The 500 Grows Up
Let's be honest, the Fiat 500X was starting to look about as fresh as a three-day-old croissant. It did its job, but in the fast-moving world of electric vehicles, Fiat needed something with a bit more spark. Enter the Fiat 600e. It is not just a bigger 500, though the family resemblance is intentional and, quite frankly, adorable. It is Fiat's attempt to take the charm of their best-selling city car and stretch it into a practical, B-SUV package for families who have outgrown the two-door life but aren't quite ready for a massive tank of a car.
Design and Italian Flair
Walking up to the 600e, you can see the designers have had some fun. The 'eyelid' headlights give it a friendly, almost sleepy expression, and the 600 branding is proudly stamped into the rear bumper. It is built on the same Stellantis e-CMP2 platform as the Jeep Avenger and the Peugeot e-2008, but you wouldn't know it from the outside. While the Jeep looks like it wants to go climbing in the Dolomites, the Fiat looks like it wants to be parked outside a trendy espresso bar in Milan. It is chic, soft-edged, and remarkably un-aggressive, which is a breath of fresh air in a market dominated by angry-looking SUVs.
Performance: Zippy, Not Scary
Under the skin lies a 54kWh battery (51kWh of which is usable) paired with a 156hp electric motor driving the front wheels. Now, 156 horses might not sound like a lot in an era of 500hp Teslas, but in a compact Fiat, it is plenty. The 0-62mph sprint takes 9 seconds dead. It won't set your hair on fire, but it is more than enough to win the lights-to-lights sprint in suburban Surrey. More importantly, the power delivery is smooth. In 'Normal' mode, it feels relaxed, while 'Sport' sharpens the throttle response for when you need to make a quick overtake on a B-road. The steering is light - perhaps a bit too light for driving enthusiasts - but it makes parking in tight supermarket bays an absolute doddle.
The Living Room
Inside, the 600e feels remarkably familiar if you have spent any time in the new electric 500. You get a lovely rounded dashboard insert, which can be painted in the body colour, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen that stands proud of the dash. Fiat has wisely kept physical buttons for the climate control - Hallelujah! No more diving into three sub-menus just to demist the windscreen. The seats in the La Prima trim are particularly lovely, featuring ivory synthetic leather with turquoise stitching and even a massage function for the driver. Yes, a Fiat with a massage seat. We live in strange but comfortable times.
Practicality and the Reality of Rear Seats
However, physics is a cruel mistress. While the 600e is 4.17 metres long, the space inside is a bit of a mixed bag. In the front, it feels airy and spacious, with a clever folding magnetic cover for the central storage bin that feels like an iPad case. But move to the back, and things get a bit tighter. If you have a tall driver, a tall teenager sitting behind them will be doing some unintentional yoga with their knees. It is fine for kids, but adults might complain on a trip to the coast. The boot, at 360 litres, is decent but falls short of the cavernous spaces found in the Hyundai Kona Electric or even the Renault Megane E-Tech. It will handle the weekly shop or a couple of suitcases, but a double buggy might be a struggle.
Range, Charging, and Running Costs
Fiat claims a WLTP range of 254 miles. In the real world, especially with the UK's penchant for grey, chilly weather, you should expect closer to 190-200 miles. That is still very respectable for a car of this size and will cover most people's weekly mileage without a second thought. When you do need to plug in, the 100kW DC rapid charging capability means you can go from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. If you are charging at home on a standard 7kW wallbox, a full charge will take about 8 hours - perfect for an overnight top-up when the electricity rates are lower.
The Verdict
The Fiat 600e isn't the most spacious car in its class, nor is it the fastest. But it has something many of its rivals lack: soul. It feels like a car designed by people who like cars, rather than a committee focused solely on drag coefficients and panel gaps. It is comfortable, easy to drive, and looks fantastic on a British high street. If you don't need to carry four giants on a regular basis and you want an EV that makes you smile when you see it on the driveway, the 600e is a cracking choice. It is the sensible 500 we have been waiting for.
