New Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid Makes Everyday Life Easier.
New Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid Makes Everyday Life Easier.
As the name suggests, the new Fiat Grande Panda is much bigger than the previous Panda, and is dramatically more practical that the original Panda from the 1980s. Known for its robust, utilitarian, and boxy design, in excess of 8.5 million units have found homes in the intervening years, and it remains Fiat’s best-selling car ever. In fact, the Panda accounts for the vast majority of the Italian brand’s domestic volume, so it is a vitally important car in the Fiat model lineup.
Stellantis Smart Car Platform.
The new Grande Panda transitions the famous nameplate into a larger, multi-energy compact crossover using the advanced Stellantis Smart Car Platform, which also underpins the Citroen C3 & C3 Aircross, as well as the Opel Frontera. As with the Citroen and Opel, the Grande Panda comes with petrol/ electric (Hybrid) or fully electric powertrains, while a less-powerful petrol model with a manual gearbox is due in 2027.
Two Trim Options.
The Grande Panda Hybrid is available in two trims: Icon and La Prima. The Icon trim comes with the choice of two cost-option packs – Tech Pack and Style Pack, while a Winter Pack is a cost-option with La Prima trim. The Tech Pack is priced at €1,000 and consists of front parking sensors, rear-view camera, wireless charger, 2 x USB-C rear seat fast-charging ports, embedded navigation, auto air-con, rain-sensing front wipers, and an electrochromic rear view mirror. At a cost of €1,500 the Style Pack includes front & rear bumpers with skid plates, glossy black B and C pillars, central armrest, rear privacy glass, black roof rails, soft-touch wrapped steering wheel, additional closed upper glovebox, LED interior light with map reading lights, 16” alloy wheels with hub covers, and front door armrests with fabric inserts. The La Prima trim comes with the option of a Winter Pack, which consists of a heated windscreen, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, at a cost of €500.
Deceptively-Spacious Cabin.
The deceptively-spacious cabin features a rectangular dashboard with rounded sides inspired by the shape of the Lingotto circuit in Turin, and the oval theme is repeated throughout the cabin. The 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display and 10-inch digital instrument cluster are housed within a similar rectangular-shaped element, and the transparent yellow rounded section adjacent to the central display features the silhouette of the original Panda model climbing uphill. There are several yellow decorative elements marking the contours of the air vents, dashboard and centre console. A range of contrasting materials are used, such as textured fabrics, tinted acrylics and bright coloured plastics. The front and rear seats have a chequered finish, with contrasting yellow stitching and an inscription in yellow that reads, “Panda made with love in Fiat”. The cabin contains up to 13 litres of storage space for water bottles, small electronic devices, and other items that need to be hidden away from prying eyes when parked. A generous boot capacity of 412 litres is available with the rear seats in their upright position, expanding to 1,366 litres with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats folded down. The Hybrid model provides more space than the fully electric version (which offers 361 litres) because it avoids battery packaging constraints in the rear.
Mild Hybrid Power.
The Grande Panda Hybrid utilises a 48-volt mild-hybrid system combining a 1.2-litre turbocharged, three-cylinder petrol engine, a 21kW electric motor integrated into a six-speed dual-clutch (eDCT) automatic transmission, and a small lithium-ion battery. The electric motor powers the car during slow tasks like e-launch, e-creeping, and e-parking, allowing short electric-only movements at speeds of up to 30km/h. The petrol engine handles general driving, while the electric motor assists during acceleration to maximise fuel efficiency. Braking and coasting capture excess energy to recharge the 48-volt battery automatically, without any driver input required.
Test Car.
My test car was a new Grande Panda Hybrid in La Prima trim, and it looked very eye-catching in its Limone Yellow metallic paintwork (a €595 cost option). Key standard features in top-spec La Prima trim includes 17-inch alloy wheels with aero covers, LED headlights, LED rear lights, black painted exterior door mirror covers, black door handles, black rear spoiler, electrically operated door mirrors with defrost function, acoustic windscreen, rear headrests, 10.25-inch touch screen with wireless mirroring, audio system with 4 speakers & 2 tweeters, cruise control with speed limiter, front & rear power windows, and 2 USB-C ports, along with a host of additional comfort, convenience, safety and infotainment systems. The Grande Panda’s mild hybrid system produces combined power and torque outputs of 110hp and 205Nm respectively, so the car feels agile and nippy at all times, and it can maintain motorway speeds without any drama. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 11.2-seconds, on its way to a top speed of 160km/h (where permitted), with power transferred to the road via the front wheels. The suspension is tuned for comfort, so it soaks up speed ramps and rutted road surfaces with ease. The flat bonnet and squared corners make it easy to place the car on the road, while the light steering and rear parking sensors take the guesswork out of parking. A turning circle of just 10.9 metres enhances its urban versatility, and its 3,999mm overall length will be of great benefit when parallel parking. As with the excellent Grande Panda Electric that I recently reviewed, the Hybrid excels when it comes to back road driving, as there is plenty of grip from its tyres, and it is entertaining in terms of its responsiveness and agility. Regenerative braking is surprisingly strong (for a mild-hybrid car) when you lift off the accelerator pedal, and it is easy to maintain smooth control when braking hard. The cabin is well insulated from the worst of road, wind and tyre noise at motorway speeds, while body lean through corners is well controlled. The Grande Panda Hybrid is equipped with safety technologies that provide comprehensive assistance with visual and auditory alerts as needed. Among its ADAS features are Active Safety Brake, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Alert, and much more.
Verdict & Price.
Fiat has earned an enviable reputation over the years for designing and building excellent small cars, and the new Grande Panda is no exception. Whether you choose the mild-hybrid or fully-electric powertrain, you are sure to enjoy a fun driving experience on every journey. The Grande Panda Hybrid Icon and La Prima models are priced from €25,800 and €28,880 respectively, with their electrically-powered counterparts priced at €23,995 and €26,995 – inclusive of VRT Relief and an SEAI Grant for private buyers.
Visit www.fiat.ie for further information.
