New Fiat Grande Panda: retro EV costs just £21k, hybrid even cheaper

• All-new retro-inspired supermini
• Available as an EV or petrol mild hybrid
• Costs from £18,975 for hybrid and £20,975 for EV

Affordable electric superminis are taking off this year, and the new Fiat Grande Panda could be the cheapest of the lot. This retro-styled hatchback lands in the UK this spring, with the fully electric version priced at just £20,975. That sounds like pretty good value to us, but if petrol superminis are more your thing, don’t worry – there’s one of those headed our way, too.

The petrol mild hybrid Grande Panda will be even cheaper, costing from just £18,975. It doesn’t lose any of the funky, retro styling of its electric twin, though – both cars sport boxy looks inspired by the original 1980 Panda. Like that car, there’s a clear focus on value here, with even the top-spec electric Grande Panda ‘La Prima’ costing under £24,000.

What do I need to know about the new Fiat Grande Panda?

There have been rumours of a new Fiat Panda for some time now, with the outgoing model beginning to feel its age in a supermini market now awash with hybrids and EVs. After 13 years on sale, the Italian carmaker has decided that now is the time to introduce its replacement, which will use fully electric tech from parent-brand Stellantis for the first time.

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Underpinning the new Fiat Grande Panda is the STLA Smart platform, shared with other models that fall under the Stellantis umbrella, including the new Citroen C3 and e-C3, as well as the new Vauxhall Frontera. Like those models, the Grande Panda will be offered as a petrol hybrid and a full EV.

Electric models use the same 44kWh battery and 111bhp electric motor found in the Citroen and the Vauxhall, delivering up to 199 miles of range in this application. It’ll come as no surprise that the Grande Panda isn’t a rocket ship – 0-62mph takes a leisurely 11 seconds, but at least that’s no slower than the e-C3. Charging speeds aren’t too sluggish, though, with a 20-80% charge taking 33 minutes thanks to 100kW DC rapid charging.

The mild hybrid petrol Grande Panda pinches the 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine and small electric motor from parent-brand Stellantis. In the case of the Fiat, it produces 99bhp and drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox.

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It’s currently unclear whether a non-hybrid petrol Grande Panda will be offered, but it’s a possibility given that Citroen sells the C3 in pure-petrol guise. Similarly, there’s been no mention of a 4x4 variant yet, but it could appear further down the line if the new Grande Panda is to follow the trend set by previous Pandas.

What about the Fiat Grande Panda’s styling?

At just 3,999mm long, the Grande Panda is the smallest of the Fiat, Citroen and Vauxhall trio, but that still represents an increase of over 300mm compared to the outgoing model. It’s taken on a chunkier look, too, with squared-off bumpers and plenty of black cladding to lean into the popular small SUV aesthetic.

It’s the details that really stand the Grande Panda apart, however. The black band across the front end is a modern interpretation of the original Panda’s grille, but it now houses a pair of “chessboard pattern” LED headlights. At the rear, the tail-lights display a similar X-shaped motif, while you’ll spot Fiat’s historic parallel stripes logo hidden around the exterior. Most striking is the large ‘Panda’ lettering embossed along both sides, harking back to the decals applied to the original Panda 4x4.

What do we know about its interior and practicality?

Fiat promises that the Grande Panda will deliver impressive practicality despite its diminutive size. Unusually for a front-wheel drive EV, there is a small storage space under the bonnet where you’ll find an integrated charging cable for home charging. Boot space stands at a decent 361 litres for the EV, while there’s 13 litres of storage dotted around the front of the cabin. The hybrid model misses out on the under-bonnet storage, but it does get a bigger 412-litre boot.

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Elsewhere in the interior, you’ll spot a recurring oval theme, inspired by the rooftop test track at the brand’s original headquarters in Turin. Behind the two-spoke steering is a 10-inch digital driver’s display, while the dashboard houses a 10.25-inch central infotainment screen. There’s a bold mix of colours and materials throughout the cabin, including bright plastics, blue upholstery for the seats, and a bamboo dashboard for pricier versions.

How much does the new Fiat Grande Panda cost?

The Fiat Grande Panda will start from £18,975 for the mild hybrid version in entry-level ‘Icon’ trim. This model gets 16-inch black steel wheels, manual air conditioning, a split folding rear seat, privacy glass, the 10.25-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors and lane keeping assist.

You can upgrade to ‘La Prima’ trim for an extra £2,000, bringing 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning, the bamboo dashboard, sat nav, front parking sensors, a rear-view camera, a wireless smartphone charger and heated seats.

Electric models kick off from £20,975. This gets you the electric Grande Panda in ‘Red’ trim, which comes with the same kit list as the entry-level hybrid model, plus white wheels and LED headlights. Upgrading to the electric Grande Panda ‘La Prima’ costs £3,000 and it gets the same kit as the hybrid version.

The Grande Panda arrives just in time for Fiat’s 125th anniversary, an occasion that the Italian brand is celebrating with a raft of new models. From now until 2027, Fiat plans to launch a new vehicle each year using the same STLA Smart platform as the Grande Panda.

The Grande Panda will face stiff competition – read our top 10 list of the best small cars and superminis to see its rivals…