Test Fiat 600e – electric Italian car with its own character

We don’t see that often anymore

No definitely not. It has been quite quiet at Fiat in terms of new cars over the past ten years. Besides the new 500, there was actually little to report. However, the fact that the brand is now part of the Stellantis group gives the Italians new opportunities. The brand new Fiat 600 is a good example of this. It is finally a Fiat again in the spirit of the successful Punto, among others. Yes, this car is a lot larger and stands high on its legs, but just like the Puma replaces the Fiesta at Ford, this 600 should become the nice ‘compact’ family car for Fiat. In practice it somewhat replaces the 500L. The design is in order. In no way can you tell from the outside that the car is on the platform of, for example, an Opel Mokka or Citroën DS3. The modern retro look of the new 500 is continued and, in our opinion, gives the car an unmistakable Fiat appearance. This also applies to the inside. The dashboard, with the central clock with the wide white band, fits very well with the brand, as do the well-placed shift buttons at the bottom of the center console. It is less unique than the outside, because it all looks a bit like the cockpit of the new Jeep Avenger. As far as we are concerned, that says more about the Fiat content that the Jeep has acquired than that it detracts from the Fiat vibe in this 600. We only recognize sharing within the group by small things such as the start button, the window controls, the stems on the steering wheel and the driving mode button: things we know from Peugeot. These are small details within a nice Fiat environment.

The back seat is not very spacious in terms of legroom, but the headroom is remarkably good. It is not self-evident that the seat is also very good, because we are on the road with the electric version: the 600 E. In fact, for the time being that is the only 600 available. Only next year will a (mild) hybrid version based on the engine already launched in the 3008 follow. But about the seating position: in electric cars you often feel uncomfortable sitting in the back because of the batteries that make the bottom higher. But the seating is remarkably comfortable in the back. The chair shape in the sofa is pleasant and the legs have sufficient support. This is really above average, despite the limited legroom.

We also sit a bit higher in the front and the steering wheel cannot move as far as we would like. The ergonomics are good, with simple and effective operation of everything.

Recognizable Fiat interior

Surely we already know the specifications of the Fiat 600e from other cars?

Certainly! The car may be quite unique in appearance, but in terms of specifications it is certainly not. The car can use the new electric drive-train from Stellantis so that we have exactly the same power, torque and battery capacity as in many other electric cars within the group. From Jeep Avenger and updated Peugeot 2008 to the DS3 and the updated Citroën E-C4: they all have 156 hp, 260 Nm of torque and 54 kWh of battery. This Fiat 600e has that too. The WLTP range obviously differs from model to model and the Italian scores 409 kilometers. Excellent for this segment, especially because our consumption experiences with the new electrical technology are good. It is a significant difference with (among others) the outgoing Opel Mokka and Peugeot 2008, which scored dramatically poorly in that area, resulting in a poor range. 350 real kilometers should be easily achievable in this Fiat. Fast charging is possible up to 100 kW, which is not groundbreaking, but OK for this segment.

And how does that drive?

The power of 156 hp is not excessive for an electric car. However, in the Italian hills it appears to be sufficient for the 600, partly thanks to the high torque. More important to report is that in terms of driving, the car has just as much personality of its own as in terms of appearance. The 600 drives exactly as you expect from a modern Fiat. The typical super light steering is very recognizable. In addition, the car has a comfortable chassis that copes well with the poor Italian roads, while it is dynamic enough to enable the famous ‘enthusiastic’ Italian driving style. It is certainly not sporty, but the body is so much tighter compared to, for example, Citroëns. If you want a comfortable car, give us this one. The only problem is the weight of the car. It weighs over 1,500 kilos due to its batteries, which is quite a lot. Even though the car is not pushing extremely hard, you constantly notice that all those kilos have to be dampened, which often creates a little extra swell in the car. It is not extreme, but enough to notice if you suffer from motion sickness, for example. Now Dutch traffic is much less winding, tight and hilly than the hills around Turin, but still. We are curious to see how the hybrid 600 will drive, because it will probably be 200 to 250 kilos lighter.

A very good seat in terms of comfort.

Fiat was always nice and cheap!

This remains a difficult issue with electric cars. Fiat introduces the 600e in two versions. It will be marketed as Red and as the highest positioned LaPrima. The LaPrima is the classic, more luxurious variant, the Red is – you guessed it – completely in red and also has red accents in the interior, but much fewer gadgets. As Red, the Fiat has a starting price of €35,990. The more generously equipped LaPrima will set you back €40,990. The Red has steel wheels, LED lighting all around, rear parking sensors, ambient lighting, a leatherette-covered steering wheel and the 10.25-inch infotainment screen. Adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist, automatic air conditioning and a rain sensor are also included. The more expensive version also gets seat heating and seat massage, the mativorous dashboard and 18-inch alloys. The only personal choice you can make, apart from the version, is the color, with the LaPrima offering more options than the Red. The price is also on the high side and far away from what a compact family car from Fiat once cost. You can also buy more spacious EVs for 40,000 euros. Despite the shared technology, the 600 certainly feels like Fiat. After Opels, Peugeot and Citroëns on the same platform, each with its own identity, this is the next proof that sharing technology at Stellantis does not immediately lead to brand erosion.