UK Drive: Fiat’s Grande Panda is the ideal fuss-free EV
The compact Grande Panda could be the ideal city car – something Fiat has a long tradition of building. Jack Evans tries it out.
What is it?
Now introduced as the ‘Grande Panda’, it’s a model which is designed to remain compact and easy to drive, yet with a little more space than its name-sharing forebears. We’ve been trying it out.
What’s new?
Essentially, that allows the Grande Panda to keep relatively small exterior proportions but maximise interior space and boot capacity. Plus, it’s a multi-energy platform, which means it can cater for either hybrid or electric powertrains with very little downside to either setup.
What’s under the bonnet?
Performance-wise, the Grande Panda will go from 0-60mph in a modest 11.3 seconds, but because of that electric powertrain, it has been designed for nippiness away from the lights.
What’s it like to drive?
Visibility is decent, too, and the Grande Panda’s square shape means it’s a breeze to park. However, though this car is aimed at around-town driving, it doesn’t feel out of its depth on the motorway and, when there, it’s surprisingly quiet and refined. Its light steering, which helps when darting through traffic or around town, does mean it feels a bit flighty when you’re going more quickly, mind you.
How does it look?
There’s a great range of colours, too, with the bronze of our test car helping to give this car extra ‘pop’.
What’s it like inside?
The materials are cheap in places, but, in fairness, this is reflected in the Grande Panda’s starting price of £20,995. There are loads of great storage areas and the twin glovebox setup proves incredibly handy.
What’s the spec like?
However, the Grande Panda does feel like a car which is at its best when kept to the lowest price possible. You still get a handy infotainment screen on all versions and though it’s not as feature-rich as some other offerings, you still get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so it’s easy to mirror your phone’s apps.
Verdict
The Fiat Grande Panda feels like the type of electric car that more manufacturers should be making. It’s uncomplicated, has the right amount of range and is quick to charge. Add to that this car’s spacious interior and decent equipment levels and you’ve got something that is hard to ignore.
Given that this is all offered for just over £20,000 makes the Grande Panda a bit of a steal. It’s got a lot of character, too, and that’s something which is very hard to put a price on.