Fiat Grande Panda Electric Review

Although some car manufacturers have abandoned the small hatchback market altogether, others — such as the giant Stellantis group of brands — still consider it important, embracing hybridisation and electrification along the way. Among those newcomers is the angular and robust-looking Fiat Granda Panda Electric.

Two things immediately spring to mind with the Grande Panda Electric: It’s refreshing to see a new model from this storied Italian brand that isn’t another Fiat 500 pastiche, but has a trick been missed by not calling this the Giant Panda?

What’s undeniable is that the perpendicular styling of the Fiat Grande Panda Electric — as well as its Hybrid-badged sibling we’ve reviewed separately — is reminiscent of the original 1980s Fiat Panda without being slavishly retro. In fact, many of its styling details are bang up to date and novel, such as the LED graphics of the head and tail lights, as well as the PANDA lettering embossed into the lower sections of the doors.

Not as small as the recently discontinued Fiat Panda, hence the Grande element of the newcomer’s name, it nevertheless just nips below four metres in length and has an interior that will — just about — accommodate five passengers, although three on the rear bench will be a squeeze if they’re all adult-sized, just as they are in its sister car, the Citroen e-C3.

Both the Grande Panda Electric and e-C3 share the same underpinnings, including the 44kWh battery pack and 113PS motor powering the front wheels. The Fiat and Citroen have the same limited top speed of 82mph in common, although the former accelerates a tad slower with an 11.0-11.5-second 0-62mph time compared with the latter’s 10.4-second claim. Note that this is a different mechanical arrangement from that found in other Stellantis small hatchbacks, such as the Fiat 500 Electric and Peugeot E-208.

Utility was a watchword of the original Pande, while this newcomer has many modern touches that mean its interior isn’t so stark or basic, Fiat has graced the Grande Panda Electric with a number of practical touches, including 13 litres of storage space around the dashboard and a 361-litre boot with the rear seat in use. That’s significantly more than the 310-litre volume Citroen quotes for the e-C3.

On the WLTP Combined cycle, designed to reflect driving at a variety of speeds, Fiat claims the Grande Panda Electric can drive up to 199 miles between recharges. When it comes to plugging it in to replenish the battery’s energy levels, Fiat’s unusually provided a couple of choices.

Behind a flap on the grille panel is a coiled charging cable that pings neatly back into its recess when not required. Rather ingenious and very handy unless your domestic wallbox chargepoint has a tethered cable itself. The 4.5 metre-long coil is capable of managing a 7kW AC charge, taking 4 hours 20 minutes for a 20%-80% energy increase.

You can choose a faster 11kW AC alternative using the more conventional socket behind a flap on the rear wing. The location of the more powerful onboard charger means you lose the clever spiral cable. However, it reduces that same state of charge increase to a more useful 2 hours 50 minutes. It’s the same location for rapid DC charging at speeds of up to 100kW — here the 20%-80% recharge takes just 27 minutes.

The Fiat Grande Panda Electric is a very good car. It looks wonderful outside and in, it’s roomy and well equipped, and it’s a refined, enjoyable car to drive. Add in great value pricing, and this could be the affordable EV you’ve been waiting to fall in love with. 

For most buyers, the sweet spot is the Fiat Grande Panda Electric Icon.

That is mainly because there is only one battery and motor combination to think about, which keeps the decision refreshingly simple. All UK electric versions use the same 44kWh battery and 113PS motor, so the real choice is about trim and price rather than range hierarchy.

Icon is the one to target because it keeps the Grande Panda Electric’s excellent value story intact. It already has the key features most buyers will want, and once you move beyond that, the gains become more about desirability than necessity.

La Prima is the more polished and more design-led choice, and it does look tempting. But the Grande Panda Electric is one of those cars where the simpler version arguably makes the strongest point.

The Fiat Grande Panda Electric starts at £21,995 in Icon trim and rises to £23,995 for the La Prima.

Those are strong prices in context. They make the Fiat one of the more affordable electric cars of this size and shape, and they do so without making it feel like a stripped-back budget special. That is a large part of why the Grande Panda Electric is so easy to warm to.

The price gap between the two trims is also relatively modest, which means the pricier car will tempt plenty of buyers. Even so, the lower starting point is one of the Fiat’s biggest assets, and it is worth preserving.

The most obvious alternatives are its Stellantis relatives, namely the Citroen e-C3, Citroen e-C3 Aircross and Vauxhall Frontera Electric. They share plenty underneath, but the Fiat feels more distinctive than any of them and has the strongest visual personality.

Outside that family, rivals include the Hyundai Inster and Dacia Spring. The Dacia is cheaper, but it is a far more basic car with bigger compromises. The Hyundai is clever and likeable, but it is also more expensive once you climb the trim ladder.

That leaves the Fiat in a very useful middle ground. It has enough charm and design flair to feel desirable, while still being priced close enough to the sensible end of the market to make a proper value argument.

We’ve already mentioned the Fiat Grande Panda Electric’s standout styling, so you’ll be pleased to hear the interior is just as charming. The centrepiece is the dual-screen display, which is wrapped in translucent yellow plastic on all models. It looks delightful, and there’s even a tiny model Fiat Grande Panda Electric embedded within it next to the infotainment screen in the centre. 

The oval shape is modelled on Fiat’s famous Lingotto test track, and it is mirrored on the centre console, which features a grippy wireless charging pad on top-spec La Prima models. There are two USB sockets in the front of all versions – one to charge and one for data – and La Prima models get a USB-C charger in the rear too. 

While all models have a broad shelf in the upper dashboard, with an upper stowage box, only La Prima models have this finished in character-packed bamboo. And while the shelf is useful, it’s not lined, so loose items will soon start sliding and clattering about. The door pockets are on the small side, too – luckily there’s a stowage box between the front seats, complete with adjustable cup holders. 

Forward visibility is excellent. The Fiat Grande Panda Electric has firm, high-set seats which, combined with its tall, SUV-like profile, lead to a commanding feel behind the wheel. The driver’s seat is height-adjustable, although raising it does flatten the base a little. You’ll need to lower it for the best under-thigh support. While all models get a two-spoke steering wheel adjustable for rake and reach, only Icon and La Prima models feature a soft-touch material that’s beautiful to hold.

There’s a beautifully clear view across the bonnet, and well-shaped A-pillars mean good visibility at junctions and roundabouts. All but Pop models have a plush centre armrest, although it is a bit narrow – as are the door armrests. Fiat can’t fully disguise the Grande Panda Electric’s relatively slim width, which is also revealed by front footwells that might feel a little tight for those with bigger feet. 

Because the Fiat Grande Panda Electric has very thick C-pillars, over-shoulder visibility is a bit restricted when reversing. All models get rear parking sensors, but only the top-spec La Prima grade gets a reversing camera. The rear wiper is also a little short, covering only the centre section of the glass. This means the outer areas of the shallow rear window will remain unswept during rainy weather. 

The Fiat Grande Panda Electric measures 3,999mm long, 2,017mm wide and 1,586mm high.

That puts it right in the sweet spot for a car of this kind. It is compact enough to feel easy in town, but it has enough presence and cabin room to work as a proper everyday car.

All Fiat Grande Panda Electric have a 10.25-inch centre touchscreen. This runs the latest Stellantis software, with shortcut keys running along the right-hand side. If you use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, these make it easy to flick between the different systems. Pairing smartphones proved straightforward, and the system was slick and responsive in use. 

The top-spec Fiat Grande Panda Electric La Prima feature standard Uconnect infotainment with integrated sat nav. This makes it a little easier to locate chargepoints while on the move, and it also offers voice control, should you wish to dabble in going hands-free. 

Pleasingly, Fiat has retained physical buttons to disable ADAS systems such as lane-keep assist and the speed limit warning bleeper. They are mounted below the heater controls, and are easy to both understand and to use. 

Complementing the infotainment screen is a bright 10-inch driver display. This is colourful and clear, even featuring bespoke Fiat lettering created by the same team that did the exterior and interior design. The battery range indicator is large and easy to understand at a glance, while the extra-large speedo lettering in the centre is complemented by a well-placed speed limit warning icon. 

The Fiat Grande Panda Electric is a car built to a budget, but it doesn’t feel like it. The designers have used clever touches to make it still feel special, from the ‘FIAT’ logo embossed into the hard interior door plastics, to that translucent yellow plastic surround that makes the dashboard look so special. Even the hard plastics on the upper dash are flecked with colour, making them look more modernist. 

Special mention to the rich, high-quality paint finish, with some beautiful metallic colour choices that sparkle in the sun. You will have to move up to La Prima if you don’t like dark blue and black seat upholstery, though – it comes with a lovely bi-colour blue and white fabric, complete with ‘Panda made with love in Fiat’ lettering in vivid yellow. 

It’s only really areas such as the thin plastic door bins where the Fiat Grande Panda Electric really shows its value-oriented design. Oh, and while the gloss black lower centre console looks like a premium touch in images, the reality is that it scratches rather too readily, even on the test cars with less than 1000 miles on the clock. It’s going to age rather badly in well-used models. 

Major controls have a solid, robust action, particularly the column stalks, which feel almost premium-grade in their weighting and smooth action. Pop and Icon have sturdy round heater controls, with La Prima featuring easy-to-use climate control buttons – yes, physical controls, rather than a touchscreen. The steering wheel buttons are a bit fiddlier, but at least there’s a physical toggle for adjusting volume.

Fiat makes things simple, with just the one choice of electric motor and battery. The 44kWh battery itself is an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) design, built for dependability and robustness – it’s also more able to withstand regular charges to 100%, meaning you’ll be able to make the most of the Fiat Grande Panda Electric’s fully-charged range without impacting long-term battery life. 

The 113PS electric motor serves up 122Nm of torque. In other words, power output is reasonable rather than abundant, and this is reflected in performance figures. The standard Pop does 0-62mph in 11.0 seconds, with the extra equipment of the Icon and La Prima seeing the benchmark dash dip slightly, to 11.5 seconds. All models have a top speed restricted to 82mph, which technically shouldn’t be an issue in the UK, but it doesn’t leave much in reserve. 

As the figures suggest, acceleration off the line is hardly vibrant. Oddly, this is reinforced by a long-travel accelerator pedal – you need to use exaggerated inputs to access the full reserves of power. Until you are accustomed to this, the Fiat Grande Panda Electric will feel particularly tepid. 

Once up to speed, it maintains momentum quite easily, with the electric motor’s reserves of pulling power proving perfectly ample for relaxed everyday driving. If you lift off, there’s a degree of brake energy regeneration, which defaults to on each time you start up. The single-speed gearbox, controlled by the familiar Stellantis toggle control on the centre console, also features an additional ‘C’ setting, which eases the amount of regenerative braking to give more of a ‘coasting’ feel. 

On the move, you’ll notice a faint whine from the electric motor. It’s not overly intrusive, and is certainly quieter than a throbbing three-cylinder petrol engine, but it’s something to get used to if you’re switching from a regular car. Thanks to the EV refinement, the Fiat Grande Panda Electric has levels of refinement that older models could only dream of. 

The Fiat Grande Panda Electric is a charming car to drive. The emphasis is very much on comfort, with a supple and compliant ride quality, even on 17-inch wheels. There’s very little difference between the two wheel sizes, meaning you can choose the La Prima version safe in the knowledge that ride comfort won’t suffer. 

The supple, ‘grown-up’ feel to the ride means it handles rough surfaces well, and it also shrugs off potholes with aplomb. The weight of the Fiat Grande Panda Electric probably helps here, with even the lightest model weighing over 1500kg. The SUV connotations also assist, though, with the sense of slightly longer-travel suspension helping soak up particularly badly broken roads. Of which there is no shortage in the UK right now…

This relatively soft suspension means the Fiat Grande Panda Electric will roll into corners, perhaps exaggerated by its relatively tall design. However, it’s not excessively soft, and body control is still decent. It’s not a car for enthusiastically chucking around, as you would in the old Fiat Panda 100HP, but work with it, and you’ll make quite decent and smoothly flowing progress on twisting roads. The low centre of gravity that comes from having the battery mounted low in the chassis, between the wheels, is undoubtedly a factor in this. 

Steering is light and linear. Again, it’s not as responsive as a sportier small hatch, but it still feels nice and easy-going. There’s a sliver of feel and feedback too, in contrast to the previous-generation Fiat Panda, which had very lifeless and remote steering. The turning circle is impressively tight as well. 

The Fiat Grande Panda Electric has yet to be tested by the independent safety body Euro NCAP. The firm will certainly be hoping for a much better performance than the previous Fiat Panda, which staggeringly scored zero points back in 2018. 

Reassuringly, all models do have the full brace of ADAS driver assist tech that’s expected these days. Features include lane-keep assist, emergency brake assist, speed limit detection (including speed limit information in the instrument panel), drowsy driver detection and emergency e-call functionality. Standard cruise control also includes a speed limiter. 

The Grande Panda Electric supports DC charging at up to 100kW, and Fiat quotes a 20 to 80% rapid charge time of 27 minutes.

For AC charging, Fiat quotes 4 hours 20 minutes for a 20 to 80% charge on a 7kW wallbox, or 2 hours 50 minutes on an 11kW connection. A full charge from near empty at home is likely to be closer to seven or eight hours in real use.

That all sounds entirely workable for a car like this. It should be easy enough to live with if you can plug in at home, and the charging speeds are strong for a value-focused small EV.

The Grande Panda Electric gets an eight-year or 100,000-mile battery warranty, which is the key reassurance most EV buyers will care about.

The broader vehicle warranty is less standout, at three years or 60,000 miles, but that is more or less par for the course rather.

Insurance groups sit at 22 for the Icon and 24 for the La Prima.

That is a little on the high side for a small car with this level of power, but not enough to undermine the Grande Panda Electric’s wider appeal.

Electric cars are no longer exempt from VED car tax, so they’ll face the same £200 flat rate as other cars. The more useful detail is that it sits well below the Expensive Car Supplement threshold for EVs, so there is no extra annual charge to worry about.