New Fiat Grande Panda: specs, prices and launch date

​More than a decade after the current Fiat Panda first arrived on the market, the Italian brand has finally unveiled the all-new iteration of its popular budget car. This new model is no regular Panda, though, because it’s officially a Fiat Grande Panda.

Don’t go thinking that the Fiat Panda has gone the way of the new Nissan Leaf, which will transform into an SUV, though. It’s still staying true to its small car roots. While it has grown in size compared to the outgoing car, the new Grande Panda sits at 3.99 metres long and shares the same Stellantis Smart Car platform as the new Citroen e-C3.

Observant Fiat fans may notice that the new Grande Panda pays tribute to the original Panda 4x4 of the 1980s, with exterior touches like distinctive X-pattern alloy wheels and the word ‘Panda’ embedded on each side. As well as being callbacks to the car’s heritage, these highlights certainly help the little Fiat stand out from its similarly-sized rivals, too.

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There’s plenty of design influence from the 2024 Mega Panda concept car. The same pixel LED headlights and cross-shaped running and taillights have been carried over onto the production model (with some mild tweaks), along with the offset Fiat badge on the grille.

In order to beef-up its retro design, the Fiat Grande Panda has been adorned with muscular enhancements including extended wheelarches, skid plates and roof rails. 

We’re yet to find out if a fully-fledged 4x4 version is on the cards, but this seems unlikely as the Smart Car platform isn’t currently able to accommodate an all-wheel drive powertrain layout.

What we do know is that the electric Grande Panda will share the same 44kWh battery pack as its sister car, the Citroen e-C3. This should mean a maximum range of up to 198 miles between charges, but the official WLTP combined cycle figure is yet to be revealed.

This 44kWh battery will power a front-mounted motor producing 111bhp. When it’s time to charge, a unique spiral charging cable is stowed under the bonnet.

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Inside, the cabin design is just as funky as the exterior, with lashings of brightly-coloured highlights as well as an oval theme that’s inspired by the Fiat’s old rooftop test track in Turin (the one used in the Italian Job). There's a distinctive two-spoke steering wheel, too, and the dashboard consists of two screens; a 10-inch instrument display and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring fresh new software. 

Fiat seems to be making the most of the Grande Panda’s interior, with up to 13 litres of cargo space being provided by a variety of cubbies. For any items that can’t be stored here, there’s also a 361 litre boot. 

A mild-hybrid version of the Fiat Grande Panda will also be offered. This model will be powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that’s paired with an electric motor to produce a combined 99bhp and 120Nm of torque.

There’s no word on pricing for the UK market yet, but Fiat has confirmed that the fully-electric Grande Panda will start from under €25,000 in Europe, and this is equivalent to just over £21,000. The mild-hybrid model, meanwhile, will cost under €19,000 (approx. £16,000). Production is planned to start later this year, with the first examples set to arrive on our shores in early 2025.

The Grande Panda is just one of a series of new models that Fiat is promising to have fully launched by 2027. This line-up will all sit on the same Smart Car platform, and will include an SUV, a fastback and even a campervan.