Fiat 600 review: An attractive compact crossover

Read Caroline’s Fiat 600 review for all the information you need to know about buying Fiat’s new compact crossover in Ireland.

If you like the cute styling of the Fiat 500, but it’s not big or practical enough for you, then you might want to take a look at the new Fiat 600.

Available in mild-hybrid and all-electric 600e versions, Fiat’s new compact crossover offers different options for buyers seeking a fun and colorful road companion.

Starting at €28,995 for the hybrid model and €32,995 for the electric model, it offers style and affordability in a crossover-style package.

Let’s take a closer look.

design

The new 600 is based on the same chassis as the Avenger and E-2008 from sister brands Jeep and Peugeot, but is styled as a compact crossover with typical Italian styling. It’s cute and small, with a similar signature headlamp design to the Fiat 500, and ‘600’ emblazoned across the front. It sits slightly higher off the ground than your average hatchback, while there’s some nice plastic cladding around the wheel arches and door sills to reassure you of its crossover status. There’s a range of colours to choose from, including the orange sunburst pictured here.

The hybrid is available in three trim levels, including the entry-level La Dolce Vita and La Prima. The 600 Electric is available in two colors: red or La Prima.

The Fiat 600e La Prima tested was fitted with more bling, including 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, a sporty black roof spoiler and 600 etched into the door mouldings.

Is the Fiat 600 bigger than the 500?

Yes, it is a lot bigger, offering more room for passengers, a bigger boot, and two more doors for added practicality.

Fiat 600 interior

The cabin is just as bright and cheerful as the exterior. Depending on the trim, there are a number of different interior color schemes to choose from. The La Prima’s dashboard is ivory, which brightens up the interior, and the gorgeous ivory leather seats have turquoise details. There are a lot of hard plastics on the doors and dashboard, but the injection of color and the plush seats make the cabin a pleasant place to be in.

The steering wheel is a two-spoke, the driver display is a small digital display, and the touchscreen is slim, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The navigation system can find charging stations and preheat the cabin. Single-zone climate control is standard.

The 600e La Prima is expensive, but it’s well-equipped, including a parking camera, adaptive cruise control, wireless smartphone charging, heated front seats with electric adjustment, and a driver massage function.

Practicality

The 600 offers five doors for added practicality, but the door openings are quite narrow. The two outer seats have Isofix mountings. The car is quite narrow, so two people will be more comfortable than three. There is not much legroom, but children or short adults should be able to ride in it.

Fiat 600e luggage compartment space

The boot has a capacity of 360 litres, with a split floor that helps free up space for charging cables. It’s a good size for a compact car, 25 litres less than the hybrid. The rear seats fold 60:40, making it easy to carry bulky items. La Prima models add a handy electric tailgate.

What is the range of the 600e?

The Fiat 600 Electric is equipped with a 54kWh battery and has a range of up to 406km (WLTP). The battery warranty is 8 years or 160,000km.

My average consumption over a week of driving was 16.4kWh per 100km, which equates to about 310km of driving.

Driving feeling

The Fiat 600 is fun and nimble to drive, with light steering that’s great for parking and around-town driving. The 600e has more power than the hybrid, at 156 horsepower, and the power is delivered smoothly. There are several different driving modes, including Normal, Sport, and Eco. You can select B mode to increase regenerative braking, though it’s never one-pedal driving.

For such a small car, the 600e is surprisingly well behaved on the road and was very comfortable on Ireland’s varied roads, although the ride can be a little bumpy over the cracks and gaps in the tarmac. There’s plenty of power on the motorway, but this doesn’t feel like its natural habitat – there’s a lot of road and wind noise, and it’s less efficient at higher speeds.

How much does the new Fiat 600 cost?

The hybrid starts at 28,995 euros, the electric car at 32,995 euros (including subsidies). The top-of-the-line 600e La Prima costs even more at 37,995 euros.

in conclusion

The new Fiat 600 is another highlight in the Irish Fiat range. It’s very likeable and likable, as well as practical. The Hybrid is the best value in the range, but the 600e adds pleasing smoothness and refinement. It’s at home in town and city driving and copes well on country roads, though there are more refined and comfortable crossovers on the motorway. Overall, it adds its own unique style to the compact crossover class and will be loved by Fiat fans who are looking for a little more practicality.

advantage: Stylish shape, interesting interior.

shortcoming: Loud noise at high speeds and limited rear passenger space.

____________________________

By Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Irish Car of the Year judge

Fiat 600 video review

Watch our video review of the new 600 to see how it actually performs on Irish roads!

The article Fiat 600 review | An attractive compact crossover appeared first on Changing Lanes.