Fiat Grande Panda: Cheap, cheerful, playful, practical

Some vehicles become more than just a way to get from A to B. They become part of the landscape itself. Across farm tracks, village lanes and winding roads that disappear into the hills, the Fiat Panda has earned a place in country life that few cars can match.

For more than four decades, this unassuming little box on wheels has been carrying shepherds, farmers, foresters and families through all weathers and over terrain that would make many modern SUVs think twice. Modest, dependable and full of character, the Panda has never chased fashion or prestige. Instead, it has quietly built a reputation for doing exactly what rural life demands: getting the job done.

From the snow-covered mountain villages of Italy to the muddy back roads of Britain, the Panda's story is one of practicality, resilience and surprising charm. As we discover, this humble small car has become an unlikely country icon.

The Panda reached the UK in 1981. Its slab sides, flat windows and simple interior with washable materials were an instant hit among those seeking cheaper transport. Then, in 1983, the legendary 4x4 Panda appeared. It still retained the 2WD Panda’s Wellington boot-like appearance — square, sturdy and utterly unfashionable — but could now navigate muddy tracks and country adventures.

In 2024, after three generations, a new iteration arrived: the Grande Panda. And it might just be one of the best cars on sale today.

Lots of manufacturers are joining the retro trend, but only a few have gotten it right, like Renault with the 4 and 5, or Fiat with the 500e. Others struggled to bottle that all-important original essence in a retro revival, resulting in ridicule.

Yet again, Fiat has judged the mood perfectly. Rather than producing another anonymous hatchback destined to disappear into supermarket car parks, the Grande Panda doffs its cap to the original, borrowing just enough of its ancestor's charm to stand out from the crowd. Its bold pixelated LED headlights never failed to capture the attention of oncoming drivers.

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Inside, the Grande Panda strikes a delightfully eccentric balance between nostalgia and modernity. Bold geometric shapes and splashes of neon yellow ensure there is little danger of mistaking it for one of today's more anonymous interiors. It’s filled with charms, from the so-called 'BAMBOX' glovebox, fashioned partly from bamboo fibres to trim pieces made using recycled drinks cans. My favourite touch, however, is the oval dashboard, complete with a miniature Grande Panda circling its perimeter — a playful tribute to Fiat's famous Lingotto rooftop test track.

Finished in a pleasing shade of Lago Blue — not the colour I’d choose, as I feel it better suits vibrant palettes — my mild-hybrid Panda came with £650 of extras, including a heated windscreen, heated steering wheel and heated seats — three items that rapidly migrate from the 'nice-to-have' column to the 'how did we ever cope without them?' category. The final bill stood at £22,645, which sounds rather a lot for a Panda until you've spent a winter's morning trying to thaw both yourself and your car before breakfast.

In hybrid form, the Panda churns out 108bhp and 151lb ft, meaning 0-62mph takes about 10 seconds, like the old Panda 100hp. Once you’re over the initial throttle input lag after pulling off, the Grande Panda feels nippier than those figures suggest. Unlike previous models, this one is only available with a six-speed automatic gearbox; however, it's paired with an electric motor, allowing it to reach 18mph on electric power alone.

Fiat suggests the Grande Panda Hybrid can achieve up to 55mpg if treated with a degree of mechanical sympathy. Happily, this appears to be more than a marketing department daydream. My loan car averaged 54mpg during its stay, while shorter trips saw the figure settle between 34 and 40mpg — still respectable enough for a dash to the farm shop, or an urgent expedition in search of forgotten dog food.

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As for interior space, I easily squeezed my 5'11 "frame inside and still had plenty of legroom and headroom. Things were tighter in the rear, but you can’t have everything for £22k. Likewise, the car’s 10.3-inch touchscreen features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; top marks go to Fiat for including an ADAS switch amongst the array of physical switches.

Yes, I largely prefer my Renault 4. But comparing the two is rather like comparing a labrador with a Jack Russell: both are charming in their own way, but they were bred for slightly different purposes. The Grande Panda occupies a different corner of the market and judged on its own merits, makes a compelling case for itself.

Those expecting pillowy soft-touch plastics and the hushed refinement of a luxury saloon may need to temper their expectations. The Panda's priorities lie elsewhere. What it offers instead is a cheerful, practical package that delivers almost everything one could reasonably want from an affordable runabout, wrapped in styling that has considerably more character than most of its rivals.