Why is it that inexpensive yet upbeat car design is now an almost exclusively retro thing? Instead of pushing for upscale desires, why not show a deep appreciation for simply how well an affordable car can be an affordable car? It seems like almost every automaker’s going down the road of soft-touch, angry plastic road droids for a technocratic future, but not every automaker is Fiat. The Italian brand has unveiled something called the Grande Panda, and while it’s made for Europe with its ‘la dolce vita’ disposition, it’s a front-wheel-drive subcompact crossover with hybrid or electric power that looks perfect for America.
Several of Fiat’s recent offerings have traded heavily on heritage looks, but not the Grande Panda. Instead of leaning into retro fashion over functionality, this Fiat is a modern five-door front-wheel-drive mini-crossover that hits all the funky spots. I mean, the name “Panda” is embossed down each side of the car to add stiffness to the doors and break up the sheetmetal in an unusual way. How amusing is that?
Add in headlights like one of those LED-matrix rave masks, available white steel wheels, and a great color palette including bright red, seafoam green, lemon yellow, and the right shade of copper brown, and the Fiat Grande Panda seems both cheap and properly cheerful, a rare combination in today’s automotive landscape of premium aspirations.
Step inside, and the cheap and cheerful theme continues. The base model Grande Panda doesn’t even come with infotainment, but it does come with a smartphone holster with NFC connectivity and hard keys. After all, the screen you bring with you everywhere is probably more powerful than the infotainment system in your car, right? You can upgrade to a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, but believe me when I say that the tech is the least interesting part of the interior.
It’s the colors, the materials, the design, the storage options, and the way it all comes together that really makes the cockpit of the Fiat Grande Panda notable. The dual gloveboxes look handy, available colorways including blue-and-grey are fun, and Fiat claims to use the materials from 140 recycled bottles in every Grande Panda. That’s just smart. Beyond that, the surround for the screens is a sort of long oval with a little car on it like the test track on the roof of the Lingotto factory, the profile of the dashboard is semi-circular, and the dashboard trims come in fun options like bamboo fiber or striped finishes.
Sounds great so far, but what’s under the hood? Well, the Grande Panda offers two different propulsion methods, so let’s start with the hybrid powertrain — a 100-horsepower 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine paired with a 28-horsepower electric motor that’s set inside a dual-clutch transmission. While it’s on the mild end of hybrid powertrains, it can still trundle along on electric power for about six-tenths of a mile at a time at steady city speeds, and it lets the Grande Panda creep through rush hour stop-and-go traffic or park on electric power alone. Even though fuel economy figures haven’t been released yet, it sounds like the sort of setup that could serve a benefit in situations where a combustion engine alone is at its least efficient, without costing an arm and a leg. As a bonus, using an electric motor for low-speed maneuvers sounds like it could save wear on the DCT clutches. Smart stuff.
Now, if you’re looking for electric power, you can also get the Grande Panda with a 44 kWh battery and a 113-horsepower electric motor. Sensible stuff for an entry-level crossover. Fiat claims a zero-to-62 mph time of 11 seconds which is right in the ballpark of the Nissan Kicks and Honda HR-V, although the downside of a 44 kWh battery pack is a WLTP range of just 198 miles. However, it also has one particularly cool trait — an additional built-in retractable AC charging cord in the nose, supplementing the traditional AC charging and DC fast charging facilities out back. Nifty.
By now, you’re probably wondering what all this costs. Well, the hybrid version starts at less than €19,000, and the electric version starts at €25,000. At current conversion rates, that’s less than $19,900 for the hybrid and just over $26,000 for the EV, which is suitably affordable. It’s no secret that Fiat could use a U.S.-market car with more mass appeal than the 500e, so why not bring the Grande Panda over? Not only is it a small front-wheel-drive crossover, a competitor in a segment with fairly strong sales precedent, it also looks appealing. With lots of automakers looking toward bigger cars, maybe now’s the time America embraced small Italian cars. Come on, Stellantis. You know you want to send this thing stateside.
(Photo credits: Fiat)
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I like it in concept. Don’t like the light design, they really just straight up copied that “Atari-graphics dogbone” shape from Hyundai didn’t they? Bold choice.
To me this is a great place for a range-extended EV: give it enough battery for 50 miles, then use the resulting space for a tiny, efficient generator motor that wipes out the range anxiety. It’s clearly a city-first vehicle, so most users are going to be 100% electric 5-6 days/week, but they can do a road trip or a big outing stress-free.
I agree it probably needs a bit more pep than 11 seconds to 60, though.
Oh, and that interior is absolutely aces. I can’t think of a design I’ve liked more.
I don’t know whether it’s “perfect for America,” but actually love the styling, inside and out.
I’ll go with the seafood green.
Here’s my bad idea: bring it in as Chrysler and change the stamped letters on the side to say “NEON” in the same font. You have name recognition, and if you keep the price down, a funnish vehicle that people can actually afford.
Sure the reliability will drive people to Toyotas, but they’d get the initial sale.
Or throw it to Dodge and abandon Badassidorship? They could use a better Dart.
I like this car and everything it stands for but …
1. My name is Andy so I would never hear the end of “Hey Andy Panda” jokes. Also the name Panda is an automatic DOA in the US.
2. Flip the powertrain and drivetrain configuration by changing it to a series hybrid.
Ditch the transmission, change to a two cylinder 50ish horsepower non turbocharged engine and 200 hp electric motor.
Any new car in 2025 that takes 11+ seconds to hit 60 mph is completely unacceptable to me with an exception for city specific cars and trucks. The new acceleration standard should be 7 seconds flat for all cars. One needs to be able at the very least to merge into highspeed highway traffic. If top speed is of concern for young drivers then it should be able to be limited by a parent or adult.
I feel your pain. When I was a kid, being dubbed Tony Baloney was a significant factor in why I am StillNotATony.
Psh, more like Phony Tony!
I dunno. I have a 2012 Ford Focus Electric with 0-60 in about 10.5 seconds. It is more than enough for merging into high speed highway traffic. As in it has never been an issue. Ever.
The electric motor also provides a crap ton of instant torque so city driving is super easy getting up to speed with everyone else. Heck, it is fun to catch folks off guard with way more powerful ICE cars at a red light scooting away silently and quickly. Torque makes up for low HP big time.
I feel that 11 seconds is more than enough assuming it has similar dynamics to my car. Which with the electric version at least, I suspect that is the case.
Fiat: “Grande Panda.”
My brain: “Grana Pandagiano!” (wild gesticulation)
Not gonna lie, I totally forgot that Fiat still sold cars here so I was thinking this was another car that had no chance of coming over here. But there is a small chance, so that’s nice.
My initial thought as well!
Oh right, I genuinely forgot that Fiats are already sold here until your comment.
I mean they are offered for sale here, not sure if they are actually sold though.