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In 2007, the Fiat 500 was reborn, with success. What followed was an entire 500 model family, including, in addition to the “original” hatchback, the 500L (compact MPV) and 500X (compact SUV). In a similar fashion, a Panda model family is now emerging. The current, third-generation Fiat Panda is far from retiring. With appropriate updates, the model will remain available as Fiat Panda City (formerly Panda Urban) and Fiat Pandina (formerly Panda Cross). Also coming is a brand new model: the Fiat Grande Panda.

Dimensions Fiat Grande Panda

Some things were already known about the Fiat Grande Panda, but now some more information follows. The dimensions, for example. The Grande Panda is 3.99 meters long, 1.76 meters wide and 1.57 meters high. For comparison, the “old” Panda is (depending on City or Pandina) just under 3.7 meters long, about 1.65 meters wide and about the same height as the Grande Panda. In the back of the Grande Panda fits up to 361 liters of luggage, a very neat value in this segment. At least 13 more liters of storage space is also available in the interior. The Grande Panda accommodates up to five people.

This is the interior!

Speaking of the interior, we hadn’t seen it before. In contrast to the straight lines of the interior, inside we find mostly rounded shapes. The oval lines of the dashboard and the framing of the displays (10-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch infotainment screen) was inspired by the oval test track on the roof of the former Lingotto factory. The dashboard is partially covered in bamboo fiber textiles, which, along with the rest of the color scheme, creates a pleasant, almost homely atmosphere. The open storage compartment for the front passenger is a reference to the original 1980 interior. Speaking of references, have you spotted the little Fiat Panda on the dashboard? And the other interior easter eggs?

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First encounter

On the roof of that same Lingotto factory, we got to meet the Fiat Grande Panda “in the flesh” for the first time. Soon the car turns out to be even nicer in real life than in the pictures. Where it sometimes looks a bit SUV-like in the photos, it is not so bad in real life. It’s just a nice, compact (albeit tall) hatchback. Nevertheless, we are surprisingly spacious in the back seat: even with 1.80 meters, you do not lack head and legroom. Whether the Grande Panda is a true five-passenger car? Three children in the back seat fit just fine, with three adults it might get a bit too cozy. Even apart from the space, the seating comfort is very good. When we are able to drive the car at a later time we will go into more detail about all this.

Fiat Grande Panda: mild hybrid and electric

The Fiat Grande Panda shares its technical platform with the new Citroën (ë-)C3 and the new Opel Frontera. Not surprisingly, the powertrains also match. Thus, the electric version of the Grande Panda gets an 83 kW (115 hp) electric motor and a 44 kWh battery pack. That should be good for a range of about 320 km (WLTP testing is ongoing).

Furthermore, Fiat speaks of “a hybrid version” without too many details. That almost had to be the familiar 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine with 48V mild hybrid technology. The only question remains whether the Grande Panda will get the 74 kW (100 hp) or 100 kW (136 hp) strong variant, or both. In time, a non-hybrid gasoline version will also be added to the lineup, but it seems unlikely to come to the Netherlands.

Built-in charging cable

One notable detail that sets the Fiat Grande Panda apart from the technically related Citroën C3 and Opel Frontera is the built-in charging cable. In the rear fender you’ll find a conventional charging socket, to which you’ll have to connect your own charging cable. Behind the “grille” is another optional charging connector, but in the form of a cable that you can pull out, and then attach it to a charging pole. Loading session finished? Then the Grande Panda simply slurps up the charging cable again like a spaghetti string.

So that saves a lot of hassle with a separate charging cable dragging on the ground and then having to be stowed somewhere again. There is one major drawback, however: with this integrated charging cable, the Grande Panda can only charge at 7 kW. The same goes for the traditional connection at the back. Without the optional spaghetti cable, the load capacity is 11 kW. Fiat is still working on a solution to this problem, so that soon you will hopefully be able to charge at 11 kW even with the spaghetti cable.

Fiat Grande Panda becomes affordable

In 1980, the first Fiat Panda stood for practical and affordable transportation. The new Grande Panda should continue that. The exact price is not yet known, but Fiat expects to offer the hybrid version for “less than 19,000 euros” and the electric version for “less than 25,000 euros.” In today’s (new) car market, those can be called competitive prices. Note that this is an international indication.

The Panda City will already cost over 19,000 euros with us, so add to that for the Grande Panda. To give a more concrete picture, the technically related to the Grande Panda Citroën C3 is available in the Netherlands from 20,690 euros for the gasoline version and from 24,290 euros for the electric one. We count on similar prices for the Fiat Grande Panda, although we hope the brand manages to stay just a little below that.

Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani

While we’re at it, Fiat is also immediately presenting a special edition of the Fiat 500e: the Giorgio Armani. That on the occasion of the 90th birthday of the fashion brand’s founder. The Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani features striking wheels with very large GA logo and model-specific body colors: grayish dark green or “Ceramic Greige,” a kind of luxurious beige-like gray. Inside, you’ll find model-specific upholstery inspired by classic tailoring techniques. Armani’s signature can also be found in several places on and in the car. Otherwise, just about all the regular options for the 500e are checked as standard. The Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani is available only in three-door versions and only with the 87 kW (118 hp) powertrain.