Fiat 600e (2023 - )

It seems to have been a quiet time for Italian carmaker Fiat recently, but all that is about to change with the company returning to the B-segment with its stunning, albeit a little quirky, 600e model.

It’s a fully electrified five-door car with a driving range of 250 miles under WLTP testing (375 miles in the city with lots of regenerative braking) and prices are guaranteed to turn heads for all the right reasons for once.

There are two trims available called the 600e (RED) and range-topping 600e La Prima, as tested, but both models are well equipped, practical and great fun to drive.

It is being billed as the bigger sister of the Fiat 500e and, like all older siblings, this model is full of mischievous adventure and attitude. 

One other point worth mentioning, that we rather like, is that Fiat has decided it won’t sell any of its cars in a grey shade any more. It’s a brave move considering grey is the most popular colour with UK motorists, but we applaud the Italian company’s move towards something more exciting and shades that match the flair and fun-factor associated with the Fiat 600e.

One glance in the direction of the Fiat 600e La Prima and it is immediately apparent it takes many of its styling cues from the smaller 500e, especially when viewed from the front with the smiley-face appearance crafted from the upturned grille and light clusters resembling large circular eyes, complete with eye-lids. It sounds a bit cheesy, but it actually works really well and gives the car true character.

Other exterior features include a gloss black shark fin antenna, body-coloured door handles, black mirror caps, matt black side skirts with 600 chromed logo, signature 3D-effect taillights, tinted windows and 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels with 16-inch steel wheels on the 600e (RED) model.

Move inside and you are greeted with a bright, modern and clutter-free interior with lots of round and oval-shaped accents. The seats are upholstered in a smart-looking ivory synthetic leather material with FIAT monograms and turquoise trims. These look amazing, but could show signs of wear and tear due to the light colouring over time. But the driver’s seat can be power-adjusted, has heating settings along with a massage function.

There is keyless entry and start, along with a wealth of on-board technology to explore with the main focal point being a 10.25-inch fully configurable touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, plus a seven-inch digital cluster that shows all the important figures such as speed, the current speed limit (especially useful if driving in Wales), driving range and battery charge levels.

There is a two-spoke synthetic leather steering wheel and the Fiat 600e also has Uconnect services with a TomTom navigation system that offers real-time traffic updates, details on charging locations and availability along with where to find free on-road parking spaces.

All dials, controls and readouts are ideally positioned for ease of use and there are quick keys to important functions, along with physical controls for the climate settings.

We should discuss colours having already touched upon Fiat’s move away from grey shades. The 600e (RED) is available in Red, White or Black, while designers have let their imaginations run wild with the naming of the La Prima colour schemes which are Orange - Sun of Italy; Sand – Earth of Italy; Green – Sea of Italy and, finally, Blue which not surprisingly is Sky of Italy. 

Our test car was in the dazzling orange shade and it looked magnificent even on a dull day.

Powering the front-wheel drive Fiat 600e is a 54kWh (51kWh useable) battery pack and electric motor delivering 154bhp and 260Nm of torque. The car is not blisteringly quick out the starting gates but can reach 62mph from a standing start in 9.0 seconds and maxes out at 93mph.

The main figure for any EV though is the driving range between charges, The Fiat 600e (RED) can deliver a combined 254 miles while the La Prima version is slightly less at 252 miles due to its larger wheels. This figure would climb considerably to something in the region of 375 miles if the car was predominantly driven in busy stop, start traffic where lots of regenerative braking could boost the battery levels. A Brake mode on the gear selector introduces the strongest level of regenerative braking although single-pedal driving is not quite possible.

During our 150-mile test drive we were treated to glorious sunshine, some torrential downpours and even a little fog over the hills, but the Fiat 600e took everything in its stride. The acceleration through the single-speed automatic transmission is smooth and responsive and the handling through twisting lanes also impressed with confident grip levels. Push too hard and you will notice some body sway, but not many 600e drivers will be hammering the throttle in all honesty. The only gripe was the light steering which can be a little unnerving at faster speeds.

Drive modes called Eco, Normal and Sport really do alter the handling and performance of the car, although there is a slight delay after pressing the mode button before the change becomes noticeable. It’s only fractional but is something we have seen on other Stellantis models recently.

Good all-round driver visibility is another major plus point on a car that will likely be used on the school run quite frequently and there are Isofix child seat anchors too.

Generally the refinement levels within the 600e are impressive with the suspension set-up smoothing out most bumps and dips in the road and the only noise intrusion being some wind sound at higher motorway speeds.

Despite its relatively compact dimensions stretching less than 4.2 metres in length, there is ample space inside the Fiat 600e for a couple of six footers up front. Rear legroom isn’t quite so generous especially if the front seats are pushed well back, but it would be ideal for a trio of youngsters to sit on long journeys without too many complaints.

The boot on the La Prima model is accessed via a powered tailgate and it can hold 360 litres of goodies, a limit that increases considerably with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. And there is extra storage beneath the adjustable boot floor, which is an ideal location for the charging cables. 

There are a number of handy compartments scattered throughout the car, including a large storage tunnel between the front seats with a magnetic cover, adjustable cup holders and bundles of space. In addition, there is a glovebox, door bins, USB ports (two front, one rear), seat back pockets and a wireless charging pad.

The Fiat 600e is equipped with a 100kW fast charger system for rapid battery boosts when away from home. It takes less than half an hour to get a 20 to 80 per cent charge, but if you have more time on your hands, the car comes with an 11kW onboard charger and Mode 3 cable for connecting at home or in public which will deliver a full charge in less than six hours. 

The Fiat 600e is available in two trim levels called (RED) costing £32,995 and high-end La Prima, priced at £36,995. These are attractive figures and undercut closest rivals such as the Jeep Avenger and Peugeot E-2008.

Both the 600e (RED) and La Prima models are also generously equipped as standard so there will be no need to bump up the final price-tag with a lot of optional extras.

And thanks to it being a fully electrified powertrain with zero carbon emissions, owners can reap the financial rewards too. These include being exempt from Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone fees, along with having free road tax. 

But all good things seem to come to an end and many of the financial incentives are being withdrawn or drastically reduced by the Government starting from 2025.

For anyone considering the Fiat 600e as a company car option, it does boast an excellent Benefit in Kind tax rating of just two per cent. And it would certainly turn a few heads in the staff car park, that’s for sure.

The vehicle has a standard three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, but for added peace of mind, the battery warranty stretches to eight years or 100,000 miles.

Insurance group ratings for the Fiat 600e are yet to be confirmed. 

Sometimes the world can seem a bit grey but that’s no reason for our cars to be that way too. So all credit to Fiat for introducing vibrant colours to reflect the personality and characteristics of the 600e.

It’s a fabulous five-door car that oozes charm and is very easy to drive while ticking lots of practicality boxes along the way. It has a decent driving range between charges and is also competitively priced.

Admittedly, it’s not without its faults – that light steering for one and the body lean if driven a little too enthusiastically, but if you are in the market for a city car that can venture further, it is definitely worth a look.