FIAT is back with a vengeance! Using the Dolce Vita banner to launch it, the new electric 600 e is typically Italian and very much in the company’s tradition… elegant, pleasant to drive and full of details making everyday life easier. And what better place to present the new 600 e than the Lingotto, FIAT‘s historic factory in Turin, which roof served as a test track?
An Avenger by another name
The 600 e is very feminine, especially when compared to its more masculine cousin from Jeep, the Avenger. Both share the e-CMP 2 platform and a 54 kWh battery. The electric motor develops 156 bhp and 260 Nm. We found it well suited to the vehicle and more than adequate, even if the feeling of power is not the same as with a internal combustion engine… It accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in 9 seconds and top speed is 93 MPH. Claimed range is 252 miles and a full charge takes 8 hours from a 7.4 kWh AC socket. It is possible to charge it with DC to 100 kW and it takes just 27 minutes to go from 20% to 80%.
A heat pump is fitted as standard and should prove very useful for maintaining range in winter – an option worth a fortune on many of its rivals ! The 600 e is a kind of 4-door version of the 500 e, in the same way as its ancestor was related to the original 500. Its friendly face, with headlights resembling eyes, is common to both models. It weighs 1,520 kg and is 4.17 m long (9 cm longer than the Jeep!), 1.98 m wide and 1.52 m high, with a wheelbase of 2.56 m.
RED or La Prima?
The 600 e range is simple. There are just two versions available : the entry-level RED costs €36,000, and backs the foundation of the same name, created by Bono. It comes with 16″ wheels, automatic LED headlights, air conditioning, cruise control, reversing sensors and a touch screen. On top of it is the La Prima, priced at €41,000. On the outside there’s chrome trim around the windows and 18″ wheels. Here, the cruise control is adaptive, the seats are heated and the driver’s one even has a massage function. Tom Tom navigation is integrated, the doors and tailgate open hands-free, the rear-view mirrors electrically fold and a reversing camera helps with parking manoeuvres in town. All that’s left is choosing from a range of colors with names that evoke the sky, land and sea… of Italy, of course!
Italian atmosphere
There are many references to the original 600, especially inside: the dashboard shape, with its large semi-circular screen in front of the driver, the two-spoke steering wheel or the color cut-outs on the seats. These are comfortable and provide good lateral support at normal speeds. Finding an ideal driving position is easy and intuitive. The painted part of the dashboard on the La Prima version tastefully matches the upholstery. Fit and finish is good, even though only hard plastics are used. The central console is enclosed by an articulated screen that inevitably brings to mind… a tablet cover. The steering wheel buttons are quite practical and easy to use. The air conditioning controls are easily accessible and logical: you don’t have to navigate through a whole bunch of menus to change the temperature!
On top of the dashboard sits an easy-to-use 10.25-inch touchscreen with clear, pleasing graphics. Of course, Android Auto and Apple Car Play are standard, even on the entry-level version. FIAT boasts interior space and comfort, even if the 600 e is not the most spacious car in its category, especially at the rear. Legroom remains limited. FIAT managed to increase it by 3 cm, including 2.2 cm in the rear, compared with the Avenger. The wide opening angle of the rear doors is a definite advantage for placing children in a seat at the back. The 360-liter boot has a regular shape, but the height-adjustable floor is standard only on La Prima. With its large door bins and ample space in the center console, the various storage compartments have a capacity of 15 liters! No more excuses to leave a mess inside the car!
Behind the wheel
The 600 e is a very credible proposition in the B-segment: it’s more comfortable than many other FIATs, it’s well equipped and priced ‘reasonably’ for this day and age. Admittedly, this is no sports car, but both in town and on small country roads around Turin, the 600 e does the job with ease and comfort. Body movements are well controlled and there are no untimely reactions from the suspension. The most uneven surfaces and potholes are easily absorbed. Acceleration is smooth and quiet, even though in Eco mode, it obviously felt a little more lazy than in Normal or Sport mode. In fact, the latter is more suited to city driving than road use.
The steering is rather light and could be less assisted. Even in Sport mode, it’s not very communicative and knowing what the driving wheels are doing can be tricky. Bends taken at moderate speeds can be deceiving. It’s easy to underestimate things and having to steer harder at the last moment to avoid ending on the left-hand lane. The brake pedal could do with a little more consistency ; it takes a little time to adjust the power but the car slows down and stops easily in all circumstances.
A hybrid 600 soon
A hybrid version will soon be on the program ! This Peugeot 208 cousin will get a three-cylinder, 100 bhp combustion engine with a starter-alternator coupled to a 29 bhp electric motor located in the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. CO2 emissions will be 110 g/km. This 48V hybrid is designed to convince private buyers who are still reluctant to go electric and, as FIAT discreetly puts it, will be available on markets where charging points are not yet widely deployed. That means Italy, Belgium…
In conclusion…
Fiat is pinning a lot of hopes on this compact car aimed at couples and singles who don’t venture much outside cities. The manufacturer thinks that the 600 e’s looks and Italian character, as well as its fun and playfulness, will enable it to stand out from rivals such as the MG4, the Kia Niro EV and other competitively-priced Chinese offerings. (Translation: Dimitri Urbain)
