Fiat Grande Panda electric test drive: nimble as a cat, smart as a monkey

Fiat invited me and the general automotive press to Turin, and more specifically to the Lingotto, for a detailed presentation and test drive of the new Fiat Grande Panda. Only electric versions were available for testing. At the time of writing, production of the combustion-hybrid version had only just begun, so it was not possible to test this version. In this test, I'm going to try and share with you my feelings, which are of course subjective, after spending an hour or so behind the wheel in the streets of Turin. It's short and therefore can't be considered a long-term test, but it seems that motoring journalists generally manage to form an opinion, whether positive or negative, in such a short space of time. I'll try to keep up.

The Fiat brand is no stranger to me. It represents my first car, the one that introduced me to Italian motoring: a Fiat Punto 2 Sporting. A vehicle that brings back many fond memories. At the same time, Fiat was also my friends' cars: a blue Punto 1 petrol for one and a white Punto 1 diesel for the other (very poorly maintained mechanically, but still puncture-proof). It's a brand that, in spite of itself, knows how to create memories, with cars that you don't hesitate to take anywhere, no matter the distance or the weather. I've taken mine all over France, because the first car is all about freedom and adventure.

Almost two decades later, in my mind, the new Fiat Grande Panda fulfills this role: a car that, beyond mobility, will create memories, whatever the age or stage of life of its owners. And I hope it will be as reliable as previous Fiat models. But only time will tell!

The Fiat Grande Panda features a neo-retro design, inspired by Giugiaro's Fiat Panda 1. It's a trend, like the Renault 5, where brands draw on their past to revive icons. Incidentally, the person behind the Renault 5 concept is now head of Fiat and Abarth design, and the man behind the Grande Panda. It's a long-term project, since Fiat explained to me that the first 1:1 scale model of the Grande Panda dates back to 2022. It was then publicly presented in summer 2024It's only since the beginning of 2025 that it's been possible to test-drive and order it throughout Europe. We're talking about a much longer gestation period than that of the Fiat 600.

Getting back to the design, you either love it or you don't. That's what emerges from the comments on the Italpassion website and social networks. Note that the Grande Panda is not a replacement for the Panda, but rather a complementary, larger model (hence the name). Personally, while it's not as irresistible as the new Renault 5, its design is nonetheless clever. because it can vary according to its configuration: sleek in red with sheet-metal rims, more refined in black with aluminum rims, or sparkling in yellow. In short, the configuration of the Fiat Grande Panda can truly reflect its owner. It's perhaps the only car, apart from an Alfa Romeo or Ferrari, that I'd dare to take in red. By the way, you probably didn't know it, but the LED lights at the front and rear are a reminder of the Lingotto windows in Turin.

The model tested is the electric Grande Panda in black La Prima finish, at around €27,900. The Grande Panda starts at €19,000 for the internal combustion hybrid version, and €25,000 for the electric version. The price of the electric version may be reduced depending on the subsidies available in different countries for the purchase of electric cars. Is this a good price? I tend to say that all cars, whatever the make, are too expensive these days. For example, the Fiat Grande Panda is well positioned in relation to what's available on the market, but it's a long way from the price of a popular new car 10 years ago.

The Grande Panda is positioned in a key segment in Europe, that of the B-SUV, These include the Jeep Avenger, Citroën C3 Aircross, Toyota Yaris Cross, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur and 600. However, the Fiat Grande Panda is not intended to position itself in a premium segment. It is aimed above all at those seeking a rational, economical and accessible car. That said, as you'll see, there's no shortage of equipment, and interior features far surpass the image of an entry-level car.

Indeed, to stand out from the competition, La Grande Panda offers plastics made from recycled materials (they are lightly and naturally glittery). and, in the La Prima finish, bamboo fiber. Overall, perception is positive for a car in this segment. Above all, she's not sad, unlike many cars whose interiors are entirely black. Here, the plastics are blue, and yellow elements add color here and there. The interior, though entry-level, has nothing to be ashamed of compared to many other cars. The hard plastic materials will stand up well to feet or keys, yet the whole cabin is qualitative thanks to a colorful, playful layout, with many small details. If I had to find one negative point, it would be the use of glossy black plastic, a material that I also find in my own car, and which, in addition to being very sensitive to fingerprints, is also very sensitive to micro-scratches. I was only able to test the Prima version, the most upscale and flattering. But my feeling is that with the Fiat Grande Panda, it feels like you're getting your money's worth, and then some.

Let's get driving! The Grande Panda is as easy and agile to drive as a Fiat 500, with its 4 m length and 2 m width, the difference being that it's elevated. There's no City mode like in my old Punto, but it's still a very easy car to get to grips with from the first few metres behind the wheel. With its 113 hp engine weighing in at 1.5 tons, the car is agile enough for city driving and 90 km/h on the highway. The electric motor is an 83 kW (113 hp) eMotors M2. It is currently available in the Citroën ë-C3 and this Fiat Grande Panda.

Acceleration is smooth, as is braking. Concerning the latter, I would have appreciated either adaptive braking or the possibility of adjusting the force, because the regenerative braking is too soft for my liking. The only more mitigating point is that I found that at 90 km/h, the wind noise was quite pronounced, but this may be normal for a car in this category, or perhaps linked to its cubic design? I could also mention the numerous driver assistance beeps, especially those for speeding, which are very present and almost oppressive. I wasn't sure whether it was the car that wanted to test my blood pressure or whether it was the car's speed. Fortunately, these alerts can be deactivated, because even though I was driving slower than everyone else in Turin, it still seemed that my speed was too high in relation to the road signs.

The infotainment system is simple and effective. Indispensable today, my first instinct was to connect my phone via Bluetooth to use Apple CarPlay. Although it didn't find my phone on the first search, it worked on the second attempt. Screen responsiveness is excellent, with no latency, even when switching between the Fiat system and Apple CarPlay. Incidentally, I also appreciate that in terms of the apps available in the Fiat system, there aren't too many: Home, Audio, CarPlay, Navigation, and Settings. The latter includes display, devices, audio and clock options. No more, no less. The rest is accessed via physical buttons, as with the climate control and some driving aids.

On the main display, essential information is also easy to read: speed, battery charge level, range, odometer, graph showing power used during acceleration and regenerated during braking, and speed sign reading. The only regret: not having the car's consumption in kWh/km. To my astonishment, it's not available anywhere. Strange for an electric car! It's as if, in a combustion engine car, you couldn't see the fuel consumption in L/100 km. Fiat has told me that this information will be available in a future update. But I think it's essential.

One of this car's strong points is its roominess. Although it measures 4 m x 2 m, the interior gives a real feeling of space. Even the trunk, at 361 liters, offers more capacity than the Citroën ë-C3 (328 liters) and Renault 5 (326 liters). Another detail, often underestimated but nonetheless very practical: the entire rear bumper is covered in hard black plastic, on which you won't be afraid to rest your legs when loading or unloading the trunk. Who hasn't had to put on a cover to protect the bumper's paintwork?"

Finally, one last point about this car on which I can give my opinion: is the retractable charging cable on the front of the car (which I forgot to take a photo of). It will be very practical, but not for everyone. If you opt for the electric Grande Panda and can charge it at home (which is advisable, as 95 % of charging takes place at home, a random and unverified figure), then this 4.5 m long retractable cable, located at the front and allowing a 7 kW charge, will be very useful. It eliminates the need to keep a cable in the trunk at all times, or to fetch it from the garage.

However, it's only really practical if you have a wallbox. As far as I'm concerned, I've got a GreenUp that maxes out at 3.7 kW, which won't be compatible with this spiral cable. What's more, when charging outside, this spiral cable won't be useful, as 7 kW is far too low. You'll need to use the charging socket on the rear, which is compatible up to 100 kW. In my opinion, this coiled cable is only useful for wallbox charging at home. But it's still very practical if you're in that situation.

To conclude this test, which reflects about 1 hour of driving, Whether it's for its neo-retro design, its 4×2 m dimensions, its roominess, its equipment, its powertrains well suited to the purpose, or its price, the Grande Panda, in my opinion, is well positioned. I can't say whether it's really better or worse than any other car, because there aren't many hybrid or electric 4-m SUVs out there.

	Fiat Grande Panda	Renault 5	Dacia Spring	MG4	Peugeot e208
Price	25 000 €	28 000 €	19 000 €	30 000 €	28 000 €
Length	3,99 m	3,92 m	3,7 m	4,2 m	4 m
Box	361 L	326 L	308 L	363 L	311 L
Power	113 ea.	120 hp	65 ea.	204 hp	136 hp
0 to 100 km/h	11 sec	9 sec	13.7 sec	7.1 sec	9 sec
Battery	44 kWh	40 kWh	26.9 kWh	49 kWh	50 kWh
Autonomy	320 km	312 km	228 km	350 km	363 km

In conclusion, the Fiat Grande Panda is not only a nimble car, it's also a smart choice. It's a car I could recommend to those looking for a new car, thermal under 20K, or electric, on lease, around €300 to €400. It's close to the price of the entry-level Renault 5, but the latter relies more on its looks than on practicality. I sincerely wish it great success, because it's this success that will subsequently enable the Grande Panda range to evolve, with, why not, an even cheaper version with manual gearbox, like the Citroën C3 at €15,000, or even a 4×4 version. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them in comments.