Technical Mild Hybrid owners - what’s it like?

[SB1500]

Planning a return to Panda ownership. Dreadful MPG has put me off the notion of a TwinAir / Cross.

Between the old beloved 1.2 and the new ‘Mild Hybrid’ - what should I opt for?

I know the Hybrid isnt a true one like Toyota’s or one that’s very innovative. I watched a video from Fiat… which gave me more questions than I began with.

Owners - do you like it? Love it? Hate it..?

 

[Marcus Daly]

I've posted before about my several months with a brand new fake-"hybrid" 500, which I was given as a long term loaner when my Panda delivery was delayed. I didn't enjoy it. Fine around the doors, dangerously slow for country A-roads, which was the majority of my driving back then. The Twinair feels like a Ferrari in comparison. I wouldn't entertain one.

The 1.2 was a great engine back in the day, but the later ones have too much eco-gubbins lashed on to them, they're not what they were.

The Twinair suits the personality of the Panda best, IMO.

 

[Leroypanda]

Had it confirmed by FIAT that the hybrids arent allowed to tow if thats your thing.

 

[vexorg]

They've just re-jigged the alternator to turn it into a motor and give and extra 10 or 20 bhp through that motor when you put your foot down.

I think "hybrid" is really stretching the term. It'll tick a green box for some new rule somewhere.

 

[boozyjay]

I had one as a courtesy car recently while my TwinAir Panda was having a service. While it wasn't too bad once up to some speed, getting there was the issue, they are so underpowered as Marcus says above on country A roads. It caught me out a few times. Apart from that they would be fine in a city environment, but they aren't for me. I'm quite happy to forego some fuel economy to have the TwinAir engine - it's night and day better and suits the Panda.

 

[SB1500]

The MHEV doesn't sound so good... Sadly. That kind of rules out any new or nearly new models - and there are some nice ones for big discounts.

I don't tow to that's not an issue.

What sort of MPG are you folks getting on the TwinAirs? Particularly, the Cross / 4x4. That's all that's putting me off. I'm sure I can still get one fresh enough to ensure that every oil change going forward is the proper Petronas Oil or what Fiat requires.

 

[boozyjay]

I don't know my exact MPG as I just get in and drive it, but I do a 60 mile round trip to work - motorways, town driving and A roads, five days a week and a bit of local tootling about at weekends and I fill the tank once a week, which I think is fine. If you don't floor the TwinAir you'll get good economy, trouble is you can't help flooring it as it's addictive! I drive a 2018 TwinAir Panda Lounge and a new TwinAir Cross 4x4 so not putting too many miles on one car and the economy in both is the same as far as I can tell.

I'd buy a lightly used TwinAir Cross and keep it. The TwinAir engine really suits the Panda.

 

[The Panda Nut]

The MHEV doesn't sound so good... Sadly. That kind of rules out any new or nearly new models - and there are some nice ones for big discounts.

I don't tow to that's not an issue.

What sort of MPG are you folks getting on the TwinAirs? Particularly, the Cross / 4x4. That's all that's putting me off. I'm sure I can still get one fresh enough to ensure that every oil change going forward is the proper Petronas Oil or what Fiat requires.

Big discounts says quite a lot in this instance.

 

[vexorg]

The 1.2 gets good economy, easily 50+ mpg on a run, and nippy enough on the road. I'm not seeing any real benefit to hybrid here.
It might be old, but seems very reliable, back to car companies just changing things for the sake of trends and fashion.

 

[gazz_bee]

They've just re-jigged the alternator to turn it into a motor and give and extra 10 or 20 bhp through that motor when you put your foot down.

I think "hybrid" is really stretching the term. It'll tick a green box for some new rule somewhere.

It a 3.6kW belt driven motor - 5 bhp at the very most, and only then for a short burst. I had a loan of one when my 500e was getting a software update and I can't say that I enjoyed the experience.

 

[varesecrazy]

I have a twinair panda..
And a 1242cc FIRE In a 500

Its not going to sell itself to me..

Same driving twinair is livelier AND better on fuel

Big issue is locating 'a good one'


I am out of touch.. Did twinairs still sell by 2021.. As you really want the full FIAT warranty for the bugs found on purchase

OF Course.. you want to spend a day.. Or more.. In a twinair.. You might hate it..!

 

[vexorg]

It a 3.6kW belt driven motor - 5 bhp at the very most, and only then for a short burst.

What's the point???

At first I hated the idea of hybrids, buy having driven about in one for the last 4-5 months, I like the nissan one.

 

[SB1500]

I'm prepared to get a 'slow' car... any more detail on the slowness being more than simply slow, but dangerous or hard to live with? How is the gearing? Still adequately geared for the car? As that's a key pain point of living with my Avensis. No point leaving my car if the Hybrid Panda has had an equally poor job of gearing.

I'm quite okay with the Hybrid being absolutely pointless. I don't expect better MPG or lower emissions, I know it's just a box ticking exercise job. I know superior systems exist, and the likes of Toyota's one has EV mode, etc.

What I don't want is:
- Prone to failure prematurely (As I know work on this will likely need a specialist AND Fiat dealer only parts, with a lack of high sales volume over time meaning even in 5-10 years Hybrid specific parts might be rare and expensive... whereas in the year 3023 there'll still be FIRE 8v parts floating around motor factors)

- Expensive maintenance or requiring of dealer software on a regular basis beyond the usual filters / cheap replacements on prone to fail parts (like thermostat was on the 1.2 FIREs)

- Deadly slow. And I don't care about slow, but if this is for some reason deadly slow - enough to be on the likes of Watch Dog like the time the Fiat 500s were stalling up hill - then I will give it a miss.


So, I looked and just under £100 for genuine Fiat / FCA parts to service it from Shop4Parts. That sorts out servicing for me if I were to buy one.

 

[Marcus Daly]

Deadly slow.

I'm the slowest driver I know. And it was too slow for me.

You'll have to test drive one to see if you could live with one.

 

[SB1500]

I'm the slowest driver I know. And it was too slow for me.

You'll have to test drive one to see if you could live with one.

Would a Fiat 500 MHEV be comparable? The 500 is all our dealer here seems to stock... Only two Pandas.. a Pop and Easy from 2018/19 respectively.

If the Easy had steering controls / phone mount, it'd be perfect - I'd buy it in a heartbeat. But I doubt dealers are interested in retrofitting options like that

 

[boozyjay]

Why stick to your local dealer? Have a look online and cast your net far and wide.

 

[SB1500]

Why stick to your local dealer? Have a look online and cast your net far and wide.

We have this Used Cars NI site - and AutoTrader to find cars in NI. Private, dealer and independent. Very little Pandas of 2017 on.

As far as AutoTrader and every dealer / independent / private sale UK wide, I'd be happy to travel over to get it from the likes of a dealer or Motorpoint (as they would probably have an alternative back up in stock just in case) and somebody to complain to if an issue happens.

Private here or mainland is out the window as I'd need finance facilities.

Dealer / independents in general, what's for sale today might not be in the next 8 weeks (listed my Avensis on AutoTrader for 8 weeks). So best I can get so far are 'decent ideas' on price. But getting attached to particular cars is bad as they won't be there.

The Pop model for sale here has been on for over half a year... they are sticking at 8k for it. No wonder it won't sell. There's a chance that and the other will be for sale come 8 weeks time. The dealer said that there is very little available for them to order at the internal auctions sadly. I emailed them today with my requirements for a Panda or 595 (to see what falls off the tree)

Looks like, from this, the 1.2 8v is my choice. So up to 2019 (I think) models and Lounge spec still the one to go for

 

[gazz_bee]

Would a Fiat 500 MHEV be comparable? The 500 is all our dealer here seems to stock... Only two Pandas.. a Pop and Easy from 2018/19 respectively.

If the Easy had steering controls / phone mount, it'd be perfect - I'd buy it in a heartbeat. But I doubt dealers are interested in retrofitting options like that

A test drive in the 500 mild hybrid would definitely give you the same experience of the drivetrain.

 

[Twotone2]

Arnold Clark usually have fiats and pandas.

I ordered a new hybrid from them in June and then canceled the order cause I managed to buy a 23 plate 4x4 TA down south for a real good price.

AC might even still have the hybrid we ordered from the Paisley branch, we bought the 4x4 from Stoneacre in Nottingham, not a great experience to be honest but definitely worth the effort driving from Glasgow to pick up the Panda and drop off the trade in car then back home, took us about ten hours in total.

The Panda 4x4 TA is a brilliant car we love it.

 

[SB1500]

Arnold Clark usually have fiats and pandas.

I ordered a new hybrid from them in June and then canceled the order cause I managed to buy a 23 plate 4x4 TA down south for a real good price.

AC might even still have the hybrid we ordered from the Paisley branch, we bought the 4x4 from Stoneacre in Nottingham, not a great experience to be honest but definitely worth the effort driving from Glasgow to pick up the Panda and drop off the trade in car then back home, took us about ten hours in total.

The Panda 4x4 TA is a brilliant car we love it.

There’s a nice Cross at motor point. Incorrectly labelled (and priced) as a city cross. What’s your fuel economy like with the 4x4 TA?