Fiat Grande Panda has sub €23k price
The blend of retro with modern design and functionality will bring a smile to your face each day with its colourful looks inside and out.
Fiat revealed its Grande Panda back in April at the Olympic Federation of Ireland in Abbotstown, the home of Team Ireland for whom Fiat is the official vehicle partner. It was a fitting launch venue as many of our top athletes have since gone on to win international titles since then.
I don’t know if, given time, the Grande Panda will be a top achiever like many of our athletes, but it deserves its place for the school run or for shopping ventures, as a first or second family car as many Irish motorists have discovered since launch. Even for use on longer trips, especially in the hybrid version which provides a range of 600kms on a full tank of petrol. The Irish distributor is on its way to achieving its target of selling around 250 units (based on supply) for the rest of this year.
The Panda nameplate stretches back over three generations, all with Italian flair. The new model has now grown in size to be a B-segment car. Grande Panda is aimed at first-time buyers, newly qualified drivers, empty-nesters downsizing, so is really a car for everyone. Fiat say it is ‘a stylish, versatile and affordable option with a choice of powertrains that doesn’t compromise on technology or sustainability’. I agree.
The blend of retro with modern design and functionality will bring a smile to your face each day with its colourful looks inside and out. The car has a robust square shape and bold stance. Standard features on the La Prima review car are 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, privacy glass, and external mirrors that can power fold. I liked the whole look of the Grande Panda from all angles, and the large embossed ‘Panda’ feature on the sides, the silver metal diamond roof bars, available on the top grade. Other grades are Pop (available only with the BEV variants), and Icon.
The interior is eye-catching with lots of colour. It incorporates plastic elements made from used recycled materials – the centre runner is in a material made from recycled milk or juice cartons (Tetra Packs). The dash features a bamboo-inspired design, wrapped in fabric made with up to 30% bamboo fibres which I think will wear well as bamboo is a toughie.
Features include a 10.25-inch display and 10-inch digital cluster. The main screen is easy to work around and you can wirelessly mirror all your phone’s functions on the screen. It includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there is built-in satellite navigation exclusive to the top trims. There are some physical buttons below the screen for quick use.
The automatic transmission selector is located on the flat of the central console along with a wireless phone charger.
The steering wheel is wrapped in soft-touch material, there’s a central armrest, front door panels have fabric inserts, and glossy black B and C pillars add more interest to the interior.
Grande Panda is a five-seater with a bench seat in the rear. The back row includes two ISOFIX child seat anchor points for a young family. But rear seating could be tight for larger teens or adults. Headroom is fine.
With all seats in use, boot space is 412 litres and the boot is square-shaped for ease of loading and unloading.
Features include front parking sensors, a rear-view camera, automatic air conditioning, a wireless phone charger, embedded navigation.
La Prima grade has a heated windscreen, heated front seats and heated steering wheel; all are part of a Winter Pack at €500, and well worth the money on a cold winter’s morning.
Grande Panda is offered in seven bright colours including a stand-out Limona yellow (my car).
This mild hybrid version comes with a 1.2, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine delivering up to 110hp combined with a 48V hybrid system, and paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard, making it ideal for city life. Peak torque is 205Nm. A petrol-only version of Grande Panda is expected shortly, and a long-range BEV version with up to 400km range in 2027.
The car is equipped with many top safety systems with visual and sound alerts – some you can turn off if you prefer.
Grande Panda puts it up to the opposition for price, practicality and spec, and for pure enjoyment.
Fiat Ireland offer a warranty of 160,000km/eight years battery.
PRICE: entry BEV is €22,995; Hybrid from €25,800. My La Prima hybrid €28,880.
