Fiat 600e review: A family-friendly big brother

We’ll concentrate on the 600e EV. It’s a handsome looking car which has clearly been inspired by the design of the smaller Fiat 500 electric. But being five-door, it delivers a good amount of extra practicality, plus it has a decent equipment list and is now even more competitively priced. After months of seeing the bulk of its main rivals receive the Government’s Electric Car Grant, the Fiat 600e has finally qualified for the state-backed discount.

What does that mean? Well falling into Band 2 of the UK grant essentially knocks £1500 off the starting prices. That means you can now bag a 600e for as little as £25,495. And that’s not bad for a car which has a claimed all-electric range of up to 254-miles. Significantly it’s now even cheaper that its main rival, the excellent Ford Puma Gen-E which starts at £26,245 … and that’s after receiving the much more attractive £3750 Band 1 Government Grant. Coincidentally, the 600e is now also cheaper than its mild-hybrid petrol sibling.

Sounds intriguing, tell me more

The Fiat 600 is more grown up than the 500, which means it doesn’t quite deliver the same amount of quirky fun as the smaller car. But what it does combine is a more mature feel and look, allied to much greater family-friendly practicality than the 500.

It’s that combination, Fiat believes, that means the 600 appeals not just to small families who require just one car, but also to city-based couples and singles.

How much is the 600e?

Over the last six months, Fiat has been very aggressive with the pricing of its 600e. At the end of December 2025, the entry-level Pop trim was £30,035. Then Fiat swiped £3285 off its price from January 2026 taking it down to £26,750. Now, including on-the-road charges, plus the Government Grant, the starting price for the Pop is £25,495.

The rest of the 600e range sees the Icon priced from £26,495; the La Prima starts at £28,495, the same as the range-topping Sport.

All models deliver 154bhp using the same second-generation separately excited synchronous motor and 54kWh battery as seen recently in fellow Stellantis models, the Vauxhall Astra Electric and Peugeot e-308. You can clearly see how the parent company is maximising its parts bin to achieve economies of scale.

Performance and drive comfort

Fiat has been clever in setting up the 600e to soak up the urban bumps and lumps that we all know have become far too common on our daily drives. Coping admirably with city centre potholes means the 600e is a comfortable place to be. As you might expect, it’s not the fastest small electric SUV, but its top speed of 93mph and 0-62mph time of 9.0secs is perfectly adequate for everyday jobs. In town the light but precise steering is another major positive, making negotiating the tightest supermarket car parks a dawdle.

Perhaps surprisingly, if and when you do decide to put the 600e through its paces on your favourite A- or B-road, you’ll find it does a super job of gripping through corners even if there’s a bit of body lean. But let’s be honest, that’s not really the type of driving you’re going to be doing in the 600e. It is after all a family-orientated runabout.

Worth pointing out that the 600e delivers its power to the front wheels, and it’s significantly lighter than a number of rival EVs in its sector. The 600e tips the scales at a tad under 1600kg in its top spec, meaning it’s around 100kg lighter than the Renault Megane E-Tech, and a whopping 300kg – or as near as makes no difference – less than the Smart #1. And despite its lightness, the 600e gets a heat pump fitted as standard.

Fiat has calibrated the EV with three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. In both Eco and Normal the driver can only access around 107bhp, meaning you need to be in Sport mode to maximise the full 154bhp. That said, there’s definitely enough EV punch in both Eco and Normal for the 600e to cope comfortably with everyday traffic and daily commuting.

Another positive is the calibration of the brakes. Fiat has cleverly balanced the feel between the regenerative braking system and the discs and pads of the mechanical braking system. Overall the 600e experience is pleasantly refined.

How big is it …

Forget any comparisons to alternative Fiat models. The model the 600e is most comparable to in terms of dimensions is, no surprise, the Jeep Avenger. The Fiat is 4171mm long, 1781mm wide (1981mm including mirrors), and 1523 tall. It’s capable of transporting five passengers and has a bootspace of 360-litres.

The Avenger is 4084mm long, 1776mm wide and 1536mm tall. Both cars have an almost identical wheelbase – the Fiat is a whole 2mm longer – essentially because both cars are built on the same product architecture.

… and how practical is the 600e?

Space upfront is decent for two adults but, like the Avenger, rear seating space is on the ‘cosy’ side. Shortish adults will be able to get comfortable in the rear – and by shortish I include myself at 5ft 8in – but it’s obviously ideal for younger children. If you’re pushing 6ft, you’ll find yourself squishing your knees against the back of the two front seats. Never comfortable for either party.

One natural disappointment is the lack of a sliding rear seat, similar to that found in the Smart #1, which would reduce bootspace but allow more legroom for rear passengers.

In terms of bootspace, you can carry 360-litres of luggage and there’s a neat variable-height floor which allows you to store the charging cables. Frustratingly there’s no additional ‘frunk’ under the bonnet. That’s a pity because it would have been an ideal place to stash the cables. Instead, of course, if you have the boot packed you then need to remove the items to access the charging cables.

The front passenger seat has an Isofix point – just remember to disable the passenger airbag if you’re fitting a rear-facing child seat – plus there’s another two in the rear.

There’s also a large accordion-lidded centre console storage bin which is a perfect dumping ground for … well, everything really: mobile phone, sunglasses, parking receipts, sweeties, you know the type of thing.

Interior style, infotainment and tech:

There’s no getting away from the fact the cabin of the 600e mirrors much of what’s found in the Jeep Avenger. But that’s no bad thing really. Yes the 600e gets its own rounded instrument cowl and upper dashboard design, but the rest? Well it’s pretty much straight out of the Avenger, including the air vents, indicator stalks, steering wheel button consoles and ventilation controls.

Both the Fiat and the Jeep also share the same 10.25in Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system which is located high up on the dash. Graphics are clear, the display is crisp, plus there are big on-screen buttons to press. Both versions of the 600e come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus they each get a 7.0in digital instrument screen.

Across the entire range, standard kit is high with even the Pop benefitting from LED headlights and running lights, Keyless Go, auto high/low beams, rear parking sensors, 17in diamond cut alloys, plus a comprehensive suite of safety functions. The Icon trim adds features such as front & rear parking sensors with 180-degree rearview camera, passive entry plus Keyless Go, traffic sign recognition and information, a six-speaker audio system plus a wireless charging pad for your smartphone.

The top two trims raise the bar even higher, with La Prima adding, amongst other goodies, 360-degree parking sensors with 180-degree rearview camera, six-way electrically adjustable drivers seat with lumber adjustment and massage function, a hands-free power tailgate, adaptive cruise control with Level 2 autonomous driving and Stop&Go function, privacy glass and 18in alloys. Opt for the Sport, and you add 18in gloss black sport alloys, black door handles, a matt black side skirt plus black sport eco-leather and soft-touch fabric seats with grey stitching.

Range and charging

All trim levels of the 600e use a 54kWh battery pack (50.8kWh useable) resulting in a range of between 254 and 252-miles on a single charge. If you restrict your driving solely to the town, Fiat says range could increase to 370-miles.

I mentioned previously the car is also fitted with a heat pump as standard. This comes into its own in the colder months simply because it’s a more efficient way of heating the interior. That in turn means the range shouldn’t fall drastically when the outside temperature drops.

When it comes to charging, the Fiat supports speeds of up to 100kW. That equates to refilling the battery from 20-80% in just under 30-minutes. Use a 7kW overnight home wallbox charger and you’ll get the job done in a tad over eight hours.

Safety and warranty

As you would expect, all the safety assistance technology you would expect to be fitted is certainly found on the 600e. That includes lane keep assistance, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, and autonomous emergency braking, which should avoid or mitigate low-speed collisions with other vehicles and vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians.

All new Fiat cars have a three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty.

Verdict

If you’re looking for a good value, small electric SUV with stylish looks both inside and out, a strong and appealing equipment list, plus attractive short and rapid charging times, then the 600e is certainly worth considering.

Do, however, consider the relative lack of space in the rear. If that’s a priority for you, then it’s worth looking at the Hyundai Kona Electric, or even the Smart #1 with its clever sliding rear bench seat.

Fiat 600e facts

Price: From £25,495 (incl Govt Grant)

Powertrain: 54kWh battery, with separately excited synchronous motor

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 192ib/ft

Driveline layout: Front, transverse, front-wheel drive

Top speed / 0-62mph: 93mph / 9.0sec

Range: 252-254 miles

Charging: Up to 100kW (20-80% in 30mins)

Dimensions (length/width/height in mm): 4171 / 1781 / 1523mm