Automotive Business Magazine – Q3 2026 – Digital edition - Flipbook - Page 67
REVIEW
FIAT GRANDE PANDA
The dashboard
is refreshingly
straightforward,
with physical
controls where
they matter
forgive it everything. Buy one expecting
it to schlep you up the country on a
Friday afternoon and you'll learn, as I
did somewhere around Sheffield, that no
amount of charm makes 130 miles feel
like 250.
Get the brief right and it's one of the
most likeable cars on sale. Get it wrong
and it's a long, long way to Leeds.
TCO – Total Cost of Ownership
Capital Expenditure: The all-electric
Grande Panda La Prima starts at
£24,035 OTR. The Hybrid La Prima
version is lower at £21,995, rising to
£22,645 with added options.
Tax Efficiency: The electric model
qualifies for the lowest Benefit-inKind (BIK) rate of 3% for 2025/26. The
hybrid version has a notably higher CO2
output of 117g/km.
VED (Road Tax): Both models pay £10 for
Year 1. From Year 2 onwards, both are
charged the standard rate of £195.
Fuel Efficiency
Electric Range: The EV features a
43.8kWh battery providing a combined
WLTP range of 198.9 miles.
Hybrid Economy: The 1.2L 48V hybrid
delivers a combined 55.4 mpg (5.1
L/100km).
Monthly Costs: Estimated monthly fuel/
energy costs (based on 10,000 miles/
year) are £56 for the electric version
versus £94 for the hybrid.
Maintenance Cost
Battery Protection: The electric
model features a dedicated battery
capacity of 43.8 kWh. Fiat typically
provides competitive coverage for EV
components.
Mechanical Simplicity: The EV uses
an automatic single-speed drive,
whereas the hybrid utilizes a
more complex EDCT-6 dual-clutch
transmission.
Durability Features: Both models come
with a Fix & Go kit instead of a spare
tyre to reduce weight and complexity.
Downtime
Rapid Charging: The electric Grande
Panda supports 100 kW DC fast
charging, allowing for quick top-ups
during the workday.
Urban Agility: A tight turning circle of
10.9m across both models makes
them highly maneuverable for urbanbased fleets, reducing the risk of minor
collision damage.
Connectivity: Both feature Carplay &
Android Auto as standard to keep
drivers connected and on-route without
needing dedicated hardware.
Safety
Standard Safety Suite: Equipped with
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB),
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Driver
Drowsiness Warning (DDW).
Visibility: Features standard rear parking
sensors and a rear-view camera on
higher trims to reduce low-speed
reversing incidents.
Occupant Protection: Standard safety
includes front, side, and curtain airbags
(8 total on some configurations) and
ISOFIX points with a 3rd anchoring
point.
Q3 2026
AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS
67
