Autozine – Personal test: Fiat 600e

To clear up all the hate and misunderstanding right away: the 600e is not the extended 500e. In terms of style, the 600e goes further, because the lines are reinforced for a cool look. And while the 600e isn’t taller than the 500e, the proportions and larger wheels give it the intended SUV look. Large logos and strategically placed Italian flags emphasize its proud nature. It all comes down to it thanks to the orange-red color of the test car.

The room

The interior of the 600e also impresses with different colors and material choices. In addition, a good balance has been found between retro elements and modern controls. However, compared to similar cars from other products of the parent company Stellantis, the 600 looks a little simple. For example, the Peugeot 2008 is more refined and the Opel Mokka offers more quality. However, Fiat makes up for it at a very low price.

Unfortunately, when it comes to interior space, the 600e doesn’t convince. Although the 600e looks bigger than the 500e, the wheelbase is only a few centimeters longer. So the front position is only average and the rear average. Adults only fit in the back if the driver and co-driver are willing to take care of themselves. As a family car, the 600e is only suitable for parents with young children. And … no matter how good the seats look, comfort leaves much to be desired, especially over long distances.

The cargo area is larger than that of the 500e. However, compared to other compact SUVs, the trunk space of the 600e is also only average in size (larger than the Opel Mokka, smaller than the Peugeot 2008). When the 600e was announced, Fiat promised that the car would have the most frunk storage space in the segment. In the end, nothing came of this: the 600e has no storage space under the hood at all! Also a pity: the rear doors have no storage compartments.

Equipment

Because Fiat is clearly pricing the 600e lower than its own competitors, equipment is only adequate. Despite the fact that the test car has “the first” it was classy, ​​it didn’t come across as fancy or exclusive.

“Translating the retro style of the Fiat 500 into SUV proportions, the 600 is robust yet attractive.”

The infotainment system (audio, communication and navigation) is very simple in design and functionality also includes what is needed and nothing more. For example, the navigation system cannot plan to automatically stop if the battery charge is insufficient to reach the destination. When the user asks to display energy consumption in a different unit, the system does not change the old data, but follows a reset and the measurement starts again. Now that’s one lazy program! The promised voice-controlled organizer reports that the registration period has already expired, while the display is less than a month old. Fortunately, most things can be easily fixed thanks to online updates. In addition, there is an option to return to your smartphone thanks to support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

While all new cars should punish any negligence on the part of the driver according to European laws, the 600e does not. According to the information on the main screen, all the safety features were working, but during the test no warning was ever heard (and that was not because the test driver drove flawlessly). Although this is not the case, it has been experienced as a great advantage. Also very good: unlike the cruise control in the Fiat 500e, the 600e has no fear in heavy traffic.

Electric car

Fiat already had a small SUV in its range, the 500X, but it was not available as an electric car. That is the main reason for the existence of the 600e, because electric propulsion is difficult to restore. Thanks to Fiat’s smart timing, the 600e uses the recently introduced second generation electric powertrain from parent company Stellantis. This makes the 600e theoretically competitive when it comes to power consumption, range and performance.

However, in practice it seems that Fiat is mainly focusing on buyers who are making the switch to electric driving for the first time. To protect these guests from themselves, the electric motor does not provide full power from the first moment, but the power is built up gradually as if it were a combustion engine. In addition, breaking the engine is only possible on a very small scale (recovery of energy). In sports mode, the 600e is undoubtedly a smooth car, but the real poison that is characteristic of electric cars is completely absent (with Stellantis this can only be found in the Abarth 500e). The 600e obviously differs from a car with a combustion engine in one way: the 600e does its job silently.

The 600e was the guest of the Autozine editorial team for about a week and during that time its consumption varied from 14 to 17 kWh per 100 km. The first value in particular is very low and is a characteristic of the new operating system of the parent company. Thanks to the low energy consumption, the promised range of 400 km can be easily achieved.

According to Fiat, the 600e can close the charge at a speed of up to 100 kW. In practice, this was no faster than 73 kW. However, that is still a good speed compared to the battery capacity. To charge at a public charging point, Fiat provides a bright yellow cable that is so visible that the chance of someone tripping over it is minimal.

Road behavior

Apart from looks, handling is a strong point of the Fiat 500e. Apart from the smaller steering wheel and direct steering, there is little of that in the 600. Technically speaking, the 600 is more similar to the Jeep Avenger (yes, also from the same parent company). This means that the 600 has quiet, predictable and good handling. The chassis is smooth, with less movement and more comfort. That lack of playfulness may seem bad, but it determines the character: the Fiat 600 is a family car.

Conclusion

Can the Fiat 600 be as impressive as the 500? Definitely with the look. Translating the retro style of the Fiat 500 to SUV proportions, the 600 is sleek yet attractive.. 600 looks big, but not spacious. Although there is more interior space than the Fiat 500, the 600 lags behind other compact SUVs. As a family car, the 600 therefore gets poor marks.

Because the 600e uses the company’s second-generation powertrain, performance is good, consumption is low and the range is long. To reduce the transition to electric driving, Fiat deliberately does not use all the possibilities that electric driving offers (electric acceleration, driving with one pedal). In part because the 600e is on a different platform, the 600e doesn’t have the same playability as the 500e. However, it does ensure that the 600e is more suited to its role as a family car, albeit a very pleasant one!