The Panda is back. Or rather the “Panda Grande” (to pronounce in the Italian): Fiat is launching a new generation of its famous small car to do everything … in the largest version, as the name implies.
A “smart car” of Stellantis
This model is based on Stellantis’s “smart car” platform. As we have already seen in the last Citroën ë-C3 or on the Opel Frontera, this technical base really does not bear its name, since it is synonymous with a significant fall in the services, even in the so-called “high-level” versions. Forget modern comfort (and that seemed to acquire even in low cost), with the absence of hands -free access or adaptive regulator, even optional.
No, what should be “elegant” (intelligent in French) in these cars, is precisely a certain economic rationality by offering more affordable prices, which remains to be tested, especially in electricity. At this point of the engines, this platform has the advantage of being multiple in energy, which allows to offer the 7 models provided for electricity, but also in hybrid and simple gasoline.
An alternative to STLA platforms, aimed at higher gas models in Stellantis, such as the last Peugeot 3008 and 5008 or the Opel Grandland.
Also keep in mind that Fiat keeps the old panda in the catalog, under the name of Pandina (it is still marketed in France at the moment under the name of Panda Hybrid). One way to maintain a thermal offer of around 15,000 euros with a more compact model, 3.69 meters, while the large panda is 30 centimeters, almost 4 meters.
A GREAT NEO-RETRO PANDA
At first glance, this great panda is really good. The general form of the first generation of the 80s, Giugiaro, more cubic than its successors resumes.
A kind of neo-back version that we owe in particular to François Leboine French, at the origin of the prototype that gave Renault the idea to relaunch the R5, before joining Fiat.
And the result is a frank success, with many details that hit the eye of the bull in this mini-suv silhouette: a light firm that occupies a pattern of pixels in the front and with a more modern appearance on the back, the logo of Fiat Four Bandas that return to many places and the Panda name recorded at the bottom of the doors and in the 3D logo in the trunk.
A chest that even gives you a bit “ciao” before closing it: produced in Serbia, this great panda clearly plays the reference map to Italy, without offending the Giorgia Meloni government, which had gone to war against the small flags of The last 600 and Topolino.
Another notable difference with the Opel Frontera and Citroën ë-C3, a slow load cable available directly from the front, with a mechanical magnification as a vacuum (that is particularly missing for friend Citroën and mobilizes duo). Fiat maintains the side port for fast loads up to 100 kW, but this configuration could be very practical for use.
Also under the spell inside
The interior also has its small effect, with a beautiful combination of colors and a more successful general appearance than in its cousins in Citroën or Opel.
Small originality: on the glove compartment, a bit of additional bamboo fiber storage. Bamboo in a panda … you had to think about it!
As with Citroën, two levels of finish: a basic version “(red)” but which offers much more than the very naked “you” finish of the ë-C3. There is no touch screen, for example, in French, which begins its rates excluding the bonus at 21,300 euros.
In Fiat, at least 24,900 euros are needed. An additional non -drop -down cost of 3,600 euros that, therefore, is explained by these differences in standard options, the charm of small details and a better level of finishing in the Italian.
We tried this great electric panda in the second level of “primary” finish. As the “maximum” end from the Citroën ë-C3, this version also makes a lot of commitment. Therefore, we will forget the modern comfort of access without hands or an adaptive regulator. More shocking, there is still no visualization of electricity consumption that must arrive through an update (as in Citroën since June and the first press tests …).
Fortunately, the meter screen is much more successful and complete than in Citroën: it is stupid, but in the Great Panda it has, for example, the merit of constantly showing the outer temperature … a basic element simply with a connection by Citroën that only It shows it with the total mileage of the vehicle in the menus.
On the way, electric “low cost” failures
At the wheel, the big panda is pleasant with a fairly flexible direction, but that is still precise. The vehicle is still quite comfortable, so much that one can think that it recovers the hydraulic stop suspensions of the ë-C3. This is not a priori the case, but the result is still convincing enough to have doubted it.
We remain in the same configuration as the ë-C3, with an electric motor of 113 horsepower (83kw) associated with a 44 kWh LFP battery. An engine that is quite dynamic and that we would like to restrict itself with an “ecological” mode given the autonomy that melts like snow into the sun.
According to our calculations (because, to the risk of repeating itself, consumption is not shown), our great panda would have shown 21.5kwh per 100 kilometers during our test. A fairly high value, but that has nothing exceptional in cold weather and with a mixed route with a little fast roads and mountain roads.
Except that, as with Citroën, the loss of autonomy can be afraid: 180 kilometers of autonomy are shown less after having traveled only 84 kilometers. Therefore, we can say without too many fears that we really have to take with the tweezers (very) theoretical autonomy of 320 kilometers.
Still quite high electric prices
In basic “primary” finish, therefore, this great panda begins at 24,900 euros, excluding the bonus.
As with Citroën, the electric cars that can provide desires for thermal return, with a light hybrid version of 1.2 liters of 100 horsepower and the EDCT6 automatic gearbox that begins at 18,900 euros. All without the limitations of the low -cost electric wise.
Our Fiat Grande trial panda in the “primary” end was exhibited for its part at 29,100 euros (excluding bonds) with the blue lake at 700 euros (yellow is offered at no additional cost) and the winter package to 500 euros that it has The good taste to add the front seats and the heating steering wheel (quite essential given the very limited performance of the air conditioning/heating system).
300 euros are also needed to have a charger on the 11KW board (7KW as standard) or 50 euros for the anticipation kit.
Source: BFM TV
