Fiat Grande Panda

The great strength of the Fiat Grande Panda is in its looks. While Chinese competitors flood the market with anonymous-looking cars, Fiat cleverly capitalises on its rich history and associated iconic models. The Grande Panda is certainly not a retro Panda, but this modern car does share stylistic elements that made the original Panda so successful. The most important among these is its likeable appearance.

Other references to the past are less obvious. Many ovals, for instance, recur in the interior, referring to the oval test track located on the roof of the legendary "Lingotto" Fiat factory in Turin. The cubes in the grille and headlights are the same shape as the characteristic windows of that building. Finally, Fiat promises not to deliver the Grande Panda in grey, as this car should sparkle in yellow, red or orange!

Thanks to the well-chosen proportions between the wheels, bonnet, shoulder line and roofline, the Grande Panda looks solid, while interior space has not been forgotten. This modern incarnation of the Panda is also meant to be a family car, so space in the front and rear is good. The mild-hybrid driven here even has a slightly larger boot than the electric variant tested earlier.

Equipment

The appearance of the yellow test car already makes one feel cheerful. The blue interior with bamboo elements reinforces that feeling. Note also the miniature car in the oval that houses the screens. The designers obviously had fun designing the Grande Panda. With many cars, such ideas are discarded when they have to become reality, but not so with the Grande Panda.

The equipment is adequate, but here the Asian brands overtly outpace the Italians. Compared to such tech-oriented brands, the Grande Panda is simple, but that can also be seen as an advantage. The Fiat is not a computer on wheels, but a conventional car with buttons and levers in which many will quickly feel at home.

Of course, the Grande Panda provides USB-C connections, support for Apple CarPlay / Android Auto and all the mandatory safety features. These offer some leeway and can be easily switched off.

Mild hybrid

The reason to hit the road again with the Grande Panda is the introduction of the "Hybrid". At least, that is the marketing term Fiat uses. In fact, this is a "mild hybrid", which is slightly different from a standard hybrid. In both, energy is recovered during coasting and braking. And in both, that free energy is used to power an electric motor. However, a mild hybrid cannot propel on the electric motor alone because the battery has too little capacity to do so. This construction is therefore less effective than a standard hybrid, but also much simpler and therefore cheaper to construct.

When releasing the accelerator, it is noticeable that the car decelerates slightly to recover energy. The driver can use this feature to recover additional energy and to drive more easily (braking less often). It is also noticeable that the electric motor provides support when needed, as the Grande Panda Hybrid offers more suppleness than a comparable car with only a petrol engine. This is partly why it is rarely noticeable when the six-speed automatic shifts gears.

Performance is more than adequate and at maximum performance a sporty rumble sounds from the front. Test consumption on a changing track in adverse weather conditions (heavy rain) was 5.5 litres per 100 km. That is not as economical as a full hybrid and barely more economical than some cars without hybrid technology. The advantage is therefore mainly in the extra comfort.

Handling

A car with a combustion engine is lighter than an electric car. That is why Fiat has adapted the chassis to accommodate the unique combination of a petrol engine and a small battery in the hybrid. Because there is no battery under the car, the hybrid has slightly more ground clearance than an electric Grande Panda.

The original Panda owes its success in part to its lively handling. This is also reflected in the Grande Panda, but translated into the new era. The car is agile and lively, but not challenging or sporty. Thanks to the bespoke suspension, comfort is very good.

Conclusion

After the Grande Panda Electric, Fiat is now introducing the Grande Panda Hybrid. That seems like a step back. However, the Grande Panda is not only a new beginning for Fiat in Europe, but even worldwide. While the market in Western Europe is ready for electric driving, this is not the case everywhere. Besides, there are always buyers who, for whatever reason, value a familiar internal combustion engine.

For them, the Grande Panda Hybrid offers a small but still nice step forward. They enjoy the Grande Panda's likeable character, excellent handling and thoughtful concept. Thanks to mild-hybrid drive, a conventional petrol engine gets assistance from an electric motor for better performance, more agility and more comfort. This is not as much of a revolution as with the Grande Panda Electric, but still a welcome step forward.