Back in 2024 the Stellantis group revealed to the world the brand-new Fiat Grande Panda. It got a great reception for its styling cues and character, but the manufacturing of this model only started in late 2025. Although it has been on the market for over 9 months now, it is still a rare sight here on UK roads. The vehicle I was given for review is the top-spec 'La Prima' version, which translates from Italian to 'The Premium' specification, and it was finished in Aqua Azure. It definitely makes a statement.

First Impressions

Everywhere I drove the car, it drew quite a lot of attention. Originally, I put it down to the quirky colour choice, however it was the unusual styling that stopped people. From a designer's standpoint it feels a lot like the creative team really wanted to go down the product/industrial design route for this vehicle, which worked a charm. Most of what I cover below will be the same across the full range. However, it's worth noting one thing I found interesting and similar to brands like Dacia is that the more you are willing to spend on your version, the more luxury tech you get in the car.

The perfect example of this is the aircon system, which includes a regular plastic dial in the standard version, but in the car I had, it is a lovely screen with metal looking toggle style switches.

Exterior Design

On the exterior there are a range of fine details and features which make this a playful design overall. My favourite visual exterior element must be the stamped 'PANDA' lettering on the lower part of the door. I can think of at least one other manufacture who previously has used plastic panels on the doors for the same purpose but incorporating the name into the moulding of the door structure itself gives the user a visual reassurance of a timeless design.

On the back of the car there are some unusual looking taillights which look very conceptual since they are in a rectangle which protrudes out of the car's main body. It is such a standout part of this car because they are very simple in design, but my concern would be how long will it be until someone hurts themselves due to the sharp corner at the top.

Up front, the pixel-like headlights are a great-looking feature, though I did think they looked a lot like the Hyundai-style lighting you'd see on the Santa Fe, due to the H-style light setup. Compared to previous generations of the Fiat Panda, the Grande feels the most honest and connected to the original 4x4 Panda from back in the 80s. You can tell Fiat wanted this car to last a long time like that original, and it shows in the way the exterior parts are made for purpose as well as looks.

It was great to see that the roof bars come as a standard option, as it really brings that 4x4 heritage in well. We are also expecting Fiat to possibly bring a 4x4 special version of this car, perhaps with a roof rack and some retro historic design choices.

Interior & Tech

The playful, heritage-led design carries onto the inside too. On the yellow tinted Perspex which surrounds the infotainment system there is a small little 80s 4x4 Panda placed in it. The styling throughout feels funky and innovative, with shapes I have not come across on any other recent vehicles. The screen interface complements this, playing on the styling of the car inside and out, which is a nice touch as many cars nowadays share the same layouts across companies.

The feature of the interior which I liked the most was the bamboo upper storage tunnel/cylinder. I originally felt that I would not use it, and it would not be practical, however for storage like sunglasses, keys etc it was great.

If you are worried about storage in a car then this is definitely something this car has plenty of. In the front you have 4 compartments, 2 in the front dashboard and 1 in your centre arm rest and in the door. My only worry on the interior in terms of the actual materials would be the door arm rest, which is made from a woven fabric which did seem like it was losing its colour rather quickly because of constant wear.

It would have been also nice if Fiat provided some other colour options for the interior seats, as I can see that the blue and white seats definitely will not work with some exterior colours. Also, an annoying thing whilst we have had this lovely sunny weather this summer is that there is a very noticeable reflection from the dashboard which does become a nuisance when driving.

On the Road

I came into this review with quite an open mind but was expecting it to perform like any other car in the low £20,000 price point, but to my surprise this car performed better than competition in that price range. The car did not feel slow or under powered, although it was coupled up to a 1.2-litre hybrid engine which made this car feel very agile and grippy on the road. Due to the ground clearance this car has, it allowed me to go a bit off road, which would be a worry in most small hatchback style vehicles, but this cleared bumps with ease.

This model also comes with the option of having, instead of the standard combustion engine, a fully electric powertrain which has a range up to 199 miles. When I first got the car from Fiat it was showing over 400 miles in fuel range, and after doing 200, it did stay to its expected level. The reason why I think this car performed so well is again because of that hybrid system assisting when needed.

Unlike some hybrid vehicles on the roads today, this system isn't something you can turn on or off or drive a short distance in just electric, but it rather works at low speeds around town. It worked without problem, and the times where the car was only driving on electric systems was at low speeds up to 16mph and when I was reversing.

Final Verdict

For the price, this is a very good option for someone who is looking for something practical but also good-looking. Be prepared for people to come up and ask questions about it, wherever you go. I would personally take this car if it were offered to me now, as it is a very special car which I was sad to give back to the team at Fiat UK.