Fiat might be best-known for its 500 city car - both classic and modern versions - but for some people, the pint-sized model isn’t the best option, particularly for those who need more space. Enter the 600. It’s a natural successor to the 500X crossover, but with more technology, a greater focus on space and more grown-up driving dynamics, the 600 has been designed to handle any shortcomings that its predecessor suffered from.
Want the retro feel of the Fiat 500 but need more practicality? That’s just what the 600 aims to offer. It’s got more interior space and plenty of features, while the option of both electric and hybrid powertrains should mean there’s something for everyone.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioPrices for the Fiat 600 start at £25,750 for a standard hybrid model, while the electric 600e model sees that price increase to £30,035.
Switch to the used market and there are some serious savings to be made. On AA Cars, we found a 2025 model year 600e with just 24 miles on the clock for £25,999 - a significant saving over a brand new model. A hybrid version can also be found for £23,292 with just 12 miles on the clock, again representing a huge saving over a new car.
The 600e is offered with both electric and hybrid powertrains. The hybrid uses a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine and while Fiat calls this model a standard ‘hybrid’, it’s actually more of a mild-hybrid, helping to take some of the strain off the engine to improve efficiency. As a result, it can’t drive the 600 on electric-only power for any meaningful amount of time. It can help to get the car from 0-60mph in 8.2 seconds, however.
Switch to the electric and you get a front-mounted electric motor with 152bhp, linked to a 51kWh battery which brings a claimed range of up to 254 miles from a charge. In terms of performance, the 600e brings a 0-60mph sprint time of 9.0 seconds, which is respectable for the class.
The 600e might be the larger version of the 500, but it’s still a relatively compact model overall. That means it’s easy to live with and simple to park, where its light steering certainly helps. Visibility isn’t too bad, either. In terms of performance, the 600e is just about right. In the world of lightning-fast EVs it certainly isn’t going to top any charts, but it’s certainly nippy enough to get you away from the lights in a smart enough fashion.
Switch to the hybrid and you’ll still get a decent amount of punch, though you do of course, lose that instant acceleration that you’ll find in the electric. The 1.2-litre engine can be quite vocal under harsh acceleration, however.
The 600e certainly has a softer, more comfort-focused ride quality compared to many of its rivals in the segment. Regardless of whether you opt for hybrid or electric, you’re getting a car which feels slightly more squidgy in how it rides, which is particularly noticeable through the bends. There’s a certain amount of lean, but the by-product of this is that the 600e can handle larger potholes and bumps in the road easily, though at motorway speeds it can start to feel a little unsettled.
On electric models, you can toggle between a lower or greater rate of regenerative braking by selecting ‘B’ mode on the gear shift. With ‘B’ mode engaged, the level of regenerative braking is increased, though it’s not enough to fully turn the 600 into a ‘one-pedal’ driving EV as some of its rivals can offer.
As with the smaller 500, the 600 brings with it a retro-inspired interior which aims to combine stylish elements with genuinely usable features. The good news is that it’s a very usable place to be, thanks to lots of intuitive physical controls for all manner of features, ranging from heating and ventilation through to the chunky gear selectors. Some of the materials used throughout aren’t the nicest, but at least they’re hard-wearing and will stand the test of time.
The main screen is also well located and within easy reach of both driver and passenger, though it does feel a little bit behind the times in terms of functionality. That said, all cars get both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, so you can quickly mirror your smartphone’s key apps here instead of using the native system.
The 600 is a fair bit larger than the 500, so it does offer far more in terms of practicality. Boot space stands at 365 litres for the electric model, or 380 litres for the hybrid. Sadly, both are slightly behind what others offer in the segment - the Ford Puma, for instance, brings 412 litres from its well-sized boot and underfloor ‘MegaBox’ storage area.
Those inside the car do get a decent amount of space, too, though rear-seat passengers might find legroom at a premium - particularly if they’re taller. Plus, because of the multi-platform approach that Fiat has taken, the 600e still gets a large transmission hump which further eats into back-seat space.
Whichever specification of 600 you opt for, you’ll be getting plenty of features. All cars get a 10.25-inch central infotainment system, helped by a digital driver’s display which relays key information. As mentioned, all cars get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring systems as standard as well. With 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and LED headlights, even ‘entry-level’ 600 cars look great out on the road.
There’s not too much of a difference in the level of equipment between hybrid and electric models, either. However, both electric and hybrid cars follow the same specification range, so it’s easier to decide between the two.
The 600 range kicks off with ‘600’ in hybrid form or (RED) for the electric, though both have a similar specification level aside from some colour options. You get 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a body-coloured dashboard finish and Fiat-monogrammed fabric seats.
Step up to Icon and you now get automatic air conditioning and black and ivory bi-colour seats, as well as a charging pad for smartphones. At this grade, the standard four-speaker sound system is upgraded to a six-speaker version, too, helping to give a more premium experience. Features such as front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera help to make the 600 a lot easier to use day-to-day, particularly during city or town driving.
La Prima is the range-topping grade, so it’s your best bet if you’re after the greatest number of standard features. With 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and rear privacy glass it’s a stylish affair, while chrome accents on the electric model help to give things a classier edge. Inside, there’s an ivory-coloured dashboard, while the heated front seats make things a lot more comfortable during winter. La Prima cars also get the greatest level of safety equipment, with adaptive cruise control, front, rear and side parking sensors, and automatic high beam assist coming as standard. Blind spot detection helps to make the La Prima car a safer car to drive on the motorway, too.
Fiat has always offered a range of strong colours with its cars and the 600 is no different. Standard reds and whites are available, alongside metallic shades such as ‘Ocean Green’ and ‘Sky Blue’. A particularly eye-catching shade is the metallic ‘Sunset Orange’ which really helps the 600 to ‘pop’, particularly in the sunlight.
All versions of the 600 benefit from features like lane keep assistance and autonomous emergency braking to help keep things safe. Not all safety-related equipment comes as standard, however, with upgraded Icon-specification cars gaining traffic sign recognition and front and rear parking sensors which are omitted from entry-level cars.
The 600 shares a platform with both the Jeep Avenger and Vauxhall Mokka and this multi-brand method should help it to deliver better reliability. However, previous Fiat models have suffered from poor fitment of trim pieces, so we’d always recommend checking key components if you’re looking at a used model.
Even if you opt for the petrol-powered model, running costs for the 600 are unlikely to be high. Fiat claims up to 58.9mpg combined, so trips to the petrol station should be few and far between. Emissions of 109g/km are quite low, too, so it’s unlikely that taxing the 600 will be too tricky. Nearly all models will have the standard £195 rate for 12 months of taxation and because all cars fall under £40,000, they won’t incur the Expensive Car Supplement, either.
Of course, the electric version’s cost-effectiveness will depend on how you’re able to charge it. Take advantage of low rates of home energy and it won’t cost much to run whatsoever, though frequent trips to more expensive public chargers could see this rise.
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