Remember the old Fiat Panda? The unapologetically boxy little brick that buzzed around Europe in the 1980s, often carrying more goats than passengers in some parts of Italy? Well, it’s back—sort of. Meet the Grande Panda, FIAT’s brand-new city car, a small car with big ambitions and even bigger expectations.
FIAT has officially opened UK orders, and if early numbers are anything to go by, Britain’s car buyers are already smitten. Thousands of people have signed up for “tell me more” emails before the car has even touched UK soil. Dealers are reporting floods of curious punters wandering into showrooms asking about it. And to fuel the hype even more, FIAT is rolling the car out on a nationwide “preview tour” from 4th September to 11th October, where the Grande Panda will be shown off like a pop star on a comeback tour.
And you know what? The hype might actually be justified.
Retro Roots, Modern Swagger
The Grande Panda was designed in FIAT’s Centro Stile in Turin, which means it’s dripping with Italian flair but hasn’t gone full Gucci handbag. Instead, it riffs on the 1980s original with crisp, blocky lines and a refreshingly uncluttered interior. It’s smart, it’s practical, and it doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard. Think less “look at me” and more “I’ll quietly look cooler than your crossover.”
Judges seem to agree. It’s already scooped up a trio of gongs: Best Small Car from Autocar, Supermini of the Year from Auto Express, and the rather charming Most Eagerly Awaited Electrified Car from Eco Car. Not bad for something that hasn’t even properly landed yet.
Power to the Panda
Buyers get two flavours: fully electric or hybrid. The EV comes with a 44kWh battery and 83kW motor (that’s 113 horsepower in old money), good for 199 miles of WLTP range—more than enough to handle the Tesco run, the school drop-off, and the occasional road trip to the seaside without breaking a sweat.
If you’re not ready to cut the petrol cord entirely, the hybrid uses a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbo with a 48V battery and a slick 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox, delivering 110 horsepower. It’s not going to snap your neck in a traffic light drag race, but it’ll sip fuel and smile while doing it.
Value With a Wink
Here’s the kicker: prices start at just £18,035 for the hybrid and £21,035 for the EV. Throw in FIAT’s newly reintroduced £1,500 E-Grant, and the electric Panda suddenly looks like one of the best-value EVs on sale. Trims range from the cheekily named Pop to the fully loaded La Prima, while the EV can even be had in the socially conscious (RED) edition.
The Grande Panda isn’t pretending to be a hot hatch or a premium SUV. It’s a car for the real world: compact enough for city streets, clever enough for family life, and stylish enough to pull off a bit of retro cool.
If FIAT’s early success is any indicator, the Grande Panda might just become the new darling of Britain’s roads—just like its 1980s ancestor once was. Except this time, you won’t have to push it up the hill when it rains.
Source: Fiat