Test Drive: The new Fiat Grande Panda

Today we continue on our series of Test Drives from France. One vehicle that has intrigued me since its launch is the Fiat Grande Panda. Released exclusively as a BEV first, it failed to make any impact on the market, notably in Italy when it sold just a couple of hundred units. Now that the vehicle is available with a hybrid version, it has entered the Italian Top 50 at #28, and will hopefully climb much higher. This got me curious, and I wanted to form my own opinion on the model, asking for the BEV variant. 

The car’s exterior was designed by Francois Leboine, who also created the car that became the Renault 5 just before moving to Fiat. There are a lot of nostalgic references to the original 1980 Fiat Panda: the boxy shape, the square headlights, the flat surfaces including the bonnet, and practical plastic protection… I particularly like the taillights protruding from the body with a cutting edge. There are a few easter eggs on the exterior such as the pervious fiat logo (5 italic lines) on the wheel arches and the letters P A N D A embossed into the door (see below). All this combines to give the Grande Panda a great dose of cheerfulness. The only negative aspect is the very cheap looking white steel wheels.

The version I drove is the entry level BEV named RED. Why RED? This is a reference to the world organisation created by singer Bono, (RED), which has been saving lives for 15 years by fighting health emergencies. For every Grande Panda RED purchased, a portion of the profits is automatically transferred to the organisation to support prevention, treatment, screening and education. The Grande Panda is 4m long, 1.76m wide and 1.57m high with a 2.54m wheelbase. The boot can fit 361 L and its weight is 1,550 kg. Its engine delivers 113 hp and 120 Nm, good for a 0-100 km/h in 11 sec, coupled with a 43.8 kWh battery. The top speed is limited to 132 km/h. Charging from 20 to 80% on a fast 100 kW charger takes 33 mins. WLTP range is 320 km.

Inside, the cockpit is very original. The main interface, a translucent panel, is shaped like the track on the roof of the historic Lingotto factory. A mini 1980 Panda finds its way at the bottom right of the panel. The material of the top passenger glove box is soft to the touch (and eco-friendly). Indeed there are two gloveboxes on the Grande Panda, a welcome practicality addition. The colours are fanciful: a dominance of light blue with dashes of fluorescent green. Note the blue elements are made of recycled cardboard and aluminium. The air con controls are real knobs, and the infotainment system is pretty limited in its functions but will only be used for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto anyway, with a wireless connection available. If this adds up to a fun environment, there’s no hiding the low cost nature of the vehicle, with hard plastics everywhere, including the door panel but also the dashboard.

What is it like to drive? The first impression is that the driver is seated very high, with an SUV-like dominant position on the road. I imagine the sensation would be similar in the Grande Panda’s twin the Citroen e-C3 which sports a distinctive crossover look. But it was a surprise on the Grande Panda as its exterior design doesn’t really scream SUV. The ride itself is smooth but firm, the car responds to commands swiftly but as a whole isn’t exceptionally dynamic. It is perfect for city runabouts but would probably not be optimal on the highway. Speed limit alert and lane departure assistance are present but can be deactivated with one switch.

For a BEV, the Grande Panda is cheap, at 24,900€ for the Red variant we tested (43.8 kWh). This is similar to the 24,990€ of the base Renault 5 E-Tech (40kWh) and well below the 28,000€ of the Peugeot e-208 (46.2 kWh). However its twin the Citroen e-C3 (43.8 kWh) starts at a tighter 23,200€. These prices are all before green subsidies. Even though the e-C3 is also bare bones, this Grande Panda BEV does feel cheap. It compensates beautifully with loads of nostalgic charm and attention to detail, but purchasing the hybrid variant, starting at just 18,900€, looks like the better option.