Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid

FIRST DRIVE Petrol-electric version of newcomer has plenty of charm, but is it enough to counter disappointing fuel economy?

- Phil McNamara

THERE'S been a lot of fanfare around the new Fiat Grande Panda, widely regarded as a fine remix of a classic eighties formula. But much of the focus so far has been on the electric model.

For some markets, however - and the UK is one of them - it's the cheaper mild hybrid that's likely to be the big hit, and that's what we have here.

The Hybrid pairs a 1.2-litre petrol engine with a 28bhp electric motor, powered by a 0.88kWh 48V battery (for 109bhp in total), with no need (or ability) to plug it in for top-ups. Drive it gently and the motor can propel the little Fiat up to 20mph, then the three-cylinder engine rumbles discreetly into life, making the e-motor good for emissions-free traffic jams, manoeuvring or coasting. But its biggest asset is the way that it assists the petrol engine to boost acceleration and help economy.

This is not an especially quick car, going from 0-62mph in 10.0 seconds, but at the same time it never feels slow. The standard dual-clutch transmission helps, shifting rapidly through gears and selecting when to send petrol or electric power to the wheels. It can be hesitant if you come off the throttle then quickly jump back on it, but the threecylinder engine delivers a charming warble.