Fiat has arguably struggled to find its identity as part of Stellantis and the launch of the Grande Panda could be seen as something of a reset. Historically, the company has been a small car producer and the Grande Panda is designed to satisfy the demand for smaller models. If some of the statistics of the electric variants of the car – range of 199 miles and battery capacity of 44kWh sound familiar, that’s because it is based on the Stellantis Smart Car platform, which also underpins models such as the Citroën ëC3/C3, ëC3/C3 Aircross and Vauxhall Frontera.

Grande Panda will share the drivetrain options for those other models too, with either the 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol hybrid or electric power. We’re focused on the electric variant here, though.

Grande Panda is a product of Fiat’s Centro Stile (Design Centre) in Turin and it draws inspiration from the original Panda from the 1980s. Fiat says that recycled aluminium and plastic components from drink cans and cartons have been used in the blue plastic used in the interiors, with each car containing recycled material from 140 beverage containers.

La Prima spec includes a dashboard using Bambox Bamboo Fibre Tex, a textile material containing bamboo fibres for the dashboard wrapping. For the exterior, the Grande Panda is available with seven colours and the Fiat logo is included in the panel stamping at the rear, while the four Fiat stripes are also included in several places. Then there are the distinctive LED headlamps and rear lights with an X-shaped lighting signature. In the Limone Yellow of some of our test cars, the Grande Panda certainly stands out.

As with its C3 and Frontera cousins, the Grande Panda can seat five in relative comfort because it offers good rear legroom. Boot space is reasonable with the rear seats up at 361 litres. The interior detailing, with the display surround shaped like Fiat’s Lingotto test track in Turin and picked out in yellow, adds an element of fun too.

Fiat has included an integrated charging connector and retractable cable behind the front panel for 7kW AC charging and a DC charging port at the side which can charge at up to 100kW. You can forego the retractable cable and opt for an 11kW onboard charger, which routes all charging through the side port and might be more useful for business drivers.

Checking out the spec, Pop trim is fairly comprehensive with LED front and rear lights, 10.25-inch touchscreen with screen mirroring, rear parking sensors, plus electric and heated door mirrors. Oddly, only the top-spec La Prima gets heated seats, an odd decision for an electric car.

The design details help to put a smile on your face. Out on the road, the car feels much the same as its Stellantis siblings, but that is no bad thing as both the C3 and Frontera are pleasant cars to drive. The design makes you feel good as you drive and it’s the kind of car that could attract an enthusiastic following. In electric form, it is quiet. Performance is not as swift as some electric cars but that’s not the point. It’s a good way to get around town and avoid clean air zone (CAZ) charges, with enough range for occasional longer trips.

Stellantis Smart Car platform is a sound attempt to keep driving affordable, just as important to fleets as for private owners. The Grande Panda is the most fun of the models we’ve driven so far. It’s a shame that it is not available with the extended range 54kWh battery, but at the moment that is confined to the Vauxhall Frontera and Citroën ë-C3 Aircross.