Category: Reviews

Mazda lowered the price of the CX-5 by $685 for 2025 The price changes comes with the return for the base CX-5 S model The 2025 Mazda CX-5 arrives in dealerships later this summer The 2025 Mazda CX-5 compact crossover will have a base price of $29,990 when it reaches U.S. dealerships later this summer, Mazda confirmed Tuesday in a press release…

Ads from streaming services might prompt destination suggestions in Google Maps in the future. Google hasn’t commented whether it’ll see the light of day. Google filed a patent for the concept in 2020. Google is working on a “content-aware audio navigation” feature that would suggest destinations based on ads playing on the radio or streaming…

Jay Leno owns a 1987 Lamborghini Countach and has driven it more than 70,000 miles. Leno featured a 1989 Countach 25th Anniversary Edition on his YouTube show. The Countach taps the Lambo 455-hp 5.2-liter V-12 for power. The Lamborghini Countach is a car Jay Leno knows intimately. He’s owned a 1987 example since new, and over the almost four…

The gas-powered 2025 Cadillac Escalade gets the electric Escalade IQ’s design tweaks. Inside the Escalade factors in more than 55 inches of displays and touchscreens. The 2025 Cadillac Escalade arrives later this year. A Cadillac Escalade IQ electric SUV goes on sale later this summer but the gas-powered model will continue to be sold alongside…

The gas-powered Hyundai Palisade three-row SUV is about to get a redesign The new look will be boxy like the midsize Santa Fe A hybrid Palisade is set to join the lineup Hyundai has once again been spotted testing its redesigned Palisade, and the latest prototype has lost the heavy camouflage seen previously, revealing a significant departure from…

The 2025 Genesis GV70 lineup goes wireless with its Apple CarPlay and Android Auto A refreshed Genesis GV70 arrives for 2026 The Genesis GV70 costs $47,050 The Genesis GV70 is one of the better options for buyers in the market for a compact luxury crossover, and it’s been enhanced for the 2025 model year with some minor updates. The key change is…

Paint colors and fewer versions mark the G70’s seventh model year The GV70 crossover SUV gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto The Electrified GV70 still doesn’t qualify for the $7,500 federal tax rebate The 2025 Genesis G70 sedan and GV70 crossover SUV carry over with minimal changes. A new Burleigh Blue Matte paint color is the main bit…

Small electric cars are becoming more numerous. After years of debuts of large-sized models with high prices, here come the electric city cars designed for global markets. These cars were born for the city but can also cross city boundaries with decent range ratings. There is not enough range for long road trips, but they are still suitable for some drivers.

This is the case with the Fiat Grande Panda, which was presented on July 11 and should arrive in dealerships by the end of the year. It is also similar to the Hyundai Inster, a small crossover that was recently unveiled. So, while waiting to test them on the road, we present them here in an on-paper comparison.

Exterior

Coming to terms with small dimensions means creating bodies that are regular in shape and do not sacrifice interior roominess. Both competitors accomplished these missions.

The Fiat Grande Panda has square lines reminiscent of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Fiat Panda, a roof parallel to the ground, and an almost vertical rear window. Many elements, trim above all, bring it into the city crossover segment. The overall design is definitely impactful and not uncommon: the closed grille with square motifs echoing the daytime running lights gives it character, and Fiat and Panda lettering and logos are scattered here, and there is a way of connecting it to the past.

The Hyundai Inster also does not feature particularly intricate lines, preferring—like the Grande Panda—to distinguish itself mainly by the front end. This is also characterized by lights with a pixelated effect, much thinner than those of its competitor, and circular headlamps with a generous diameter below. Again, we found crossover elements, including plastic guards, skid plates, and roof bars.

Interior 

The Fiat Grande Panda has an ultra-decade-long tradition to live up to, and there are numerous references to the original Panda, such as the pocket in front of the front passenger, typical of the 1980s Panda.

For price reasons, hard plastic dominates unchallenged, but the assemblies seem well made. However, there are no sacrifices on the technological side. Digital instrumentation is presented on a 10-inch screen, while infotainment is displayed on a 10.25-inch monitor. There’s wireless smartphone charging, automatic climate control and various USB outlets.

Space-wise, the nearly 4 meters are well utilized, with enough room for those sitting in the back and 361 liters of trunk space.

The Hyundai Inster also does not shy away from technology in the interior, with two 10.25-inch monitors each for instrumentation and infotainment and various physical buttons to manage climate control and other functions. Again, this classic setup is accompanied by hard plastics that give a good feel to the touch. USB and 12-volt sockets are not missing either.

The Hyundai Inster’s interior is for 4 passengers who, thanks to the sliding rear seat, can enjoy plenty of space or increase the trunk capacity from 238 to 351 liters.

Engines 

Though the Fiat Grande Panda and Hyundai Inster overlap in design and interior, the matter changes regarding powertrains.

The Grande Panda will be available with a 113-hp pure electric powertrain and 44-kWh batteries or a 100-hp 1.2-liter engine with a mild hybrid setup and an automatic transmission. Credit to the Smart Car multi-energy platform. There will be no gas-only version. The claimed range of the electric Fiat Grande Panda is 199 miles WLTP, with DC charging up to a maximum power of 100 kW.

The Hyundai Inster, on the other hand, relies solely on electric powertrains. There are two on the list: 97 or 115 hp with 42 and 49 kWh batteries, with 186 or 217 miles of WLTP range. 

Prices

The most important part is how much these two small city crossovers cost.

Prices for the Fiat Grande Panda have yet to be made official, but at the unveiling press conference, there was talk of less than 19,000 euros (around $21,000 USD) for the hybrid version and 24,900 (~$27,000 USD) for the electric. Like numerous competitors, the target price remains below the psychological threshold of 25,000 euros (~$27,300 USD).

Like the Hyundai Inster, the small Korean car aims to have a target price of under 25,000 euros ($~$27,300) for the version with 42 kWh batteries. 

There’s no confirmation that either the Inster or Grande Panda will be sold in the U.S. However, Fiat has hinted that the Grande Panada could be sold here.

The model likely to be called Ioniq 9 will arrive in 2024 as a three-row electric SUV The Ioniq 9 may share its platform, powertrain, and packaging with the Kia EV9 The Hyundai Ioniq 9 would sit alongside the three-row Palisade in dealer showrooms Hyundai has confirmed that its electric three-row crossover SUV will debut later this year. The debut…

Polestar’s next new vehicle will be the 5 electric sedan Polestar has the Model S in its sights—and also, the Lucid Air Engineered in the U.K., the 5 has a bonded-aluminum body like those from Jaguar “We’re 80 percent done, but there’s more to do,” said Polestar’s Chris Baguley as he tossed a Polestar 5…