Fiat 600 Hybrid review

Driving position 

As is the case with most ‘budget’ cars, the driving position is usually compromised. 

This is because the attention to detail and money has been spent on other areas of the cabin, but in the Fiat 600’s case, it’s good. Really good. 

There’s loads of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, meaning we were able to get comfortable really easily and quickly.  

We test a lot of electric and hybrid cars, where batteries mean the driver’s seat won’t go low enough, but this mild hybrid (MHEV) doesn’t have that issue. 

Taller passengers, you’re safe. 

Visibility is good out the front and to the side, but it’s a bit disappointing when you’re reversing. Our test car didn’t come with a rear camera (something we all rely on a bit too much nowadays), and we found the rear visibility isn’t the best. 

This is because the rear window sits so high up and is narrow, meaning you struggle to see smaller objects. At least you get rear parking sensors on all model variants, which is a massive help. 

And a small tip for all Fiat 600 drivers: if you want to adjust the digital driver’s display, it’s operated via buttons at the end of the stalks, not on the steering wheel. 

Tech and features 

If you've spent any amount of time in another new-ish Fiat recently, there will be no surprises in the 600’s cabin. 

It’s more or less the same as what you’d get in the 500 hatchback, but just on a slightly larger scale. 

Unlike most new cars, Fiat has kept the screen small on the 600. Too small? Quite possibly (by modern standards, at least) at just 10.25 inches. That would usually be a large screen, but it’s very stretched, so it doesn’t appear as big as most others. 

It’s also quite outdated in terms of resolution and software, but with any luck, this will change in future updates across the Fiat range. 

Though if you’re anything like us, you’ll just connect your phone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (wirelessly, we should add), so the software itself is less of a bugbear. 

Below the screen is a row of physical buttons to control a range of things, from the air-con, temp and the fan speed. These are really handy to have, and we much prefer them to on-screen temperature controls. 

Then, under that, you’ll find a wireless charger in top-spec cars, but all cars come with USB ports you can use as well. 

Engines and power 

There’s both a petrol hybrid and an electric version of the 600, but the one we’re focusing on is the Fiat 600 Hybrid.  

This comes with the choice of two engine options: a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 100hp or the same engine but with 136hp – both with a six-speed DCT automatic gearbox.  

The car we tested was the lesser 100hp, but despite having so little power, it’s surprisingly sprightly.  

It handles junctions and roundabouts with ease, and while overtaking can be tricky, the turbocharger helps hurry you along in no time. 

But for long stints up and down the M1, you can make use of cruise control (a standard fitment) and watch the miles go by. 

Handling and ride comfort 

Despite being a cheaper car, it’s surprisingly quiet at speed, and smooth and well-refined on the motorway. Usually, these sorts of cars are a bit unsettled at speed, but the 600 didn't break a sweat. 

Then, when you get into town, it handles lumps and bumps in the road just fine and thanks to its mild-hybrid setup, is quiet at low speeds, too. 

It’s no country road demon, but it deals with the twisty stuff relatively well, without too much body roll, but if you want performance, you’d be better off with the Abarth 600e. 

Boot space 

With all five seats in place, the Fiat 600 has 385 litres, extending to 1,256 litres when the rear seats are folded, which, by coincidence, is just about the right size for a large road bike. Trust us, we tested it. 

But when all the seats are up, as they usually would be, you get more space than in the 600e (364 litres) and the 350-litre boot in the old 500X – this car’s predecessor. 

When it comes to rivals, it stands up well, with the Vauxhall Mokka getting 350 litres and the Jeep Avenger’s 321-litre boot. 

Big tick for the 600 then. 

Rear seats 

The Fiat 600’s rear seat space is definitely on the cosy side, which is to be expected in a car of this size.  

Adults can fit back there if needed, but legroom and headroom are tight, especially on longer journeys.  

For shorter drives around town, it’s manageable, though taller passengers will likely feel cramped fairly quickly.  

That said, the rear bench is perfectly fine for kids, smaller adults or the occasional extra passenger when needed.  

It also works well as a flexible space for bags or shopping if you’d rather not load up the boot. 

Storage solutions 

Storage in the Fiat 600 is clever but compact, just like the car itself.  

In the cabin, you’ll find a few handy nooks and pockets for everyday items like your phone, wallet or water bottle, though nothing overly generous.  

And unique to the 600 is a storage flap that folds out over the central storage compartment below the screen to hide what’s in there. This is perfect for wallets or phones. 

It’s not designed to swallow loads, but for urban errands and general use, the 600’s storage is surprisingly practical. 

Safety 

The Fiat 600 is yet to be independently tested by Euro NCAP, and a number of its Stellantis relatives haven’t performed all that well, with the Jeep Avenger scoring three out of five stars and the Peugeot 2008 scoring four. 

It’s hard to know exactly how the 600 would rank, but with the 500 scoring a three-star rating, we expect this larger car to do better. 

Not only because of its size, but because of its onboard safety features, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition and the standard affair of airbags and electronic stability control (ESC). 

Fuel economy 

Fiat claims the 600 – no matter which engine option you choose – will get between 57.7mpg and 58.9mpg. 

Our 100hp managed to average 53.2mpg over 250 miles of varied driving. A little bit of town work, motorways and country roads.  

We think this is a good number from the MHEV unit and found it could manage around 500 miles on a tank of petrol if you’re careful with the ol’ right foot. 

Reliability 

Fiat has had a rocky past with reliability, but since going under Stellantis’ watchful eye, we’d like to think things have improved. 

Every new Fiat 600 comes with a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty, which is very standard these days, and struggles to compete with the likes of MG and Kia’s seven-year warranties. 

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