Read Caroline’s Fiat 600 review for everything you need to know about buying Fiat’s new compact crossover in Ireland.
If you love the cute style of the Fiat 500, but it’s just not big or practical enough for you, then you might want to take a look at the new Fiat 600.
Available as a mild hybrid or full electric 600e, Fiat’s new compact crossover offers something different for buyers seeking a fun and colourful companion for the road.
Priced from €28,995 for the hybrid and from €32,995 for the electric, it offers style and affordability in the trendy shape of a crossover.
Let’s take a closer look.
Design
The new 600 is built on the same underpinnings as the Avenger and E-2008 from sister brands Jeep and Peugeot but it does the compact crossover thing with typical Italian flair. It’s cute and compact, with a similar iconic headlamp design to the Fiat 500 and ‘600’ blazoned across the front. It sits a small bit higher off the ground than the average hatchback, while there’s some neat plastic cladding around the wheel arches and sills to warrant its crossover status. There’s a range of colours available including Orange Sun like the car pictured.
There are three trim levels for the hybrid including an entry model, La Dolce Vita and La Prima. The 600 Electric is available in two: Red or La Prima.
The Fiat 600e La Prima on test comes with more bling, 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, sporty black roof spoiler and 600 etched into the door mouldings.
Is the Fiat 600 bigger than the 500?
Yes it is considerably bigger with more space for passengers, a bigger boot and the added practicality of two extra doors.
Fiat 600 Interior
The cabin is as bright and cheerful as the outside. There are a number of different interior colour schemes available depending on trim. The La Prima gets an ivory dashboard panel to brighten things up and gorgeous ivory leather seats with turquoise detailing. There are lots of hard plastics in the doors and dashboard but the injection of colour and plush seats go a long way to make this an entirely pleasant cabin to spend time in.
There’s a two-spoke steering wheel, small digital driver display and slim touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s possible to find charging stations through the navigation system and pre-heat the cabin. Single zone climate control comes as standard.
The 600e La Prima is expensive but it has a very nice equipment list including parking camera, adaptive cruise control, wireless smartphone charging, heated front seats with power adjustment and massage function for the driver.
Practicality
The 600 offers five doors for extra practicality, though the door openings are quite narrow. There is Isofix on the two outer seats. The car is quite narrow so will be more comfortable for two rather than three. There’s not a huge amount of legroom but children or small adults will be fine.
Fiat 600e boot space
There’s a 360 litre boot with a split floor that helps to create space to stow away charging cables. It’s a good size for a compact car and only 25 litres less than the hybrid. The rear seats split fold 60:40 to carry larger items. The La Prima model adds a handy powered tailgate.
How much range does a 600e have?
The Fiat 600 electric has a 54kWh battery with a range up to 406 km (WLTP). The battery warranty is 8 years or 160,000 kilometres.
My average consumption over a week of driving was 16.4kWh per 100 kilometres, which equates to about 310 kilometres of range.
What it’s like to drive
The Fiat 600 is fun and agile to drive with light steering that makes it brilliant for parking and town driving. The 600e offers more power than the hybrid at 156hp and this is delivered smoothly. There’s a few different driving modes including normal, sport and eco. You can select the B mode to increase regenerative braking, though it’s never quite one pedal driving.
The 600e feels well planted on the road for such a small car and is largely comfortable over a variety of Irish roads, though it can stumble a bit over cracks and crevices in the tarmac. There’s plenty of power for motorway driving but this doesn’t feel like its natural habitat – there’s a lot of road and wind noise, and it’s less efficient at high speeds.
How much is the new Fiat 600?
The hybrid starts at €28,995, while the electric starts from €32,995 including grants. The top of the range 600e La Prima is priced at a more hefty €37,995.
Verdict
The new Fiat 600 is a brilliant new addition to the Fiat range in Ireland. It’s very cute and lovable, but it’s practical too. The hybrid offers the best value of the range, but the 600e adds a pleasant smoothness and sophistication. It’s at home in town and city driving, and copes well with rural roads too, though there are more refined and comfortable crossovers for motorway driving. Overall, it adds its own unique style to the compact crossover class and will be adored by Fiat fans seeking a bit more practicality.
Pros: Chic styling, fun interior.
Cons: Noisy at high speeds, rear passenger space.
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Written by Caroline Kidd
Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year
Fiat 600 Video Review
Watch a video review of the new 600 to see it in action on Irish roads!
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