Fiat Grande Panda review: Cheap, cheerful and utterly charming

Fiat’s reinvented supermini could be just the rival the Renault 5 has been crying out for

Fiat recently shared a piece of research into the measure of driving enjoyment.

The thoroughly rigorous scientific endeavour (which was definitely not a piece of throwaway PR puff) came up with the idea of Smiles Per Hour (SPH) to determine how much joy different cars bring to their drivers.

In a shock twist, it turns out that the new Fiat Grande Panda “showed a consistent emotional response across drivers, with broad and repeatable enjoyment”. In fact, it returned an average SPH of 258.1, compared with a daily average of just 0.88SPH for UK residents.

Yes, we can (and will) be cynical about the entire “study” but it does give an insight into the ethos behind the Grande Panda.

Fiat wants the conversation around its all-new electric supermini to be about fun and enjoyment. The brand used to be famous for its cheap and cheerful little cars, and the Grande Panda aims to honour that reputation by blending touches from its past with a very modern powertrain.

It’s got its work cut out, though. As well as another 80s throwback in the shape of the Renault 5, there are newcomers like the BYD Dolphin Surf and Hyundai Inster, and the technically related Citroen E-C3 to worry about.

Fiat Grande Panda design, interior and technology

If we’re talking about smiles, the Grande Panda is off to a flying start. Its designers have unashamedly drawn on the original 1980 Fiat Panda for inspiration and it’s a triumph.

The overall shape is a boxy angular homage to the 1980s, emphasised by modern touches such as the pixel-style LED lights. There are hints of the old Sisley 4×4 in the slightly raised ride height, roof rails and “skid plates” and in the Panda name embossed across the doors. That “low relief” detail is a bold choice but one that really pays off.

All around the car are small touches such as pattern-shifting badges and old-school Fiat logos that point to a car that’s been designed with real love and attention to detail. Perhaps no more so than behind the offset front badge, where a permanently attached 7kW charging cable is neatly coiled up under the bonnet.

Inside, things are a lot less 80s. There are further tributes to Fiat’s past in the instrument surround and centre console which mirror the shape of the Lingotto test track, but there’s a very 21st century feel.

There’s widespread use of sustainable materials, including the neat Bambox – a secondary glove box made using real bamboo fibres. The seat fabrics, door and dashboard surfaces are all made from recycled drinks containers but bring a quality and character you don’t always get at this price point. Elsewhere, there are still a few cheaper plastics but the overall mixture of colour and texture does well to disguise them.

Old Fiats were pleasingly simple to use and the Grande Panda is similarly straightforward. The layout is clear and logical and everything important is within easy reach. There are also solid-feeling physical controls for the air conditioning, plus two easy buttons to deactivate the most annoying ADAS systems.

Like any modern EV, there are digital instruments – big and clear – and a central touchscreen, which slightly lets the Grande Panda down. It’s slow to respond and incredibly basic. Positively, that means you won’t be distracted by it, but it also means that rivals offer a far more feature-rich and user-friendly infotainment system. There is, at least, Apple and Android mirroring.

Fiat claims the Grande Panda “guarantees comfort for five people”, which stretches the truth to breaking point. There’s actually pretty good legroom in the back, and the boxy shape gives good headroom too, so a couple of adults will fit. But the rear bench isn’t wide enough to accommodate even three children. In the boot, there’s 361 litres of storage, which is generous for the class.

Fiat Grande Panda battery, motor and driving

Like most other cars on the Smart Car platform, there’s just one powertrain offering in the Grande Panda.

Every version gets a 111bhp motor driving the front wheels and drawing its energy from a 43.8kWh battery with 100kW DC charging. Fiat says a full charge should get you 199 miles of range.

Those specs put the Panda close to the entry-level Renault 5 and higher-spec BYD Dolphin Surf, as well as the Citroen E-C3. It’s worth noting, however, that Renault will sell you an R5 with an extra 47bhp and 53 miles more range from a 52kWh battery for around £24,000 after the ECG.

That’s particularly relevant because, despite the official figures, during a warm spring week, I saw real-world range of closer to 130-140 miles from the Grande Panda while the 52kWh Renault was promising 190+.

In isolation, however, the Panda’s range is probably enough for most people most of the time. This is a car designed as an urban runaround, after all, and it feels utterly at home in the city.

The small footprint (it’s just under 4m long), upright driving position and squared-off shape make placing it easy in tight conditions. I would like the throttle and steering to be sharper, but as long as you’re firm with them there’s enough verve to keep up with the cut and thrust of traffic.

The 111bhp is plenty for town driving and is just about enough to cope on faster roads, but a 0-62mph time of 11 seconds and that slightly languid throttle response means you’ll need to plan overtakes well in advance. Cruising along, the Panda copes fairly well with faster roads. There’s a touch of body roll and the steering remains a little sluggish, but it generally feels as composed and planted as you’d expect from a small car.

For a small car, it also rides pretty well. Around town battling broken drain covers and potholes, there is a little stiffness but it’s certainly no worse than any car in its class (apart from the mega-squishy E-C3).

Thankfully for a basic city car there are no pointless driving modes but, frustratingly, the braking regeneration controls are similarly limited. There’s the standard setting and a coasting mode access via a button. There’s no one-pedal option nor a way to totally deactivate it, so you’re stuck with a choice of “not much” regen or “a little bit more”.

Fiat Grande Panda price and specification

The Fiat Grande Panda electric range starts at £20,995 for the basic Pop trim and rises to £24,035 for the top-grade La Prima model I tested.

Every model gets the cool LED headlights with auto dipping, cruise control, rear parking sensors and the 10.25-inch infotainment screen.

Pop versions also get the trendy white steel wheels, whereas the La Prima gets fancy 17-inch diamond cut alloys. That top spec also adds bi-tone upholstery, heated seats and steering wheel, automatic air conditioning and built-in navigation. Electrically folding mirrors, front parking sensors and a reversing camera are also standard, as are cosmetic upgrades shared with the mid-tier Icon.

That’s most of what you need day to day, but at the top of the range, rivals bring more equipment – from keyless entry to adaptive cruise control – for similar money.

Putting the Panda in context, the Renault 5 range starts at £21,495 for the 40kWh/118bhp model, and rises to £25,945 for the 52kWh/148bhp Iconic Five+ (both with the ECG applied). A BYD Dolphin Surf with 154bhp and a 200-mile range is £21,975.

Verdict

There’s not much in it when it comes to parting with your cash, then. So should you consider the Grande Panda?

That’s going to come down to how you use it. It’s not the quickest car in its class, nor does it have the longest range or offer the most tech. If those are your key considerations, go and speak to your local Renault dealer.

However, if you’re willing to compromise a little on the technical front, the Panda is affordable, practical and pleasant to drive.

It’s also packed with charm and character and will make you smile every time you see it parked outside your house. And, after all, is that not what it’s all about?

Fiat Grande Panda La Prima

• Price: £24,035
• Powertrain: Single-motor, front-wheel-drive
• Battery: 43.8kWh
• Power: 111bhp
• Torque: 89lb ft
• Top speed: 83mph
• 0-62mph: 11.5 seconds
• Range: 199 miles
• Consumption: 3.7 m/kWh
• Charging: up to 100kW

Rivals

• Renault 5 – The stand-out small EV of recent years. Stylish, smart and user friendly, with solid technical underpinnings
• BYD Dolphin Surf – Generous equipment, low price and range of powertrain options. But as joyless as the Panda is joyful, and has a hateful user interface
• Citroen E-C3 – All the same technical bits as the Panda but in a less funky, more comfy package. Also offers a cheaper Urban Range option