Fiat Grande Panda Review 2024

Although some car manufacturers have abandoned the small hatchback market, others still consider it important, embracing hybrid and electric drive systems along the way. Among those newcomers is the robust-looking Fiat Granda Panda.

Two things immediately spring to mind: It’s refreshing to see a new model from this storied Italian brand that isn’t another Fiat 500 pastiche but has a trick been missed by not calling this the Giant Panda?

What’s undeniable is that the SUV-inspired styling of the Grande Panda is reminiscent of the original 1980s Fiat Panda without being slavishly retro. In fact, many of its styling details are contemporary and novel, such as the LED graphics of the head and tail lights and the PANDA lettering embossed into the lower sections of the doors.

Not as small as its forebears the Fiat Grande Panda nevertheless just dips below four metres in length and has an interior that will — just about — accommodate five passengers, although three on the rear bench will be a squeeze if they’re all adult-sized.

Set to be available in petrol-engined mild hybrid and fully electric formats, the Fiat shares its underpinnings with the latest Citroen C3 and Citroen e-C3 twins. Early indications are that the Grande Panda Electric will be similarly priced to the e-C3 at just under £22,000, while the mild hybrid version will be a little below £20,000.

The likely price of the EV model means it will cost less than the smaller, four-seater Hyundai Inster, although the Granda Panda Electric’s provisional driving range of 195 miles is eight miles fewer than the cheapest Inster can manage.

Utility was a watchword of the original Panda and while the newcomer has a number of modern touches that mean its interior isn’t so stark and basic, Fiat has graced the Grande Panda with a number of practical touches including 13 litres of storage space around the dashboard and a 361-litre boot with the rear seat in use.

That’s more generous than the 304 litres of space available in the self-charging hybrid-powered Honda Jazz Crosstar, although its flexibility is boosted by amusingly titled Magic Seats in the back. Here the seat base can be flipped upwards to create a taller, separate space for transporting more awkwardly shaped items. Then again, the Honda does cost £29,000...

Details on the two drive systems are a little sketchy at present, but expect the mild hybrid version of the Fiat Grande Panda to be powered by a three-cylinder 1.2-litre engine producing 100PS that sends its power to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

This engine isn’t (yet) available in the Citroen C3 but can already be ordered in other cars from within Fiat’s Stellantis parent company’s empire, including the Vauxhall Corsa.

Meanwhile, the Fiat Grande Panda Electric will have the same 113PS electric motor and 44kWh battery as the Citroen e-C3. While Fiat’s yet to quote specific figures, the Citroen requires 26 minutes for a 20%-80% rapid recharge, and 4 hours 10 minutes for a full battery replenishment on a 7.4kW domestic wallbox.

One interesting touch on the Fiat is the coiled charging cable nestled behind a panel in the nose that recoils rather like an old telephone cable — a neat touch that will reduce the chances of the flex getting wet and dirty during inclement weather.

Similarly, there’s no official word yet on Fiat Grande Panda trim levels and what standard equipment they’ll feature, although we expect the 10-inch driver’s display screen and the 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen to be included on all versions.

Expect order books for the Fiat Grande Panda to open before the end of 2024, with the first customer deliveries towards the end of the first quarter of 2025.