiat 500L. We had one for ten days last fall and it was perfect. It's basically a small SUV - plenty of room and plenty of pep for driving in the mountains - it was generally fun to drive.

I completely agree that the Panda should be a last choice. However I would choose the Lancia Ypsilon if available. It will satisfy your need for a small comfortable car for two but IMO is quite sporty and fun to drive. I was about 65 or 66 when I was last able to rent a Lancia and I had a great time with it and I hope to do it again this April.

Don't mean to hijack the thread but those that have rented a Fiat 500L:
At what point is it too small (baby in the back inside a car seat and 2 checked bags in the trunk?) Too small?

Want something comfortable as well and OK with paying for next upgrade but afraid of getting something too big for all of the winding passes and ancient street widths.

I too would love to know the answer to myreynolds' question. We have rented a Fiat 500 for our May trip to Tuscany. We love the idea of a small car w/some giddyup and a manual transmission...but want to be sure the trunk is large enough to hold 2 small suitcases (the kind you don't need to check) so if we are out and about, they are safely stowed.

Thanks!

Chris

The Fiat 500L has a trunk larger than you'd expect for a car that size. It's rather deep.
I was able to fit:
1 carry on size hard suitcase (mine)
2 midsize checked hard suitcases (wife and sister-in-law)
Plus a couple of small soft backpacks/handbags wherever I could squeeze them in between.

Three of us traveled in the Fiat 500L, and we had room for everyone's carryons, one personal item each, and things that we accumulated in the two weeks of car rental.

Thank you so much Roberto and Zoe! I can't waiiiiittt!