The Fiat Grande Panda is the cheapest hybrid on sale at the time of writing, costing just £18,995 in its entry-level Pop trim.

Forget Pandas of old; this one is entirely new and built on Stellantis’ Smart Car platform, as found beneath the Vauxhall Frontera and Citroën C3. This also means buyers can choose from the group’s latest 1.2-litre powertrain.

Unlike its siblings, the Panda will excite you every time you approach it, and upset you when you need to leave it in a dark car park without a blanket. It’s endearing, pocket-friendly, and has more than enough tech to boot.

Fiat Grande Panda design

Look closely, and you’ll find nods to Pandas of old. For example, Fiat has stamped the ‘Panda’ logo across the car’s front and rear doors, then there’s the return of the four-slash emblem on the steering wheel and wheel arches. There’s also a little holographic badge on the C-pillar that flips between the old and new designs. It’s mega.

And the quirks don’t stop there. Inside, Fiat has shaped the dashboard after its Lingotto test track. My favourite touch, however, is the tiny MK1 Panda that’s engraved into the plastic, looking like it's on a hot lap.

Idiosyncrasies aside, there are some downsides to the Grande Panda’s interior. The multicoloured dashboard colour scheme in Pop and Icon trims might not be to everyone’s taste.

Opting for the top-spec La Prima trim eases the eye a little, as the stripey glovebox fabric is swapped out for the Bambox bamboo fibre. Similarly, the seats and yellow dashboard trim colours can’t be changed. Then there’s the scratchier plastics, which are almost everywhere through the car’s interior. Remember, this is the cheapest hybrid on sale in the UK today, however.

Driving the Fiat Grande Panda

Remember the Fiat Panda 100hp — the fruity little hatchback designed to stick it to the Suzuki Swift Sport and Renault Twingo GT? Well, this feels oddly similar to drive.

The 1.2-litre mild-hybrid engine churns out 151 lb ft and 108 bhp, which Fiat claims will get it from 0-62mph in 10 seconds before running out of puff at 99 mph. That said, once you’re over the initial throttle input lag after pulling off, the Granda Panda feels nippier than those figures suggest.

Unlike Pandas of old, this one is only available with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, paired with an electric motor, allowing the Panda to reach 18 mph on electric-only power. On a back road, the Panda rolls a bit, but it’s far from awful. With most of its weight up front, it can be fairly playful, but don't expect too much.

Drive it like it’s meant to be driven, and the Fiat claims it will return up to 55 mpg; an accurate figure, as my press car recorded a 54 mpg average. On smaller runs, however, it returned 34-40 mpg.

Likewise, despite its size, the Panda handles potholes and bumps well. It will occasionally crash over larger ruts, but this is to be expected in a car of this size - and this price.

Fiat Grande Panda space

I’m 5’11, and not once did I struggle for head or legroom in this little boxy hatchback. The front seats are also adjustable, and the steering wheel moves up and down, in and out to meet the needs of taller or shorter drivers.

Its door bins are shallow, but will still hold a bottle of water, and there’s a deep, but small, cubby in the armrest. Pop the boot, and you’ll find a square 412-litre space and a large load lip. There's no underfloor storage here, either, and the rear seats don't fold entirely flat, unlike some of its rivals.

Fiat Grande Panda infotainment

Fiat could’ve easily joined the touchscreen-only revolution; there’s a 10-inch driver display and a 10.3-inch touchscreen, but there are physical switches below, allowing the driver or passenger to adjust the cabin temperature easily.

As expected, the infotainment is basic, but that's not exactly a bad thing, as the menus are easy to navigate on the move. It also gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. Look forward to the gear selector, and you'll find a nifty button for quickly turning off the annoying ADAS beeps.

Fiat Grande Panda Verdict

This is a stand-out, excellent city car that feels ahead of the opposition in almost every way: it’s quiet, powerful enough, efficient, has oodles of tech, and most importantly, it’s cheap.

But you’ll have to compromise in places. For example, it doesn’t scream quality in some places, nor has it been crash-tested. It's also only offered with a 3-year/60,000-mile warranty, while Kia offers 7 years/100,000 miles with its Picanto.

If you don’t mind those points, then the Fiat Grande Panda is an excellent buy.