Introduction to the 2025 Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid
The revival of the Panda name, first as an electric car and now as a hybrid, sees Fiat lean into its heritage for this compact crossover. The Grande Panda has already been introduced with a fully electric powertrain and now that offering is expanding with the addition of a hybrid version. We travelled to Fiat's home city of Turin to get behind the wheel of the Grand Panda Hybrid to see how it stacks up.
Pros & Cons of the 2025 Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid
Pros: Charming design, spacious and practical interior
Cons: Hybrid system doesn't save much fuel, limited electric-only driving
Exterior & Design of the 2025 Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid
• Smaller than it looks in pictures
• Appealing design harks back to original
• LED lights and lots of cool detailing
The name of the Grande Panda immediately leads you to assume it's a larger car than before, and it is in all directions, but it's no giant. A glance at the photographs isn't enough to understand that this is still, by any measure, a compact car - to the enormous benefit of driving in confined urban areas. For reference, its major dimensions are:
Overall length: 3,999mm
Overall width: 1,763mm (2,017mm including mirrors)
Overall height: 1,573mm (1,615mm including roof rails)
Wheelbase: 2,5490mm
Size aside, the Grande Panda will draw admiring glances everywhere you drive. Its boxy proportions and retro references will undoubtedly appeal to those that remember the first generation of the Panda from the 1980s, but Fiat's designers have managed to mix the cues with thoroughly modern execution.
Exterior highlights include the 'PXL' LED lights up front, which neatly meld with the intricate pixel-like detailing in the bumper and grille. Around the sides are chunky, square-cut wheelarches mixed with pragmatic use of black plastic for the areas that may get scuffed in day-to-day use.
The designers had a little fun with the large embossed “PANDA” lettering down the sides, too, lest you didn't notice the other hints. Such as the five diagonal lines over each wheel in the plastic, referring to the old Fiat badge.
Roof rails add a touch of SUV sensibility to the design, and there's decent ground clearance as well, but the Grande Panda is a small hatchback at heart.
The view from the back is arguably its most SUV-like thanks to the upright styling and chunky rear bumper. We love the big, bold “FIAT” lettering stamped into the material of the hatch, flanked by expressive LED lights.
There's no visible exhaust outlet differentiating the hybrid model from the electric Grande Panda, so they look identical.
Interior, Practicality, Tech & Comfort of the 2025 Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid
• Bigger boot than the electric model
• Part-bamboo dashboard is a joy
• Lots of sustainable materials
Inside, the retro-inspired design theme continues (check out the miniature first-gen Panda built into the dashboard, itself shaped after the curves of Fiat's test track on the roof of its Lingotto facility), but there's nothing old-fashioned about the Grande Panda's cabin, as all cars get 10-inch digital instrumentation. It's quite a pared-back system, but it works well.
The 10.25-inch touchscreen has more to it, and you can of course use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but we're very glad to see chunky big physical controls for the heating and ventilation system. There's a wireless phone charger available as well.
Buyers will expect this level of technology, even in such an affordable car, so they are more likely to be wowed by the detail design inside the Grande Panda. The dashboard, for example, is made from something Fiat calls Bambox, which is 33 per cent bamboo, making it highly sustainable.
It also happens to feel and look great. Same can be said for the rest of the interior, which is brightened up no end by bold colours and finishes, extending to unique, textured upholstery for the seats.
Another neat 'circularity' detail is the use of material from 140 beverage cartons throughout the cabin. Even the non-recyclable layers have been utilised in the creation of a blue/silver plastic trim.
It's quite a practical car, too, with masses of storage in that cool dashboard. The doors open wide for easy access and two adults won't complain about sitting in the rear. There are ISOFIX points on the outer two rear seats, but no air vents in the back.
Due to extra underfloor storage, the boot of the hybrid model holds a little more luggage than the electric Grande Panda, measuring in at 412 litres with the rear seats in place. They split and fold down to allow loading of bulkier items, but they don't create a flat surface with the boot floor, unfortunately.
Performance of the 2025 Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid
• Sufficient performance
• Light steering
• Smooth switchover to electric power
It's important to state form the outset that the use of the Hybrid name is potentially questionable, as this system uses a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup. That means it only uses electrical energy from its small lithium-ion battery when parking and for brief engine-off moments like an extended engine stop-start system.
As we pull away for the first time it does so in near-silence with only the 21kW electric motor turning the wheels. Fiat says the Grande Panda can cover as much as one kilometre on electrical power below 30km/h, but it was far shorter before the characterful 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine sparked into life for us.
Power from the petrol engine comes in smoothly and takes over from the electric motor without much fuss. Thanks to the Grande Panda's relative low weight it feels faster than the 11-odd seconds it takes to get up to 100km/h. Gear changes from the 'eDCT' dual-clutch transmission are generally smooth unless the car is under particularly heavy acceleration. For the most part when driving in urban settings the Fiat's switching of gears will go almost unnoticed.
Getting from A to B in a city is a cinch in the Grande Panda. Not only does the driving position provide a good degree of adjustment, but outward visibility is also quite good and the ride comfort, although a touch on the firm side, soaks up the bigger bumps whilst retaining a healthy amount of body control.
When cruising at a low and constant speed the engine will occasionally be switched off automatically as the Fiat continues using only the electric motor. It is possible to prolong this with some careful use of the accelerator pedal, but any more demand for power will quickly see the three-cylinder engine resume operation.
Away from the lower speeds of a town and city, the Grande Panda Hybrid will hold its own at motorway cruising speeds. However, the three-cylinder engine does have to work that bit harder, and while the suspension and overall comfort remain good, the fuel consumption figure quickly creeps up as the hybrid system has negligible impact at higher speeds.
Running costs of the 2025 Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid
• Mild-hybrid system doesn't save much fuel
• Emissions rating is relatively low
• More expensive to own than the electric version
The Grande Panda Hybrid complements the electric version of the same car, but it won't be as affordable nor as cheap to run.
The electrified three-cylinder engine will deliver its most economical performance when driving at lower speeds in towns and cities, though it is worth noting that the Fiat hybrid system does not provide as much electric-only driving as other 'full-hybrids' such as what MG and Toyota offer. During our time with the car, which included some lengthy stints at motorway speeds, it averaged 7.1 litres/100km. It's also worth pointing out that the Grande Panda Hybrid will have a higher annual motor tax cost in comparison to the electric model.
Irish Pricing & Rivals of the 2025 Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid
• Three grades available
• Will cost more than the Grande Panda Electric
• Competitive finance deals available
Although Irish pricing not yet been announced, Fiat has indicated that the Grande Panda Electric will be the more affordable of the two variants.
Fiat is currently in the process of finalising the pricing structure for the Fiat Grande Panda in both electric and hybrid guises and early indications suggest the Grande Panda Electric will have a starting price below €24,000. When the full Irish pricing details have been confirmed this section of the review will be updated.
Verdict - Should You Buy the 2025 Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid?
Based on powertrain alone the Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid doesn't do enough to stand out from the competition, especially when there are other more advanced 'full' hybrids on sale, such as the Toyota Yaris Cross. However, if you like the Grande Panda's stand-out design but can't accommodate a home charger for an EV, the hybrid is a good compromise as both cars have virtually identical looks and performance.
FAQs About the 2025 Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid
Which version of the Fiat Grande Panda should I buy?
If you can charge at home, then we feel the Grande Panda Electric is a more compelling option even though performance between the two cars is almost identical. We also expect the electric version to be the more affordable of the two to buy.
How safe is the Fiat Panda Hybrid?
The Fiat Grande Panda has not yet been through the Euro NCAP tests, so there is no independent safety rating for it. Both the electric and hybrid versions do come with most of the latest safety assistance systems as standard.
Want to know more about the Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid?
If there's anything about the Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid we haven't covered, or you'd like advice on choosing between it and other cars, you can access our expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.
