Brand New Fiat Grande Panda 1.2 Hybrid 48V 110 Icon 5dr eDCT-6

The Grande Panda Hybrid is currently Fiat's most important car. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

Right now, Fiat's Grande Panda makes the most sense in this Hybrid form. There's as much practicality as you'd want, as much electrification as you need and probably as much trendiness as you could possibly cope with.

Background

The Stellantis conglomerate wants to make smaller cars. The whole industry wants to be able to cost effectively make smaller cars. And not be bureaucratically forced down an EV pathway an awful lot of customers clearly aren't quite yet ready for. Perhaps no car sums up the kind of model needed for now better than this one, the Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid. Until a small affordable EV arrives with a range between stops of around 500 miles - as this petrol/electric model can offer - cars like the Hybrid version of this Fiat are going to find a ready market. The Grande Panda was originally launched in 2024 as an EV and its role in the UK was effectively to re-boot the ailing Fiat franchise. But in the faltering EV market, that wasn't going to happen unless the Grande Panda could also be had in a Hybrid fossil fuel form; hence the importance of this model. Which is the version that most directly replaces almost five decades of Panda models on our shores. In future, it may just be called the 'Panda'; for now, it's Fiat's most important model.

Driving Experience

The combustion version of this Grande Panda only comes with one engine option and it's a unit we've covered in multiple Stellantis group models; a three cylinder turbocharged 1,199cc petrol unit that drives through a six-speed dual clutch auto gearbox. Fiat calls it the 'T-Gen3' but it's the same powertrain you'll find with other badging in the Hybrid versions of the two other Stellantis models that share this Grande Panda's 'Smart Car' electrified platform - Citroen's C3 and Vauxhall's Frontera. It combines a 48V lithium battery and a 21kW electric motor, complete with an inverter and a control unit. There's no plug-in capability. Power is 110hp, 0-62mph takes 10s and it's all over at 99mph. There isn't of course the same seamless urgency of acceleration as you'd get in the Grande Panda EV, but the sensation isn't too far off that and does a decent job of disguising this Fiat's surprisingly prodigious 1,380kg kerb weight. This powertrain isn't really a proper full-Hybrid like you'd get in this segment in, say, a Toyota Yaris or an MG3, but it will run silently on electricity for just over half a mile at speeds below 18mph; so it's perfect for low-speed manoeuvring, parking and stop/start traffic. When you come off the accelerator, regen braking subtly blends in to charge the battery. There are no gearshift paddles, no rev counter and no drive modes. More significantly, you do without the really tight turning circle you might hope for from this class of car - it's an unexceptional 10.9 metres. In almost every other respect though, helped by glassy all-round visibility, this is a great urban drive companion.

Design and Build

Apart from the badge work and the lack of a charging socket, there are no external cues to distinguish this Hybrid Grande Panda from the EV version. 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, though on this Hybrid version, you do of course have to do without the electric model's further 13-litre compartment beneath the bonnet.

Market and Model

Fiat expects to sell around 5,000 Grande Pandas here a year, with 60% of those being this Hybrid version. Prices for this Hybrid model from launch started from around £19,000; for reference, the EV version starts from around £22,000. The Hybrid variant comes with 'Pop', 'Icon' and 'La Prima' trim variants. Even base spec gets you a 10.25-inch centre screen with wireless smartphone mirroring, a wireless charging pad, a 10-inch digital cluster, and LED lighting technology at front and rear. Also included are 16-inch steel wheels with aero covers, manual air conditioning and rear parking sensors. Mid-level 'Icon' (from around £19,000) adds a higher level of comfort and personalisation, with 16-inch black alloy wheels, roof rails and skid plates, a central armrest and privacy glass. At the top of the range, the La Prima trim (from around £21,000) offers 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and front and rear parking sensors with a rear view camera. It also features high-quality fabrics, and the innovative 'BAMBOX Bamboo Fiber Tex' - a desktop storage unit wrapped in bamboo-based fabric. All trims come equipped with Cruise Control, a Speed Limiter, Active Safety Brake, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and open-door alerts.

Cost of Ownership

Let's get to the figures; 56.5mpg on the combined cycle and 115g/km of CO2. Frugal enough for most. That's for base-spec; the top 'La Pima' version returns 55.5mpg and 117g/km thanks to its larger 17-inch wheels. Either way, that should mean a driving range of about 500 miles. All versions of this model will be covered by the brand's usual unremarkable three year/60,000 mile warranty. There's 36 months of breakdown cover included as well. Should you have a problem on a journey, you can use the 'Uconnect' infotainment system to contact roadside assistance. FIAT offers two service packages: Connect ONE, including Emergency Call, Roadside Assistance, and Vehicle Health Reports; and Connect PLUS, which adds Vehicle Finder, and other services to improve maintenance, like vehicle information and vehicle health alert, available through the FIAT mobile app. Owners can keep up to date with their car's maintenance schedule via the 'My Car' section of the Fiat app, which briefs you on the time of your next service and various maintenance issues. Expect depreciation to be slightly better than it usually is with small Fiats.

Summary

An awful lot of small car boxes are ticked here. Usable electrification and frugal efficiency: tick. Spacious, boxy shape: tick. Fun, fashionable design: tick. Perky performance: tick. Do you really need anything more from a small car than this? It's possible you might - hence two Stellantis Hybrid alternatives with the same engine and 'Smart Car' multi-energy platform. Namely, the Citroen C3, for those who want a more cosseting ride. And the Vauxhall Frontera, for those who'd like an SUV vibe. We can't help thinking though, that the Grande Panda Hybrid offers a wider range of ownership attributes, assuming you like its potentially divisive sense of fashion. Nineties rapper Shaggy thinks it's 'Pandatastic', according to Fiat advertising. For the right kind of customer, it might be.