► Fiat 600e: a new pure-electric family hatch
► Sits above the 500e in company’s EV range
► Not available in grey ‘because grey is boring‘
UK pricing has been announced for the new Fiat 600e. The Italian brand’s new electric family car will soon do battle with heavy EV hitters such as the Volkswagen ID.3 and MG 4 as well as compact electric SUVs including the Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona Electric with prices starting at a relatively reasonable £32,995. Order books will open in October 2023, and first deliveries expected in early 2024.
Unlike the Fiat 500e, which is based on a bespoke electric platform, the 600e is underpinned by common Stellantis architecture. It shows FCA and PSA’s development departments are finally starting to merge – and it should allow Fiat to turn a greater profit on each car it sells.
The 600e is also the company’s first foray into the electric family car market. The 500e is great for zipping around town, but it struggles when asked to deal with toddlers and their associated detritus. By not having a horse in the race, Fiat has been throwing business away – and buyers have been flocking to companies such as Volkswagen and Tesla for their practical EV fix.
But, despite being on the back foot, Fiat refuses to tackle this problem in a boring manner. Because the bulk of the engineering is being handled by the Stellantis parts bin, the company has gone all-in on style for the 600e, hoping to trade on its Italian flair and charm. But is that enough? We’ve spent some time in the studio with the quirky new EV to get to the bottom of it.
What’s underneath that curvy bodyshell?
Surprise! It’s the same e-CMP architecture that props up the Jeep Avenger. The same platform will also be deployed under the updated versions of the Vauxhall Mokka Electric and Peugeot e-2008 but because they’re brand-new cars, the Fiat and Jeep have beaten their stablemates to the punch.
Like the Avenger electric SUV, the Fiat 600e is powered by a 54kWh battery pack. It drives a 154bhp electric motor mounted on the front axle, which has enough grunt to push the hatchback from 0–62mph in nine seconds flat. Fiat also says the 600e has a maximum range of 250 miles on the WLTP combined cycle – but that figure soars to 372 miles if you only drive the car around town.
The little Fiat also supports 100kW DC rapid charging as standard, which can charge the battery up to 80 percent capacity in less than half an hour. If you can find a quick enough charging station, it’s also compatible with 11kW AC charging, which can brim the battery in around six hours.
We’d like to backtrack slightly and tackle Fiat’s style-led marketing approach. The company recently announced it would stop selling grey cars because the colour grey doesn’t align with its Dolce Vita philosophy. Even though it’s the most popular colour for new cars in the UK, Fiat reckons it’s dull and depressing – and, quite frankly, it reckons its customers deserve better.
So, the 600e won’t be offered in grey – and woe betide anyone who asks for it. From launch, there’ll be four colour palettes available called Sun of Italy, Sea of Italy, Earth of Italy and Sky of Italy.
What’s the interior like?
Italian. And no, that isn’t a euphemism for its reliability. It’s very attractive, rather delicate and is trimmed in stylish materials. We’re not sure it’s the most practical option on sale – rivals such as the Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona Electric have better interior storage and more legroom in the back – but it’s a pleasant place to be.
There’s more than a passing resemblance to the 500e and the Jeep Avenger. The steering wheel and climate controls are shared with the city car, while the centre console and 10.25-inch touchscreen have been transferred wholesale from the SUV. The dashboard is slightly more curvaceous than the Avenger’s, but the changes are only skin-deep. The vents and mounts are all in the same place.
Buyers won’t be wanting for equipment, though. Available features include a handsfree tailgate, automatic air conditioning, rain-sensing wipers and automatic lights. You can also have a connected navigation system with real-time traffic, parking and charging station updates.
Boot space is average rather than class-leading at 360 litres, although you do get a handy under bonnet storage area for your charging cables, which is more than can be said of the MG 4 and Volkswagen ID.3. And if you fold the rear seats flat, boot space expands to 1,231 litres, which is entirely respectable.
How much will the new Fiat 600e cost?
Despite the Fiat 600e have a starting price of €29,500 in Italy that makes it more than €5,000 more expensive than the mechanically identical Jeep Avenger, in the UK those positions are reversed. The 600e’s £32,995 entry point undercut’s the Avenger’s £35,700 by a useful margin.
The entry-level 600e will be trimmed in Fiat’s (RED) specification. It’s a tie-in with the international charity of the same name that aims to bring companies together in the fight against AIDS. The model will be painted red and will feature red interior detailing, model-specific recycled seat upholstery and a unique centre console lid with the (RED) logo.
Above that, there’s the La Prima model shown in the pictures here. This costs from £36,995 and gets synthetic leather upholstery, an electrically adjustable and massaging driver’s seat and heating elements for both front seats. Other features include a wireless smartphone charger, keyless entry and a range of charging ports around the cabin.