Fiat Grande Panda Electric: Drizzle with the city car, all of a big one?
If this panda likes to imitate the original by multiple stylistic details, the adjective “large” is not usurped. Like the frog which wanted to be as big as an ox, it swallowed up to the point of belonging now to the category above, that of the Renault Clio. Hence the question we ask in the title of this essay and which will not be reminiscent of the last model cited: does it have everything of a big one?
Like the Fiat Punto which has become the Grande Punto by passing over the 4-meter-long mark in the mid-2000s, the latest generation of Panda that we have just tried in its stronghold of Turin deserves its name Big panda as it is much longer than the panda “short”. So long (3.99 m, +29 cm) that it is now a competitor of the Renault Clio, the Peugeot 208 or the Citroën C3 of which it is closely derived and to whom it chipes its so -called “Smart Car ”. So long that she is in fact the real heiress of the Punto. As long that Fiat has considered preferable to update and keep the “small” Panda in its range, that of 3.70 m sold since 2011, so that customers can always opt for an accessible city model. But, in this growth crisis, has the great panda not forgotten on the way?
Charm
To see the reactions of motorists who are numerous to turn around and to greet us in our path, this increase seems to pose no concern. Fiat remakes us from the Renault 5 but in its own way. By this we mean that if the references to the original panda (that drawn by Giugiaro and launched in the early 1980s) are numerous (general look, asymmetrical grille, return of the old logo with the four oblique bars on the C and White hubcaps surprisingly the most beautiful effect on the entry -level RED), it has the advantage unlike the caittle to the diamond of being Also offered in hybrid in addition to being electric. For this first test gallop, however, and it becomes a habit within the Stellantis group, we could only test the zero emission variant.
She excels in town
If it is a revolution for a panda, it allows it to be appreciated more than ever in the city, the favorite playground of this model. Its sufficiently contained dimensions make it always excels in this environment. Its plastic protections are a precious asset in the urban jungle. Anyway, peripheral visibility is good And, even on the entry -level version of our test model, we take advantage of Rear parking sensors. The directionalthough lacking in the medium point, is enough light at low speeds to make us forget the absence of a “city” mode. Finally, we have never led such a silent panda in townof course. On the other hand, we would have liked Find the hydraulic stop shock absorbers of the C3 Because those of the panda barely absorb large faults road. To top it off, the lumbar support is not flawless neither.
Inside, almost as habitable as 600
The additional 29 cm necessarily has a positive impact on habitability. Without being a reference in the category, We generally feel good in this great panda. At the front, The space is not lacking at all And amateurs will appreciate the height driving position allowing the road to be dominated.
Almost the same trunk volume as the Fiat 600
The space is not huge at the back But ultimately not so much less generous than a Fiat 600… almost 20 cm longer. Besides, since we are talking about the 600, Its trunk made at one liter near the same size than that of the Grande Panda: 360 litres For the first, 361 for the second. It is to wonder what remains at the 600 to seduce …
Skoda typed tips
And this, especially since even on the finish of call, The presentation is more shimmering. On this point, the great panda is also infinitely better than its cousin the C3. From the outset, we have a Digital instrumentation 10 ” and a 10.25 ”touch screen with Android Auto and Apple Carplay wirelessly, of Electric rear windows in addition to the manual air conditioning (For the time also available on the C3). Added to this is an alliance of blue and rather pleasant yellow.
Full of good ideas
Finally, The storage is numerous and spacious With several special mentions to be allocated. A first for Three compartments (two closed) located opposite the front passenger. A second for storage storage behind the headrests Before allowing to fit a smartphone. And finally, how not to mention the 7 kW charger hidden in the grille. A very stupid idea allowing to win 20 liters of trunk according to Fiat and which should be taken up in our opinion on all electric cars.
The quality of mediocre materials
Only little false note, The quality of the materials. So yes, we know that like C3, the big panda wants to be an accessible model (do not say “low cost”) and we expect to find no foaming plastic on board as in a Dacia Sandero but the fact remains that The counterports were already striked On our test copy with barely 700 km on the clock. A little worrying for the future.
And outside cities?
Larger, we expect the big panda that it is more versatile than its little sister. Logically, this is the case. Already, with a power of 113 hpthe electric engine of the newcomer is clearly more to its advantage outside cities than the small 1.0 70 hp of the panda “very short”. Only 0 to 100 km/h alone requires almost 2 seconds less (10.9 s vs 13.8 s). With a maximum speed limited to 135 km/h, the highway overruns will nevertheless be avoided. But inserting yourself there is no problem.
The CAP holding is also better On the Grande Panda but, beware, the grip of the Michelin E.Primacy Monte of our test model is not exceptional either. THE sound comfort is also better both thanks to the logically silent engine and the‘Better invoice soundproofing. At high speeds, comfort is unfortunately not better than in a moderate pace. There too, the shock absorbers struggle to do their job.
230 km of autonomy only?
And the radius of action in all of this? Obviously, with 320 km announcedthe large electric panda will have to stop much more frequently than the thermal panda. In real conditions, Table rather on 220-230 km of autonomy According to our calculations (note that the on -board computer does not display average consumption, regrettable forgetfulness, even at this price level). It’s amply Enough for everyday life but still Too little to consider this vehicle as the one and only car in the home. Even if the charging power is average with 100 kW. What recover from 20 % to 80 % of the battery capacity (43.8 kWh in total) in less than 30 minutes.
Well placed in relation to competition but …
Spend less than € 25,000 for an electric car (€ 24,900 precisely for the Grande Panda Red), this is still not common in 2025. And if that should be democratized in the more or less close future, this remains a one Significant sum for a vehicle with limited versatility. Its only real competitor at the moment is the Citroën ë-c3 to 23,200000, Cheaper therefore but less well equipped And less eguichant. And then, if the latter could highlight its bonus compared to the Dacia Spring or the Leapmotor T03 when it was launched, the state’s boost has been sufficiently planed (€ 4,000 and over € 7,000) So that the mini-taradins take up the advantage.
