New Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid 2025 review: spacious supermini is far from efficient
2020 Toyota
Yaris Hybrid
19,951 milesManualPetrol1.5L
Cash GBP10,000View Yaris Hybrid[1]2023 MG
ZS
8,338 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L
Cash GBP16,651View ZS[2]2019 Vauxhall
Grandland X
48,866 milesManualPetrol1.2L
Cash GBP10,300View Grandland X[3]2018 Toyota
RAV4 Hybrid
43,260 milesAutomaticPetrol2.5L
Cash GBP16,900View RAV4 Hybrid[4]Otherwise the driver's touch points feel nice: the crisp brake pedal reassuringly wipes off speed, and the twangy steering is largely well judged. Goldilocks would approve of the weighting (not too heavy, not too light) and the gearing's equally appropriate, turning in responsively enough without any unwelcome dartiness. If you do chuck the Grande Panda into any bends, it grips pretty well and doesn't lean too much.
But the Grande Panda isn't trying to win you over on dynamics, more goofy charm. Which sort of explains why Fiat has reanimated '90s rapper Shaggy for the advert, rewriting the 'Boombastic' lyrics into 'Pandastic'. Oh Carolina Fiat!
Such playfulness peppers the delightful cabin, hidden behind that tough but cute exterior. The twin digital screens' oval yellow frame is inspired by the Lingotto factory's rooftop test track, complete with a cornering 2D Grande Panda. The letters FIAT are etched into the door, and contrasting materials - marble-effect plastic, flashes of yellow on the boxy protruding vents - bring oodles of character.
There's no mistaking it for a dour Volkswagen. This is the flagship La Prima spec, costing GBP21,035 for the hybrid (or GBP24,305 for its electric equivalent). The visual centrepiece is the 'Bambox', which looks as if a beaver has built a log dam behind the dash, but is actually a cylinder covered in bamboo fibre textile.
It's lovely and functional, containing a nicely engineered storage box.
La Prima rolls on the biggest alloy wheels (17-inchers), adds front parking sensors and a rear-view camera to the lower Pop and Icon models' rearward monitoring, and is the spec choice for wireless charging, heated seats, navigation on the standard, unflashy touchscreen and automatic air-con. This can be operated by big chunky buttons, and there are switches to toggle lane assist, speed limit and hazard warnings and lock the doors. Otherwise controls are via the steering wheel or touchscreen.
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References
- ^ View Yaris Hybrid (marketplace.autoexpress.co.uk)
- ^ View ZS (marketplace.autoexpress.co.uk)
- ^ View Grandland X (marketplace.autoexpress.co.uk)
- ^ View RAV4 Hybrid (marketplace.autoexpress.co.uk)