Fiat 600e is intending to infuse some ‘La Dolce Vita’– the wonderful life– into our car deals with its brand-new all-electric 600e household crossover.
But information surrounding its arrival is whatever but pleasant – actually, you could claim it’s a little sour.
That’s because the current decline popular for electric cars in the UK has forced the hands of Fiat bigwigs to hastily reveal a more affordable crossbreed version will certainly additionally involve Britain, in the hope it will prop-up sales while EV need gets on the rocks.
We have actually driven the 600e EV to figure out if it’s worth the ₤ 33,000 outlay – or if you must hold tight for the crossbreed to hit showrooms.
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The original Fiat 600 was released in 1955 and marketed 23 million throughout Europe before being terminated in 1969.
Yet my word, how it has expanded because.
That very early automobile gauged just 3.12 m. The new 600e is 4.17 m and sits in between two previous versions– the Fiat Punto (4.07 m) and the Fiat 500X SUV (4.27 cm), noting Fiat’s return to the ‘B-sector’ of mid-range cars and trucks.
But checking out Fiat’s limited range of brand-new designs today, the 600e needs to be taken into consideration the larger sibling of the flagship Fiat 500 electric automobile.
It aims to capture much of that enjoyable however in a larger, extra useful, plan that appeals to households.
Fiat 600e: Just how much does it set you back?
The 154hp all-electric 600e with a 54kWh battery accelerates from rest to 62mph in 9 secs approximately a full throttle of 93mph.
With a range of as much as 254 miles, it could – in theory – get you from London to Middlesbrough on a solitary charge. Though we are conscious that ‘official’ array figures need to be taken with a pinch of salt – and the mileage insurance claim is additionally affected by seasonal conditions.
The 600e will certainly be readily available in the UK in 2 trim degrees.
The base 600e Red starts from ₤ 32,995 while the higher-specced 600e La Prima – which is the model we drove at launch – rings in from ₤ 36,995.
So it’s fair to say that the 600e isn’t inexpensive.
Yet Fiat use its own ₤ 3,000 ‘e-grant’ payment– efficiently a discount – to consumers purchasing its pure electric EV automobiles, including the 600e.
It’s a two-finger salute to the federal government, which still has really little in regards to gives towards EVs and homechargers, regardless of priests’ determined requirement to enhance electric auto sales to satisfy their clean-air targets.
With the e-grant taken into consideration, it brings the cost paid for to ₤ 29,995 and ₤ 33,995, specifically. This makes the 600e one of the most budget-friendly family-size EVs in the UK, however is still some ₤ 4,000 pricier than the MG4.
Fiat 600e – first impressions
Will it fit in my garage? Fiat 600e
Constructed: Tychy, Poland
For sale: currently
Price: from ₤ 32,995.
Size: 4,171 mm.
Width with mirrors: 1,981 mm.
Elevation: 1,523 mm.
Wheelbase: 2,562 mm.
Kerb weight: 1,520 kg.
Propulsion: Electric Motor.
Power: 115kw/ 154hpkWh.
Battery: 54kWh.
Velocity 0-62mph: 9 seconds.
Top speed: 93mph.
Exhausts: Absolutely no.
Car Import Tax Duty: Absolutely No.
Array from a complete fee: 252 miles.
Billing times:.
11kW AC (to 100 percent) wall-charger: 5 hours 45 minutes.
100kW DC (to 80 percent) raid charger: 27 minutes.
3.7 kW a/c to 100 percent: 16 hours 10 minutes.
Boot quantity: 360 litres.
Though an Italian brand – with the Italian flag happily flying on the back bumper – the 600e is in fact integrated in Poland, where Fiat has long-standing web links.
Riding on 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels (RED has 16 inch), our La Prima 600e test automobile was well equipped with set including rear privacy glass, chrome accents, a six-way power-adjustable chauffeur’s seat with massage, and sat-nav added to the 10.25-inch central touchscreen, a hands-free powered boot lid.
It has 3 driving settings: ‘Normal’ for travelling; a frugal ‘Eco’ mode; and, finally, ‘Sport’, which develops the throttle response for the most sprightly feeling.
In the latter mode, the 600e feels remarkably involving at the wheel, specifically when considering this is a household runaround.
It’s charismatic, lovely and comfortable with good array. Okay, the efficiency is much from Ferrari, but it’s involving sufficient for the ordinary British licence owner.
There are some beautiful style touches, too.
This includes the flip and fold cover on the centre console storage space cubby hole which mirrors that of an iPad.
And it has appropriate physical switches for air-con. Bellissimo!
Lots of safety functions come as criterion.
This includes adaptive cruise control, web traffic indicator and speed limitation recognition (crucial with many 20mph areas), autonomous emergency braking, lane departure caution, pedestrian and bicyclist detection an.
Spec as much as the La Prima and you even get blind spot discovery, a back view 180 level video camera and semi-autonomous Level 2 driving ability.
As for space, the rear seats are roomy sufficient for two adults, while the boot’s 380-litres of baggage space is on the same level with a Volkswagen Golf.
You need to pay ₤ 600 to not drive an orange cars and truck.
While car customers will primarily be impressed by the safety and security package available, not everyone will certainly be taken with Fiat’s common colour alternatives.
The Italian marque claims its new ‘La Dolce Vita’ ideology to bring an extra colourful, chirpier tone to the roadways is why its – free – basic paint is orange.
It claims this is to stand for the Italian sunlight, while sceptics will certainly claims it’s an inventive way to make clients pay extra for a much less eccentric tone.
The ₤ 600 optional paints include stone, blue and eco-friendly, which reflect Italy’s earth, skies and sea, obviously.
While Fiat’s endeavours to brighten up Britain’s roads can be praised, it’s an extremely strong relocate to not supply the most popular UK new vehicle cars and truck colour for the last 6 years running.
In 2023, greater than a quarter (26.8 percent) of all brand-new vehicles were grey, which stands for over half a million sales.
While grey is off limits, both black and white (Britain’s second and third most popular new auto colours) are among the ₤ 600 options.
And while we’re speaking about essential additionals, an improved charging wire is likewise a ₤ 400 option. Boo!
Fiat’s final call to present a 600 Crossbreed.
While we were excited with how well the 600e drove and its practicalities, there is a petrol-power fly in the ointment.
The new 600 was originally meant just as an electrical vehicle. Nevertheless, concerned that sales normally of pure electric cars to exclusive purchasers have plateaued– and also dropped– Fiat has actually taken a decision to add a mild crossbreed option to the line up.
A lack of public charging points and the removal of government EV gives from personal buyers has actually added to this trouble, says Fiat.
Or rephrase, the political course who ‘chat the talk’ are stopping working to ‘walk the stroll’ on matters of electrification.
Having marched the electric motor market up capital of switching over to electric cars and trucks and banning petrol and diesel from 2030, the political leaders and campaigners stopped working to represent genuine actual consumers being luke-warm on the idea and failing to purchase what is being created in sufficient numbers.
So is the crossbreed a much better selection for Britons for the time-being? The last stepping-stone to full electrification in 2035, perhaps?
Well, on rate alone, the 600 Crossbreed does seem far better value.
It will cost from ₤ 23,965 when driving and the top of the array 600 Hybrid La Prima from ₤ 26,965. That is a difference of ₤ 10,030 on the price of range-topping La Prima electrical and hybrid models.
The new 100 horsepower 600 Hybrid weds a thrifty 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petroleum engine to a 21hp electric motor and a 1KW battery, linked to a 6-speed automated transmission.
Acceleration is no suit for the 600e, stomping from 0 to 62mph is 10.9 seconds (1.9 seconds slower).
Fiat 600e: Cars & motoring verdict.
We liked the practical effervescence and easy enjoyable of the all-electric 600e.
While the entrance 600e Red is pretty well stocked too, we assume the ₤ 4,000 premium to trade up to La Prima deserves it for the valuable extras it supplies.
Driving it from Broadway in the Cotswolds and passing through the freeways, byways and towns and villages of rural Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire was a delight– not quite the Tuscany cherished of middle-class British vacationers and second homeowners, however perhaps the closest we have to Italy’s ‘Ciantishire’.
Fiat – like the Godfather – is an Italian that intends to make you a deal you can’t decline.
Though if it wasn’t for the e-grant offer, many motorists would certainly find the rate uncomfortably high.
Despite the ₤ 3,000 off, it’s tough to look beyond the rate premium over the 600 Hybrid.
Till Britain’s roads are much better furnished with chargers, it’s difficult to argue against playing it safe and selecting the ‘energized’ hybrid instead of the all-singing, all-dancing 600e EV.