Following three generations of the Panda, Fiat has revived the name, introducing the Grande Panda – an even roomier option, which still maintains a compact footprint and matches the iconic style of the original 20th century Panda, which itself has gained a cult following. We got behind the wheel of the fully-electric variant of the Fiat Grande Panda, getting first impressions of how this new EV performs on UK roads.
The Design
In a sea of increasingly grey and indistinguishable SUVs and crossovers, the Fiat Grande Panda is a breath of fresh air – particularly in this bright yellow car on test. I’d even go as far to say that this is one of the best EV designs we’ve seen this year, blending retro looks with modern EV technology in the same way the new Renault 5 is also wowing people. As part of that philosophy, the Grande Panda will be offered in a range of popping colours – but no grey.
No matter which angle you view the Grande Panda from, there are design easter eggs to be seen. The side doors carry the Panda name embossed directly into the metal, while the rugged-looking plastic wheel arches bear the brand’s retro slash logo – the same one you’ll see on the grille of an original Panda. The gloss black front grille also has hints of the original car, with the pixelated daytime running lights also giving a retro-meets-modern feel.
When it comes to the interior design, the Fiat Grande Panda also impresses. Some controls and switchgear will feel familiar to anyone who’s recently driven another Stellantis EV, but the cabin has plenty of personality of its own, including swathes of blue along with subtle yellow accents. The bamboo-based glovebox, which comes standard on ‘La Prima’ trim, brings even more character to the interior, while reinforcing the car’s eco credentials.
Plastic does feature heavily throughout the interior, but it never feels cheap or flimsy, helping it suit this car’s rugged and honest feeling.
Fiat Grande Panda Price
Two drivetrain options are available for the Fiat Grande Panda – a 1.2 hybrid from £18,995, and the fully-electric option from £20,995. It’s a shame there’s no price parity between the two, but it’s still a relatively small premium for those choosing to go full EV. Besides, for those able to charge at home on a dedicated EV tariff, that £2,000 difference is likely to be recouped quickly through fuel savings alone.
Prices for the EV start at £20,995 for the entry level ‘POP’, £21,995 for the mid-range ‘Icon’, and £23,995 for the range-topping ‘La Prima’.
On the road
When it comes to driving manners, the Grande Panda doesn’t disappoint even on the UK’s bumpy and potholed country roads. Road noise is well suppressed and around town the suspension is comfortable – aided by an optional city driving mode which ramps up the power steering assistance, making tight manoeuvres fairly effortless.
Despite its city road abilities, it doesn’t fall apart at speed either. On faster roads out of town, the car feels composed and controlled rather than floaty – likely helped by its 1,511kg kerb weight, low by modern EV standards. The 0-62mph sprint takes 11.5 seconds, but that figure is pretty irrelevant. Like other small EVs, the instant torque makes it feel faster than the figures suggest – both when taking off from a stop, and when passing slower moving vehicles.
That being said, the Fiat Grande Panda Electric’s 81mph top speed and claimed combined range of 198 miles are clear signs that this car is still happier pootling in urban environments than munching hundreds of miles down the motorway. The driving and handling itself can handle a longer run without complaint, but the range just isn’t cut out for it, and there are currently no plans for a larger battery option to extend that range, despite rivals such as the Renault 5 offering a longer range option.
If you do take those longer journeys, a suitable rapid charger will allow the Grande Panda to charge at a maximum speed of 100kW.
When it comes to efficiency, Fiat claims a figure around 3.69 miles per kWh, and our test route seemed to confirm that figure. Across a 28.6-mile drive, conducted largely on 60mph roads, with the air conditioning on, and without any conscious effort to hypermile, we returned 3.8 miles per kWh. In a more urban setting, where speeds are lower and regenerative braking has more opportunity to work, we reckon that figure would climb further still.
On-board technology
When it comes to technology, the Grande Panda’s honest character continues – it offers everything you’ll need, but nothing more in the way of fancy gimmicks. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard across the range, and the top-spec La Prima trim adds a built-in navigation system. The built in nav feels like a missed opportunity, however. While it can locate nearby charge points, it doesn’t seem to communicate with the car’s battery, and as such doesn’t factor in your remaining range when planning longer routes.
As with any modern EV, the Grande Panda activates its ADAS systems such as lane departure and speed limit warnings by default upon startup. However, Fiat has made it easy to disable these systems, with three physical buttons placed below the central dashboard to silence the various systems, with no need to dig through various touchscreen sub menus like on other EVs. We didn’t feel the need to disable them, however, with the alerts being measured and unobtrusive – a marked contrast to other EVs which seem to berate your driving at every opportunity.
Fiat Grande Panda Practicality
Even though the Grande Panda feels manoeuvrable and easy to place on the UK’s narrow roads, it still feels roomy on the inside. Boot space stands at 361 litres, while with the rear seats down, this rises to 1,315 litres. It’s a five seater, and in reality you’ll comfortably seat four adults, with a respectable amount of legroom in the rear for this class of car.
Conclusion
The Fiat Grande Panda Electric is a welcome addition to the EV scene, proving that even affordable electric cars can be stylish and desirable. With a starting on-the-road price of £20,995, the Grande Panda Electric starts £1,000 higher than its closely related Stellantis sibling, the Citroen e-C3, which starts at £19,995 on-the-road. However, this premium is easy to justify, with the Grande Panda offering a longer range from base price, and arguably, a much more attractive design.
The only thing letting this car down is the absence of a larger battery option, with maximum rated range limited to 198 miles. This could push some buyers away from the Grande Panda in favour of other small EVs available with optional larger ranges such as the Renault 5 (250 miles) and Kia EV2 (281 miles). But, if you’re searching for an affordable electric car that excels in the city, the Fiat Grande Panda Electric should still be near the top of your list. In a segment where many electric cars prioritise practicality over personality, Fiat has managed to deliver both.
