The Panda, reinvented for Britain
The old Panda quietly left UK sale in August 2024 after twelve years (it soldiers on in mainland Europe). Its successor is a different proposition entirely: the Grande Panda, a chunky, retro-styled small crossover on Stellantis's Smart Car platform — twinned with the Citroën C3 — sold here as a hybrid from £18,995 and a full EV from £20,995, which places the electric version among the very cheapest credible EVs in Britain.
The design is the hook: PANDA embossed in the doors, pixel-art lights, and easter eggs scattered through a cabin that turns cheapness into charm.
Two honest powertrains
The hybrid pairs a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo with 48-volt assistance (around 110hp) and a six-speed e-DCT automatic, claiming up to 56.5mpg in Pop trim — one review crowned it the cheapest hybrid on sale. The Grande Panda Electric runs a 111hp motor and a battery of around 44kWh for a 199-mile WLTP range, with a party trick no rival offers: a retractable charging cable built into the nose, so home top-ups need no boot-diving.
Neither is quick; both are cheap to run, and that's the assignment.
The honest assessment
Press consensus is warm: Auto Express and Autocar both rate it highly for character and value. The compromises are class-typical — modest rapid-charging speeds and range beside pricier EVs, some hard cabin plastics, and an e-DCT hybrid that can hesitate at junctions. Reliability data doesn't exist yet for so new a car; the platform is shared with the well-received C3, and the engine family's newer chain-driven design addresses the belt issues that dogged earlier Stellantis 1.2s (worth confirming on any specific build).
Against a Dacia Sandero, the Fiat sells style; against a Hyundai Inster or Renault 5, it sells price. That's a strong hand.
The questions buyers actually ask
Hybrid or Electric? With home charging, the £2,000 walk to the EV repays quickly in running costs. Without a driveway, the hybrid's 56mpg keeps the sums honest.
Grande Panda or Citroën C3? Same bones. The Fiat charges a little more for considerably more charisma; the Citroën counters on deal. Test both, buy on price and heart.
Is it big enough as an only car? For couples and small families, yes — it's a supermini-plus with a usable boot. Growing families should look a size up.
- Hybrid from £18,995; Electric from £20,995 — among the UK's cheapest EVs
- EV: 111hp, ~44kWh, 199 miles WLTP, built-in retractable charging cable
- Hybrid claims up to 56.5mpg; e-DCT can hesitate — test drive it
- Charm-first design over C3 twin; some cheap plastics, modest rapid charging
- Rivals: Citroën C3/e-C3, Dacia Sandero, Hyundai Inster, Renault 5
Key takeaways
- Hybrid from £18,995; Electric from £20,995 — among the UK's cheapest EVs
- EV: 111hp, ~44kWh, 199 miles WLTP, built-in retractable charging cable
- Hybrid claims up to 56.5mpg; e-DCT can hesitate — test drive it
- Charm-first design over C3 twin; some cheap plastics, modest rapid charging
- Rivals: Citroën C3/e-C3, Dacia Sandero, Hyundai Inster, Renault 5
Sources & further reading
- Fiat UK launch pricing
- Auto Express, Autocar and Forbes UK reviews
- Stellantis platform documentation, 2025–26
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
