Fiat has chosen to put back on the table a completely ICE model. The undisputed queen: the new Grande Panda, which expands the range with a petrol engine equipped with a manual gearbox. A choice that sounds countertrend but, at least according to the first commercial results, seems perfectly consistent with what customers ask for. The numbers speak clearly: in the first four months of 2026 the Grande Panda ranked as the third best-selling car in Italy, and even first in the B hatch segment with over 16,900 registrations. Now that the pure thermal version is also arriving, the impression is that growth could become even more solid.
The new Fiat Grande Panda petrol
Let’s frame it with the right eyes: we are talking about a compact city car/SUV measuring just under 4 meters in length, 1.76 m in width and 1.63 m in height. Despite the dimensions of a “real city car,” the car decisively aims for a spacious and rational layout, supported by a recognizable design and a technological equipment that, in the segment, often tends to be more promise than substance. Aesthetically, the Grande Panda stands out with LED indicators and Pixel LED headlights, roof bars, side and rear lettering, black mirror caps and handles, front and rear skid plates, and 17″ alloy wheels. In short: it’s not just a matter of taste, but of visual identity and “presence” on the road.
Design and interiors
Inside, the philosophy remains the same: high perceived quality, modern interface and attention to safety. The infotainment system finds space in a 10.25″ screen with Wireless Mirroring, while behind the wheel there is a 10″ digital instrument cluster. In terms of habitability, the new Grande Panda ranks among the best in the category, focusing on refined materials and a rich safety package, with technologies including the driver fatigue detection system. And for those who love customization, the color range expands: to the seven available colors is added a new two-tone option with a contrasting black roof, offered for all colors in the LA PRIMA trim.
6-speed manual gearbox
Now let’s get to the heart of the news: the manual gearbox and why Fiat really believes in it. The 6-speed manual is not a “romantic” or nostalgic choice, but a decision driven by data: in the B segment it accounts for 55% of consumer preferences, against 45% for the automatic. And here this choice fits perfectly with the new 100 HP Turbo petrol engine, designed to offer a balance between driving pleasure, accessibility and ease of use. To complete the offer, the range also includes the already existing 110 HP hybrid and 130 HP electric versions. With an important peculiarity: all proposals are suitable for new drivers.
100 HP petrol engine
But how does the 100 HP Turbo engine really perform? Here come into play technical specifications that tell a precise project: Miller cycle, direct injection at 350 bar, and variable geometry turbo. The numbers help to understand its character: 100 HP maximum power at 5,500 rpm, 205 Nm system torque at 1,750 rpm. Translation on the road: 0-100 km/h in 10.6 seconds, top speed of 160 km/h, and estimated consumption around 5.6 liters/100 km. And, often underestimated detail: Fiat declares 30,000 hours of testing to guarantee efficiency and reliability. In a car of this type, the “easy driving” promise must hold up precisely on normal days, when elasticity matters more than sprint.
Range and prices according to Fiat
So we come to the part that, for many, decides the purchase: the economic offer. The petrol Grande Panda starts at 17,900 euros in POP trim, rises to 19,400 euros with ICON and reaches 22,400 euros with LA PRIMA. In addition, the base price is accompanied by a promotional price of 14,950 euros. To understand the positioning in the “world” of the range alternatives, the 110 HP hybrid version costs 2,000 euros more than the ICE, while the 130 HP electric marks a surcharge of 4,000 euros. It is a difference that makes sense, especially for those looking for the right compromise between costs, infrastructure availability and real usage habits.
A convincing solution
In the end, the new petrol Grande Panda with manual seems to play an intelligent game: it does not deny the electrification trend, but acknowledges that the market is not uniform. Fiat chooses to offer a contemporary, efficient and technological ICE solution, which on the road does not disappoint at all. On the contrary: the car is lively and responsive, pleasantly linear and easy to drive. With a gearbox that does not leave you wanting, precise and smooth. And as mentioned, it responds to a concrete demand, since it satisfies more than half of the preferences in the B segment. As said, the new Grande Panda is already doing very well, being third in Italy and first among B hatchbacks: the arrival of the petrol version therefore does not appear as a “reconsideration,” but as a piece that completes a project born to be really bought by many.
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