This upcoming Fiat SUV is already causing controversy even before its release

It hasn't even arrived at dealerships yet, but the upcoming Fiat Grizzly is already generating a lot of buzz. Unveiled to the public a few weeks ago at the Turin Motor Show and set to make another appearance at an auto show in the coming days, the large SUV from Fiat It no longer has much to hide. And initial reactions show that its design—especially the rear—is certainly making an impression.

Fiat, however, aims to make a big splash with this new model. The Fiat Grizzly is set to become one of the cornerstones of the Italian automaker’s new lineup, with a particularly aggressive promise: a starting price of around 20,000 euros. On paper, that’s enough to « shock the market ». But for now, what shocks some observers isn't really the price.".

The fullback is the target of all the criticism

We asked our readers for their opinions on X as well as on our French, Italian, and German Facebook pages. The question sparked a flood of responses, with over 1,000 replies received! One detail kept coming up again and again: the rear end of the Fiat Grizzly.

With its very upright, boxy design, small rear window, and—above all—taillights composed of a multitude of small light elements, it bears little resemblance to anything Fiat has offered so far. Some even see it as an unintentional nod to the past. In Germany, one commentator noted that the taillights are «somewhat reminiscent of the Fiat Brava from the 1990s.» Several French readers share this observation: one specifically mentions the older Fiats from the 1990s and 2000s, while another notes that «the taillights are an original idea,» but that the small rear window makes the entire rear end look particularly bulky.

Others are much less kind. «How do you say »ugly« in Italian?» one reader asks sarcastically. Another sums up the rear end in two words: «Lousy butt.» There’s also talk of a “heavy and bulky” rear end, whose glowing pixels fail to lighten the overall look.

«A 3008 with a Fiat logo»? Not really.

Another comparison comes up with surprising regularity: Peugeot. «A 3008, basically…,» «Peugeot 5008?», «a Dacia Duster rebranded as a Fiat,» or even «very similar in style to the Opel Grandland»: everyone seems to recognize a different SUV in the Grizzly. On Facebook, some call it a 3008 in disguise, others a rebadged C5 Aircross, or a mix of several Stellantis models. In Italy, comparisons to the 3008 also come up regularly, to the point that some readers simply describe it as a Peugeot with “Fiat” written on it.

However, technically speaking, the Grizzly is not a rebadged Peugeot 3008. The 3008 is based on the STLA Medium platform, while the future Fiat uses the STLA Smart architecture, which is similar to that of the Fiat Grande Panda, but also the Citroën C3 and Opel Frontera. So there is indeed an industrial connection within Stellantis, but not the one many people imagine.

What if Fiat had actually succeeded in its gamble?

Amid criticism that is at times particularly scathing, other voices nevertheless defend Fiat’s decision. «Intriguing,» writes one reader. Another notes that today’s cars sometimes lack boldness and concludes: «It’s different, so why not?» «At least these Fiats will have personality!» emphasizes a French reader, while another points out that tastes remain subjective and believes that customers will ultimately decide for themselves. In Italy, some go even further: «To me, it’s very beautiful, and it doesn’t look like any other car.».

Perhaps that is ultimately where the Fiat Grizzly’s first success lies. In a market where SUVs are regularly criticized for all looking the same, the new Fiat is already sparking heated discussions several months before it hits the roads. And when you’re trying to sell an SUV for around 20,000 euros with the ambition to «shock the market,» leaving no one indifferent might not be the worst way to start.