Unveiled a few days ago, the future of the Fiat Panda has already been written. The small Italian car will continue to be offered in an electrified version(mild hybrid), produced at the Pomigliano d'Arco plant in Italy. The real revolution is expected on 11 July, when the all-new Panda makes its debut as the electric Panda.
It is a completely new model based on a common platform with other models from the Stellantis Group, but what will the new electric Fiat Panda look like? As always, we try to find out with our rendering.
A blast from the past
The first images of the new Fiat Panda, still in concept form, were published by the manufacturer in the hours leading up to the 2024 Geneva Motor Show. They show a crossover-like shape, with square lines and larger dimensions than the current model.
Of course, it's hard to say how long the new Panda will be, but to help us, there's the Citroën ë-C3, with which it will share the 'Smart Car' platform. The French car is 4.01 metres long, a measurement that could be taken, centimetre for centimetre, from its Fiat counterpart.
Fiat Panda (2024) render by Motor1.com
Coming back to the design, it should recall in part the square shapes of the very first generation, dating from 1980 and designed by Giugiaro, while making a nod to the B-SUV segment, without going overboard in terms of ground clearance. Yes, just like the new C3.
From the concept presented a few days ago, which you can see below, the design should take up the pixel front lights (similar to those on the Hyundai Ioniq) and the Fiat logo with the sloping stems, taken directly from the 1990s model.
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As far as the interior of the electric Fiat Pandais concerned, the concept, called 'Mega Panda', gives a few hints. The most eccentric solutions have been eliminated and the focus has been on the minimalist philosophy, once again taken from the original Panda. The emblematic pocket in front of the front passenger should not be missing, nor the technological aspect, represented by the double monitor on the dashboard.
Electric only?
In terms of powertrain, there is no confirmation other than that of battery power. At least at first. The electric Fiat Panda will most likely be based on the Smart Car, a platform defined as multi-energy. This means that, like the CMP of the Fiat 600 and Jeep Avenger and the future STLA from Stellantis, it will be able to accommodate electrified or 100% electric powertrains.
Still taking the example of the new Citroën ë-C3, the new Panda could be marketed with a single 113 PSelectric motor powered by a 44 kWh battery, for an estimated range of 199 milesand recharging up to 100 kW. A version with a less powerful battery, a range of 124 milesand a lower price could also be launched in the future.
Citroën ë-C3
As far as prices are concerned, it's still too early to say how much the new electric Fiat Panda will cost. The ë-C3 starts at €23,300 (UK pricing not available yet), with the less powerful version likely to come in at under €20,000. Its Italian counterpart could bring the price list down even further.
Different twins
The final question concerns the name. It was thought that, with the arrival of electric cars, Fiat would rename the current Panda as the 'Pandina', thus retaining the historic name of the electric car. This is not the case: Pandina is in fact the name of a special version of the city car, for which no name change is planned. So what does that mean?
We think we can rule out the name 'Mega-Panda' used for the concept. "Pandona' could be an option, as could Panda L or XL, as the 500 did with its spin-offs. In short, barring any future teasers, we'll have to wait until 11 July to find out the name of the electric Panda, which will go on sale at the end of the year and be produced at the Vucic plant in Serbia, while the mild hybrid, which has just been restyled, will remain at Pomigliano d'Arco until at least 2027.
The electric Fiat Panda will most likely be based on the Smart Car, a platform defined as multi-energy. This means that, like the CMP of the Fiat 600 and Jeep Avenger and the future STLA from Stellantis, it will be able to accommodate electrified or 100% electric powertrains.
The launch date for the new electric Fiat Panda is set for 11 July 2024, to mark the company's 125th anniversary. It will be produced in Serbia and is expected to go on sale between the end of this year and the beginning of 2025.
A technology that assists during the acceleration phase, powered by a lithium-ion battery that recharges during the braking and deceleration phases, without any need for external power.
There are no firm figures for the price of the 2024 Fiat 500e range, but the Red Edition that goes on sale first has an MSRP of $32,500, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. We expected a starting cost of around $35,000 as that would make it good value; we expect other trims in the range to cost a little more.
Why is the Fiat Panda so popular? It's hard to pinpoint why the Panda gained such a cult following, but it's likely because it has always been a cool boxy thing that doesn't cost all that much to buy. For alternatives we rate more highly, see our best small cars page.
The estimated lifespan of a Fiat Panda is 162,000mi, before reaching the life expectancy upper limit. Fuel type is a major factor when looking into a vehicles lifespan/life expectancy. We calculated all of the below figures by getting average mileage from scrapped vehicles of this exact make, model, year and fuel type.
The Panda hasn't featured in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey for quite a long time, but when it last appeared in 2019, it placed 67th out of 100 cars. Drivers were particularly impressed with the running costs, handling and overall looks.
The Fiat 500e MPG rating for the 2019 model is 112 MPG combined for the city and highway. This vehicle runs on electricity and has an MPG rating of 121 in the city and 103 on the highway.
The battery in all Fiat hybrid models is charged through regenerative braking, which means they recharge while you drive and brake. This means you don't need to stop to recharge the battery.
The standard Panda can achieve up to 58.9mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, while opting for the Panda Cross will drop this figure ever so slightly to 57.6mpg.
Fiat claims a range of 118 miles, but expect 90 miles in the real world. The larger 42kWh battery remais the much better option, and with a claimed 199-mile range, has always been competitive for a car of this size. Albeit expect 150 miles unless you have an exceptionally light right foot.
The Fiat 500e scored a reasonable four stars out of five when tested by Euro NCAP in late 2022. While it might not have got a maximum score, it fared much better than the Renault Zoe, which surprisingly came away from the evaluation with zero stars.
The Fiat 500e will feature three drive modes: Normal, Range, and Sherpa, which maximizes energy efficiency by limiting the top speed to 50 mph and reducing power from 87 kWh to 57 kWh.
The Fiat 500 feels more agile thanks to its lower centre of gravity. It handles windy roads better and is a lot of fun behind the wheel, despite not being overly powerful. The Fiat Panda, meanwhile, struggles to tackle corners at higher speeds due to its slightly bigger body and higher sides.
A Hyundai i10, KIA Picanto, Suzuki Splash or Vauxhall Agila. All have high driving positions and all have proper folding rear seats, which the Panda still lacks. The rear seat of the Panda slides, but does not double-fold to leave a flat floor. Our Fuel Cost Calculator shows you which will be the best choice for you.
The new lineup, inspired by the Italian automaker's Panda city cars, will kick off in July 2024 with a new city car, followed by a new vehicle each year for the following three years. In addition, the concepts preview a pickup truck, a fastback sedan, an SUV, and a camper.
On the whole, the Fiat 500 feels a better quality car than the Panda. It's got more to it, comes with more kit and is a nicer space to be. There's also the option for a panoramic roof or full convertible should you wish.
Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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