FIAT GRANDE PANDA HATCHBACK 1.2 Hybrid 48V 110 La Prima 5dr eDCT-6

Fiat reimagines what a small five-door city car should be with this Grande Panda. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

With this Grande Panda, Fiat re-invents its iconic Panda city car for a new era. There's something old and plenty new here. Plus something borrowed (the Stellantis Smart Car platform) and plenty that's ecologically blue.

Background

Almost every car you can think of can be pigeonholed into a specific market segment. And even if it can't be, it's likely to appeal to a very specific group of customers. In many ways, the Fiat Panda has always been different. And it still is in this modern-era Grande Panda guise. The Panda has been with us since 1980, an original model which lasted over two decades until it was finally replaced 2003, before the current third generation model arrived back in 2011. We say 'current' because that old MK3 Panda is still continuing (apparently until 'at least' 2027) - hence his fourth generation model's 'Grande Panda' tag. In many ways, the launch of this Grande model for the 2025 model year is the biggest evolution in Panda history - and not just because it's the first car in this model line to be available with a full-EV drivetrain, or a proper Hybrid engine. Just as significantly, this is the biggest Panda yet. And it's far more of a global model, rather than just a peculiar Italian confection slightly limited on appeal in other markets. And, just as the smaller 500 model has become effectively a Fiat sub-brand, with different model variants, so the Grande Panda will be too, with all kinds of variations planned for it over the coming years. All though, aim to replicate the versatile, class-less attributes which have always set Pandas apart. This car can be eco-conscious transport for Friends of the Earth. Perhaps a second vehicle for older empty-nesters. Or the sole car for a rural family. Less a city car. More an 'essential' car, it is, in the words of one top Fiat executive 'the official car for doing whatever the hell you like'. Let's take a closer look at the Grande Pande interpretation of this strong-selling formula.

Engines and Tech Spec

Like many small Stellantis Group models, the Grande Panda was originally envisaged as an EV-only product, then hurriedly reconfigured in later development so as also to be able to include a combustion hybrid offering too. The EV version is the one Fiat most wants to sell you, with a battery smaller than the one in the only slightly larger 600e model because the Grande Panda sits on different architecture. The Smart Car Stellantis platform (shared with the Citroen C3) is designed in EV form for use with a 44kWh battery, which in this case offers a range of 199 miles and is paired with a 113hp motor. Expect 62mph in around 11s en route to 98mph. If you'd rather have the mild hybrid 48V option, you'll find it's the usual three cylinder 1.2-litre Stellantis petrol unit paired with a 28bhp motor. That motor is energised by a tiny 0.4kWh battery and, Fiat reckons, should be able to power the Grande Panda around town for up to 50% of the time. You have to have 'easy drive' 6-speed eDCT automatic transmission with this engine. Total system output is 100hp, with 120Nm of torque. In case you're wondering, at some point in production, this powerplant is likely to be paired with AWD to create a successor to the iconic Panda 4x4.

Design and Build

You might recognise this as a Panda - but only just. The blocky, boxy stance with its vertical front-end references the Eighties Giugiaro-designed original. And in pursuit of what Fiat thinks is a required crossover vibe, there are plenty of nods to the old Panda 4x4 - the roof rails, the chunky front skid plate and the black lower body cladding. But there's also plenty that's new, most notably the pixel headlights, apparently inspired by the windows of Fiat's old Lingotto factory in Turin. This is a slightly bigger kind of Panda too. The 3.99m length (though still compact for the class) is 0.3m longer than before. Much is borrowed from the brand's early 2024 'Mega-Panda' concept car, including the X-shaped daytime running light signatures, the offset front Fiat logo on the gloss black grille panel and the three-dimensional tail light design. It's equally funky and design-led inside the airy, spacious minimalist cabin, where the oval theme apparently references the roof top test track of that old Lingotto factory. Through the square-bezelled retro two-spoke wheel, you view a 10-inch instrument display flanked by a colourful 10.25-inch central infotainment screen. And Pandas of the past are referenced by the bright plastics and textured fabrics. There's ample interior stowage room too, with up to 13-litres of storage space, including a similar 'pocket' dashboard to the original Panda. Rear passenger space was always a strong point of previous models and the high roof line, squarical stance and an extra length of this one mean that it's more spacious in the back than a car of this class has any right to be. There's a decently-sized 361-litre boot too. Plus, on the electric model, a further 13-litre compartment beneath the bonnet.

Market and Model

Prices start at around £19,000 for the Hybrid model (offered in 'Icon' and 'La Prima' trim levels); and from just under £21,000 for the EV (offered with either 'RED' or top 'La Prima' trim). These figures, which look very class-competitive, are for the standard Grande Panda we look at here. This is the first in a new family of Panda-inspired models, Fiat pledging to launch one new addition to the Panda line-up every year until 2027. The Italian maker says the line-up will eventually include a family SUV, a fastback and a campervan and all are supposed to share a common philosophy; that 'functionality should never exist without fun'. Expect decent levels of standard equipment. The base 'Icon'-spec Hybrid gets 16-inch black alloy wheels, roof rails and skid plates, plus manual air conditioning, central armrest and privacy glass. Ideally though, you'd want your Grande Panda with top 'La Prima' trim. That gets you dedicated 17-inch diamond-cut 'X-design' alloy wheels, high-quality fabrics and innovative BAMBOX Bamboo Fiber Tex cabin fabric. Across the range, there are clever headlamps, made up of opal cubes, complemented by Daytime Running Lights that turn into indicators and illuminate some of the cubes which appear as horizontal pixels arranged in a chessboard pattern. Inside, a 10-inch instrument display along with a 10.25-inch central infotainment screen featuring voice recognition and 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. Better-specced versions will add features like navigation, a wireless charging mat, a rear parking camera, tinted rear glass, automatic air conditioning and rear electric windows. All models get various 'level 2' camera driving aids, including the usual autonomous braking and Lane keeping assist systems.

Cost of Ownership

We've been waiting ages for a car maker to finally deliver an EV with a retractable charge cable, so you don't have to carry around charge cables clogging up the boot. The electric version of this Grande Panda is the first to deliver just that, with a long spiral charging cable tidying up the charging process and quickly connecting to 7kW charging units. There is a separate rapid charging port on the usual rear three-quarter panel. Range figures for EVs usually need to be taken with a degree of scepticism and that'll certainly be the case here, particularly if you'll be driving your electric Grande Panda in very cold conditions. Its LFP 'Lithium Ferro Phosphate' battery's more sensitive to external temperatures than a more usual lithium-ion battery would be, so you can expect the claimed 199 mile range figure for this 44kWh model to plummet in the depths of winter. You can't compensate with a heat pump either because that won't be offered here. The driving range though, should still be comfortably ahead of the 137 mile figure claimed for a rival Dacia Spring. To give you some perspective, the three-door Fiat 500e (42kWh) offers 199 miles, while the only slightly larger Fiat 600e (54kWh) manages 254 miles. Charging can be done with a clever retractable cable built into the car. Fiat claims that the electric Grande Panda is capable of rapid charging at rates of up to 100kW, which allows for a 20-80% charge in 27 minutes. At home, you'll be able to AC charge from 20-80% from 7.4kW garage wall box in 4 hours 20 minutes. As an alternative to the retractable cable, a rear-only 11kW charging port can be chosen, with a recharging time from 20% to 80% in 2 hours and 50 minutes. All versions of this model will be covered by the brand's usual unremarkable three year/60,000 mile warranty, plus the battery will have its own eight year cover package. As for the Hybrid version, well there you're looking at around 60mpg on the combined cycle and 123g/km of CO2.

Summary

The Grande Panda, says Fiat CEO Oliver Francois, is 'all about practicality, roominess and simplicity'. Just like its predecessors. The brand claims that 'a Panda is to the car world what a pair of blue jeans is to the fashion world': perhaps. What's certain is that this new-era model retains the adventurous, class-less spirit of the original, at the same time as being resolutely modern and trend-conscious. So yes, it was worth waiting over a decade for. Lots of brands have very different ideas these days as to what a small car should be. The market seems undecided as to whether Fiat's new-era 500 encapsulates that ideal. But might, we think, find this car - in all its future forms - just that bit more convincing.

Body Glass

Acoustic windshield

Automatic front windscreen wipers

Electric front power windows without auto up/down at driver side

Electric rear power windows without auto up/down and controls on front/rear door panels

Privacy glass

Rain sensor

Rear window defroster

Rear windscreen wipers automatic launched when reverse speed

Brakes

Active safety brake video based autonomous emergency braking

Electronic brake force distribution

Electronic parking brake

Emergency brake assist

ESP (Electronic Stability Program) + Hill Start Assist

Front ventilated disc brakes and rear disc brakes

Communication

Autonomous telematic box

Smart phone holder

Wireless charging pad for smartphones

Driver Aids

1 key hole on driver door

Connected services

e-toggle gear selector

Foot rest

Driver Convenience

Cruise control/speed limiter controls on steering wheel

Electronic Power Steering (EPS)

Front parking sensors

Lane keep assist

Power assist steering

Rear parking sensors

Rear view camera

Speed limit information

Traffic sign recognition

Driver Information

10.25'' SD touch Screen with wireless mirroring

10" TFT digital cluster

Drowsy driver detection

Embedded connected navigation (on board/with live traffic)

Emergency/safety connectivity (E-call and breakdown call)

Outside temperature sensor

Trip computer

Driving Mirrors

Black painted exterior door mirror covers

Electric adjustable/heated/folding door mirrors

Electrochromatic rear view mirror

LED turn indicators on door mirrors

Embellishment Trims

Dashboard - Wrapped in Bambox bamboo fibertex, with closed upper glovebox

Front door armrest with fabric inserts

Entertainment

2 front speakers

2 Rear speakers + 2 tweeters

2x Rear USB-C fast charging (3A)

2x USB Type C ports (for fast charging and data transfer)

DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) and AM/FM radio

Monophonic sounds

Speech recognition via smart device

Exterior Body Features

Black painted external door handles

Changing C-pillar logo

Door panels in plastic grained in matte tasmania blue with fabric inserts

External electric rear view mirror, defrost, LED ti, electric folding

Front and rear bumper style

Front logo painted white, glossy coating

Front upper grid with tampography

Front upper grill painted black, grey dots tampography

Glossy black B and C pillar

Low trims grained, hard molded in matte black

Panda rear script hard molded in matte black

Rear roof spoiler painted shiny black

Rear side wing doors

Side Panda lettering branded on metal

Silver metal front and rear bumper skid plate

Silver metal roof rails

Sticker "Hybrid"

Translucent yellow frame lingotto-inspired shape

Wheel arch cladding

Wheel arches cladding grained, hard molded in matte black

Exterior Lights

3rd brake light

Automatic high beam assist

Automatic high/low beam

Dusk sensor

ECO LED headlamps

Electric leveling

Follow me home lighting

LED 3rd brake light

LED daytime running lights

LED rear fog lights

LED rear lights

Pixel LED headlights

Reverse lights

Welcome lights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Automatic air conditioning

Automatic climate control

Lateral air vents plus 2 in central zone

Side air vent pixel shape, grainedin matte black and detailspaintedin shinyblack and yellow

Interior Features

0.75L bottle and map pocket storage in back doors

12V socket

2 front and rear seat back anchoring ring for load

2 spoke bicolour manual adjustable steering wheel

3rd Rear headrest, Seatback pockets and phone holder pockets

Additional upper glove box on dashboard - CLOSED

Additional upper map pocket at the back of front seats

Bag support hook

Bottle storage in doors

Central armrest wrapped in color blue tasmania

Central tunnel bezel - grainedin matte blue tasmania

Centre console storage

Closing stowage compartment

Fabric upholstery

Finish interior door handles black

Front central console grained in matte black, with yellow Lingotto-shaped bezel

Gear shift indicator

Hard molded dashboard ring in salt and pepper look

Map pocket at the back of front seats

Parcel tray

Radio control on steering wheel

Side trunk trims

Soft touch wrapped steering wheel

Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment

Interior Lights

Interior lamp LED, with map reading lights

Trunk light

Packs

Winter pack - Grande Panda

Safety

3 points central seatbelts on row 2 and without pyrotechnic pretensioner and with load limiter

3 points side seatblets on row 2 with pyrotechnic pretensioner and load limiter

Child locks

Driver airbag

Driver and passenger seatbelts with pyrotechnic pretensioner and load limiter

Front and rear curtain airbags

Front passenger airbag deactivation

Front side thorax airbags

Indirect tyre pressure monitoring system (ITPMS)

Light and reminder indicators for driver and front passenger safety belt (with ODS for passenger seat)

Light and reminder indicators for passenger non fasten and unfasten safety belt

Mono-tone horn

Passenger airbag

Seats

3 adjustable rear headrests

3 seat bench in 2nd row

6 Way manually adjustable driver and passenger seat

60/40 foldable rear seat (1 piece seating)

Driver and passenger length and inclination of the seat manual adjustments

Driver's seat height adjustment

Front integrated headrests

Height adjustment passenger seat

ISOFIX top tether and 3rd anchoring points

Single front passenger seat

Security

Automatic door locking

Central locking with security push and permanent display of locking doors

Double door lock

Immobiliser

Keyless entry and go

Perimeter and volumetric alarm system

Towing

Front tow hook

Rear tow hook

Wheels - Alloy

17" Diamond cut alloy wheels with hub cover

Wheels - Spare

Fix and go puncture repair kit

Emissions - ICE

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Standard Emissions: EURO 6

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 117

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 119

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 117

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 119

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 117

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 119

Engine and Drive Train

Camshaft: DOHC

Catalytic Convertor: No

CC: 1199

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Cylinders: 3

Fuel Delivery: TURBO INJECTION

Gears: 6 SPEED

Number of Valves: 12

Transmission: AUTO

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 5.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 5.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 5.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 5.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 5.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 5.4

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 52.3

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 55.4

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 52.3

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 55.4

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 52.3

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 55.4

General

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Badge Engine CC: 1.2

Badge Power: 100

Badge Power: 110

Based On ID: N

Coin Description: Hybrid 48V 100

Coin Description: Hybrid 48V 110

Coin Series: La Prima

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Generation Mark: 1

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 20E

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Performance

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

0 to 62 mph (secs): 10

0 to 62 mph (secs): 11.2

Engine Power - BHP: 100

Engine Power - BHP: 110

Engine Power - KW: 74

Engine Power - KW: 81

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Power - RPM: 5500

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 151

Engine Torque - MKG: 20.9

Engine Torque - NM: 205

Engine Torque - RPM: 1750

Top Speed: 99

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Tyre Size Front: 205/55 R17

Tyre Size Rear: 205/55 R17

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Style: N

Wheel Type: 17" ALLOY

Vehicle Dimensions

Height: 1586

Height (including roof rails): 1630

Length: 3999

Wheelbase: 2537

Width: 1763

Width (including mirrors): 2017

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 44

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1726

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1366

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 412

Max. Loading Weight: 346

Minimum Kerbweight: 1380

No. of Seats: 5

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.9

Exterior Body Features

Additional Metallic paint

Pastel paint

Solid paint

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Acqua azure

Metallic - Cinema black

Metallic - Lago blue

Metallic - Limone yellow

Metallic - Luna bronze

Paint - Solid

Solid - Gelato white

Solid - Passione red

Paint - Special

Pastel - Gelato white

Pastel - Passione red

Trim - Cloth

Fabric - Bicolour blue/white signature