Ford Fiesta vs Fiat Grande Panda
Figures updated
The Fiat Grande Panda is a new rival to the Ford Fiesta, one of the UK's most popular superminis. We compare the Mk8 (2017–2023) Fiesta and the Mk1 (2025–) Grande Panda on price, size, boot space, performance, safety, official economy and running costs.
The short answer
The Ford Fiesta and Fiat Grande Panda are closely matched on price, space, reliability and running costs, so choose on how they drive and the deal you're offered.
- No MOT reliability comparison yet: the Fiat Grande Panda is too new for MOT records (cars first take an MOT at three years old).
- Watch the steering on a Ford Fiesta: it fails on them 1.8 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Ford FiestaMk8 (2017–2023), 3/5-door hatchback | Fiat Grande PandaMk1 (2025–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | – | from £19,995October 2026 price list |
| Body | 3/5-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | – |
| BootSeats up / folded | 311 litres / 1,093 | – |
| Length | 4,048mm | 3,999mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,735mm | 1,760mm |
| Height | 1,490mm | 1,570mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 70–200 PS | – |
| 0–62mph | 6.5–14.9 sec | – |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2017) | – |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Hybrid, Petrol | – |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 43.5–58.9 mpg | – |
| CO2 | 110–147 g/km | – |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.6p a litre, today's UK average | £1,098 (53.3 mpg) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,098 (petrol) | – |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 86Below average | Too new for MOT data |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 34.3% | – |
| Failed at 3 years old | 13.2% | – |
| Failed at 5 years old | 14.6% | – |
| Failed at 10 years old | 36.6% | – |
| Most common MOT fault | Stop lamp (6.1% of tests) | – |
| Fails more than average on | Steering (1.8×), Lights and electrics (1.4×) | – |
| MOT tests analysed | 1,368,897 | – |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Supermini | Supermini |
| Owners' average miles a year | 6,800 | – |
| On sale | 2017–2023 | 2025 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Ford Fiesta or the Fiat Grande Panda more reliable?
It's too early to say from MOT records: the Fiat Grande Panda is too new, as cars take their first MOT at three years old. The Ford Fiesta has a reliability score of 86 (100 is average) from 1,368,897 MOT tests in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Ford Fiesta or the Fiat Grande Panda?
The Ford Fiesta is 49mm longer (4,048mm against 3,999mm).
›Should I buy the Ford Fiesta or the Fiat Grande Panda?
The Ford Fiesta and Fiat Grande Panda are closely matched on price, space, reliability and running costs, so choose on how they drive and the deal you're offered. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.