THE RIGHT CAR FOR NOW? (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

The Grande Panda Hybrid is currently Fiat's most important car. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 37

Right now, Fiat's Grande Panda makes the most sense in this Hybrid form. There's as much practicality as you'd want, as much electrification as you need and probably as much trendiness as you could possibly cope with.

Backgroundword count: 189

The Stellantis conglomerate wants to make smaller cars. The whole industry wants to be able to cost effectively make smaller cars. And not be bureaucratically forced down an EV pathway an awful lot of customers clearly aren't quite yet ready for. Perhaps no car sums up the kind of model needed for now better than this one, the Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid. Until a small affordable EV arrives with a range between stops of around 500 miles - as this petrol/electric model can offer - cars like the Hybrid version of this Fiat are going to find a ready market. The Grande Panda was originally launched in 2024 as an EV and its role in the UK was effectively to re-boot the ailing Fiat franchise. But in the faltering EV market, that wasn't going to happen unless the Grande Panda could also be had in a Hybrid fossil fuel form; hence the importance of this model. Which is the version that most directly replaces almost five decades of Panda models on our shores. In future, it may just be called the 'Panda'; for now, it's Fiat's most important model.

Driving Experienceword count: 273

The combustion version of this Grande Panda only comes with one engine option and it's a unit we've covered in multiple Stellantis group models; a three cylinder turbocharged 1,199cc petrol unit that drives through a six-speed dual clutch auto gearbox. Fiat calls it the 'T-Gen3' but it's the same powertrain you'll find with other badging in the Hybrid versions of the two other Stellantis models that share this Grande Panda's 'Smart Car' electrified platform - Citroen's C3 and Vauxhall's Frontera. It combines a 48V lithium battery and a 21kW electric motor, complete with an inverter and a control unit. There's no plug-in capability. Power is 110hp, 0-62mph takes 10s and it's all over at 99mph. There isn't of course the same seamless urgency of acceleration as you'd get in the Grande Panda EV, but the sensation isn't too far off that and does a decent job of disguising this Fiat's surprisingly prodigious 1,380kg kerb weight. This powertrain isn't really a proper full-Hybrid like you'd get in this segment in, say, a Toyota Yaris or an MG3, but it will run silently on electricity for just over half a mile at speeds below 18mph; so it's perfect for low-speed manoeuvring, parking and stop/start traffic. When you come off the accelerator, regen braking subtly blends in to charge the battery. There are no gearshift paddles, no rev counter and no drive modes. More significantly, you do without the really tight turning circle you might hope for from this class of car - it's an unexceptional 10.9 metres. In almost every other respect though, helped by glassy all-round visibility, this is a great urban drive companion.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227