Fiat Grande Panda Electric Panda: Better than a Citroën Ë-C3?

Summary

Fiat is thinking big with its Grande Panda. In Europe, Brazil, and the African continent, its new city car is intended to relaunch the Italian brand with a "global model" strategy, capable of appealing everywhere, with attractive prices and a very wide range of engines. With Stellantis, the Grande Panda was developed alongside the Citroën ë-C3, from which it also shares its engine and batteries. A micro-hybrid version of the car will be available in June.

Despite its kinship with Citroën, the strategy of the new Fiat Grande Panda is particularly reminiscent of that of Renault. The comparison is not unfounded, as it was a certain François Leboine who was behind the Italian car and the new French star, the R5 E-Tech. Like its rival, Citroën is playing on nostalgia and customers' attachment to names and lines of yesteryear. Fiat was unable to continue with the 500, and for good reason, the city car failed to appeal as an electric model. The Panda was a good opportunity to play the rustic card and excuse a simplistic design.

Rustic, the Grande Panda doesn't hesitate when it comes to makeup, with numerous gimmicks to add originality to the car, compared to an ë-C3. Rather than distinctive lines, the city car plays on nods to the first-generation Panda. The Panda name is found on the door panels and at the rear, and the Fiat logo appears on the strip connecting the front lights, on the wheel arches and on the rear pillars. Behind these gimmicks, the Grande Panda is an ë-C3. They share everything: from the dimensions to the doors, including the side pillars and the rear window.

While seeking to take a step back from its French cousin, the Fiat Grande Panda has nevertheless taken the opportunity to correct its flaws. This is how its trunk stands out with a capacity of 361 liters, compared to 310 liters on the ë-C3, and the charging cable for the AC terminals is stored directly in a hatch at the front, without taking up space in the trunk, and without requiring any effort to fold and store it. On these two points alone, the electric city car won us over. What about the rest?

"Is this the new Panda?"

Despite the announcement effect, the Fiat Grande Panda is not the replacement for the Panda, but rather a model in its own right, which will evolve alongside another Panda planned until at least 2030. That said, this new Grande Panda marks the starting point for the creation of a new family of vehicles in which Fiat intends to invest its future in hybrid and electric vehicles. Over the years, other models will be added, which could closely or loosely adopt its rather rough design, playing the same card as Dacia with its Spring and its new Duster and Bigster.

According to the brand's current communication, the next step will be a slightly more spacious SUV, which will take on another striking name: Multipla. A fastback version will complete the range between 2025 and 2026. A way to show that Fiat is not venturing too far and is staying true to its genes, despite the fact that its cars are currently built on platforms shared by many brands, and that electric vehicles will greatly revise the ranges, equipment levels and prices.

During our test of the Fiat Grande Panda, the observation is nonetheless striking: faced with an R5 E-Tech, it is difficult to know which intrigues passersby the most. The French car very quickly won the hearts of the public, but the Italian did not show itself to be withdrawn. Faced with a Citroën ë-C3, many more passersby turn around. At each stop to take pictures, an encounter, and passersby ask us with curiosity and interest: "Is this the new Panda?" The bright red color and the white sheet metal rims certainly contributed to this.

Contrary to the photos, the city car doesn't appear all that unique from every angle. From the side, it's hard not to see a real cousin of the ë-C3. From this angle, we also notice that the balance isn't easy and that the design seems to be a break between a rather elongated and minimalist front end, and a more compact rear end loaded with details and appendages. However, we like the raised ground clearance, which opens up a range of possibilities and doesn't limit the Grande Panda to urban use.

Dimensions of the Fiat Grande Panda:

Length: 4.00 m
Width: 1.76 m
Height: 1.57 m
Wheelbase: 2.54 m
A very different interior

On board, the same is true of the exterior. Fiat seems to have had more time and more freedom than Citroën to offer something more personalized, colorful, and original. We can't help but see Dacia once again in terms of pattern ideas to make the car cooler. In terms of material choices, the emphasis is on bamboo fiber for the glove compartment, and recycled plastic. Don't expect to find any foamed plastics, there isn't any, but the whole thing doesn't feel fragile either.

The most important thing is that the car offers space. In terms of storage, it's simply superb. On the dashboard, the Fiat Grande Panda's double glove box system is also a welcome addition, so nothing is left in compartments visible from outside the vehicle, and therefore more vulnerable to theft (30 liters in total). Please note that only the La Prima version has a central armrest and a small storage compartment underneath.

Those who prefer conventional dashboards will find it more comfortable with Fiat than with Citroën. Indeed, the gauges are clearly displayed on a screen located behind the steering wheel (despite its small size, like the Peugeot), and not above it, as is the case with the Citroën. On board the ë-C3, the dashboard appears even higher since another level has been added near the windshield, to integrate the instrument screen for the driver.

We will appreciate the brighter and more vivid colors on board the Fiat Grande Panda, even if the roof lining remains tinted black. It's a shame, because in terms of visibility, including in the rear, we feel good on board the Italian. Even with a seat adjusted for 1.80m in the front, we will still have space in the back for the legs, and the seats will be slightly raised compared to those in the front. The front seats will not block too much visibility on the road either.

On the other hand, at Citroën, the ë-C3 still benefits from more comfortable seats than those of the Fiat Grande Panda. This is not a flaw, but a real bias to take into account. The upholstery aboard the Italian offers much more support, especially lateral support, so much so that larger people may feel a little cramped. For others, however, the support is very pleasant. At Citroën, the emphasis will be placed on much softer seats, which will suit those seeking comfort through flexibility, and not firm support.

Noisy damping, but up-to-the-mark

With its seat and dashboard, the Fiat Grande Panda has the merit of offering a good driving position, and good visibility on the road, thanks to its ground clearance. On the road, moreover, we will appreciate the comfort of the suspensions, while the car is clearly tuned for the city. That said, with its low weight (1461 kg unladen), the car rolls very little on departmental and national roads, enough to prove itself up to the task of racking up the miles. The damping is a little noisy, but does the job very well.

The steering has also been designed for the city. It is not imprecise for all that. We will even enjoy driving the Fiat Grande Panda on more winding roads, with its small steering wheel. The 113 hp engine reminds us that the model is not a lightning bolt of war (0 to 100 km/h in 11 seconds), but when you see the use of such a model, it is difficult to really ask for more. With its 122 Nm of torque, it will have more than enough to pick up speed to get into traffic or to overtake another vehicle. Be careful, however, the top speed of the electric city car is limited to 132 km/h.

On the center console, we discover a new mode offered by Fiat, called "C." Behind it, the ability to deactivate regenerative braking when you lift your foot off the accelerator pedal. Thus, the "One Pedal" mode is installed by default, when you turn on the Grande Panda's ignition. You will have to manually switch to "C" mode to enjoy a more traditional driving experience, by using the brake pedal to brake. Note that the "One Pedal" mode is not powerful enough to completely replace the brake pedal.

The selector located just above this button for switching to C mode is a reminder that the Fiat Grande Panda is an inexpensive model, which has given the brand a hard time finding ways to save money. When maneuvering, it may bother more than one person, since the shift from forward to reverse can be accompanied by a hitch. On several occasions, we had to try twice.

The same regret goes for the shortcut button that deactivates the passive safety alerts. It's imprecise, and we never really understood how long the button was pressed until the deactivation was effective. Imprecise, it underlines the horror of the car's audible warnings activated by default after each start, particularly the speed limit warning. It's a shame Fiat doesn't offer more pleasant alerts, especially since the car's audio system is very decent.

Modest range, but practical electric car

As Fiat dealership salespeople begin their training on the new Grande Panda, a feature on the front end is likely to become a real selling point. Taking Citroën and all other car manufacturers by surprise, Fiat has installed an integrated charging cable, accessible via a hatch behind the logo and on the side of the Grande Panda's right headlight. This is an AC charging cable, and replaces the old and heavy cable that needs to be stored in the trunk and unfolded when needed.

With its integrated cable, Fiat offers a system that is more than practical, whether for removing or retracting. When you open the hood of the Grande Panda, you discover a particularly well-designed, integrated, and protected system. Its length is more than sufficient, since you can even move the cable to the rear of the vehicle without having to support its weight. Unfortunately, it only offers 7.4 kW of power and the option to switch to 11 kW at Fiat requires switching to a traditional cable.

Rest assured, for fast DC charging (up to 100 kW on the Grande Panda), a conventional hatch with a ComboCSS socket is still available at the rear, on the left side. In terms of charging speed, the 7.4 kW cable requires remaining connected to a terminal for 3 hours 43 minutes, to go from 20 to 100%. The 11 kW cable saves a little over 45 minutes, and the fast DC charge will allow you to go from 20 to 80% in 33 minutes at best.

Now let's talk about the Fiat Grande Panda's range. During our test, it was difficult to drain the 42 kWh LFP battery, since we weren't able to drive the city car for long periods. That said, after about twenty kilometers, the charge percentage drops quite quickly. The 320 km of the WLTP cycle will only be achievable in the city and in ideal conditions. Otherwise, you'll have to count on a range of between 200 km (on the highway) and 250 kilometers (mixed driving). On the screen behind the steering wheel, Fiat does not offer any information on consumption, and you will therefore have to rely solely on the battery percentage and the remaining distance predictor before running out of fuel.

Should you buy or finance a Fiat Grande Panda? Here are its prices

After this first test, if we ignore the 100 hp hybrid version available from 18,900 euros, the cheapest 100% electric Fiat Grande Panda is the one we tested, in its RED finish with its 16-inch steel wheels painted white. No rearview camera, but simple radars, no central armrest or navigation system integrated into the touchscreen (you will have to use Car Play or Android Auto), but a car that already aims to be comfortable, with the same engine and the same battery as the La Prima version.

This entry-level version of the electric Fiat Grande Panda costs 24,900 euros, and up to 20,900 euros with an ecological bonus of 4,000 euros deducted. It does better than Renault on the R5 E-Tech (27,990 euros with the 40 kWh battery and 312 km of autonomy) or Peugeot with the e-208 (38,000 euros with the 46.2 kWh battery and 363 km of autonomy). The electric Fiat 500, since withdrawn from the market, was much worse, costing a minimum of €30,400 for a city car with a range of only 190 km.

The real competition is obviously found at Citroën with the ë-C3 starting at €23,300, even if there is no central touchscreen on the version at this price. The ë-C3 Plus is priced at €25,500, with some additional equipment, compared to the Grande Panda RED. Otherwise, you'll have to turn to Dacia, which offers the Spring from 16,990 euros, or the Hyundai Inster, with its 42 kWh battery and 97 hp engine, available at 25,000 euros in the Standard version, and equipped with a reversing camera.

Standard equipment of the Fiat Grande Panda RED:

2 USB-C sockets
Driver attention alert
Lane departure warning
Wheel arches with plastic reinforcement
60/40 split-folding rear seat
Closed glove box
Retractable charging cable (7 kW)
100 kW fast charging
Manual air conditioning
10-inch digital instrument cluster
10.25-inch central infotainment screen
Apple Car Play and Android Auto smartphone connectivity
Black exterior mirror caps
Electric and heated exterior mirrors
LED taillights and PixLED front headlights
Electric parking brake
Emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
16-inch white steel wheels with black wheel center
Black exterior door handles
Rear parking sensors
Cruise control and speed limiter
Height-adjustable front seats
4-speaker audio system
Electric front and rear windows
Height and reach adjustable steering wheel

Fiat Grande Panda: Delay to Avoid Trouble

Despite its presentation in June 2024, the Fiat Grande Panda won't hit the roads until March 2025, for reasons well known to Stellantis. Indeed, on its new Smart Car platform, the automotive group has experienced numerous bugs, similar to those experienced by the Citroën ë-C3 at its debut. Available to order since October 2024, the Fiat Grande Panda has delayed its arrival to avoid encountering the same difficulties. With the arrival of social leasing, Citroën had to prioritize its city car, even though Citroën had received no fewer than 5,800 signed contracts without the car having yet been launched into production.

Stellantis' difficulties can be explained by the fact that the Smart Car platform isn't as new as one might think. The chassis was taken from a new-generation C3 developed for emerging markets, which was subsequently completely modified, both in hardware and software, to fit electric cars. Now that the car can finally be delivered, and the parts are no longer reserved for Citroën, Fiat has launched its assembly lines in Kragujevac, Serbia. For the French car, the production line used is in Slovakia.

Our opinion on the Fiat Grande Panda: a rustic model but that will please

The delay in the launch of the Fiat Grande Panda compared to its French cousin has been beneficial. The more cheerful and colorful electric city car arrives on the market with excellent roominess, refined comfort, a sufficiently personal style, and ground clearance that gives it versatility and a feeling of security on board that will appeal to the greatest number of people. Fiat still has to make do with a 42 kWh LFP battery that won't allow it to go much more than 250 kilometers, but puts the rest of the car fleet out of date with an integrated charging cable, a name that will arouse sympathy, and dimensions that are rather well controlled for the city. A model to recommend for less than 25,000 euros, in 2025.