The New Fiat Grande Panda goes backs to its roots for inspiration and is available as an EV or hybrid.
Malaysians may not be that familiar with the Fiat Panda, but in Italy this was THE car of the people throughout the 1980s and much of the 1990s. Fiat managed to create an economical and utilitarian vehicle that the market loved so much that they sold it in its original form until 2003. Normally, that’s the kind of production run reserved for the third world, but the Panda enjoyed success domestically for decades. In its 2nd and 3rd generations, the Panda morphed into a more conservative and modern econobox, eschewing the boxy styling of the original model for soft curves and better ergonomics.
Now under Stellantis, Fiat has decided to bring back the angular look of the original model with the 4th generation Panda, called the Grande Panda. This new model marks the brand’s return the global mainstream market after years of a diminished presence throughout the world. The new Fiat Grande Panda also looks to the original model for its design brief, returning to its roots of being more utilitarian while still bearing strong Italian genes for a bit of pop.
So, what exactly is this new Grande Panda? Well, it’s a B-segment crossover that’s available in both battery electric and hybrid electric variants and it’s priced at around 25,000 euros – just shy of RM130,000 without excise duties or import taxes. With that price tag you get design work from Fiat Centro Stile in Turin with the electric version featuring a 44kWh battery and an 83kW e-motor for about 320km on the WLTP cycle. While it doesn’t look that appealing on paper versus the Seals and Model 3s of the world, in terms of pricing, this would land closer to the Dolphin, so then it starts to become a little more appealing.
In terms of dimensions, the new Grande Panda is 3.99 meters from bumper to bumper while being 1.57 meters tall and 1.76 meters wide. The boot offers about 361 litres of space with 13 litres of additional storage compartments in front of the front passenger. The Fiat Grande Panda offers seating for 5.
Unlike many of its mass market EV rivals, the Grande Panda doesn’t come across as an appliance. Fiat have thrown in a few innovations and design tricks to make the vehicle stand out. One of these is the spiral charging cable, which essentially integrates a charging cable under the hood to make things much easier for home charging using AC current.
This would be one of the first EVs with a built-in charging cable and the added convenience might be a great pull for future buyers. The spiral cable allows it to return into its housing easily.
In terms of styling, the Grand Panda leans into the crossover aesthetic with front and rear skid plates in silver and glossy black pillars. You get 17″ diamond cut alloy wheels on this relatively small vehicle. Fiat are bringing liveries back with the Grande Panda with colour options for these decals including red, white, black, green, brown, blue and yellow. Inside, you get a 10″ cluster and a 10.25″ infotainment system.
What do you think of this funky Italian crossover for the people? Should Stellantis Malaysia bring it in or will Malaysians shy away from this as there’s no strong history of the Fiat Panda in this part of the world.
