Review: Fiat 600 Hybrid La Prima
The Fiat 600, big brother to the 500, has a lot to recommend it, says Julie Marshall
If you like the idea, and the look of, of Fiat’s dinky little 500 but just can’t live with the cramped conditions in the rear and the lack of decent luggage space, then you might want to take a look at its big brother - the 600.
Not quite as cute as the 500, it nevertheless has plenty going for it. Not least a choice of two decent hybrid petrol engines, the 100 and the 136, as well as the all-electric 600e. It will comfortably seat four - or five at a pinch.
Although ostensibly a city car, it just about tips into the small SUV class.
The 600 shares many of the 500’s parts and those of other Stellantis models.
There are now three levels of trim. The entry-level Hybrid, the mid-range Icon and our test car, the top spec La Prima.
All feature keyless ignition, smartphone integration, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen
and 40/60 split rear seats.
La Prima has a lot of extra premium kit, including hands-free powered tailgate, heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam and a whole host of safety features, including rain and dusk sensor, rear view camera and automatic climate control.
It delivers 147bhp from a three-cylinder petrol engine and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds, so it is quite nippy and a pleasure to drive.
The six-speed automatic gearbox is also rather good, and if you prefer to be more in control of gear changes, there are paddles at the rear of the steering wheel.
Together they help the 600 Hybrid to make a quiet getaway and deliver a prompt response on acceleration.
No one would argue that the 600 is best suited for long-distance motoring, but whether pottering around town at 20mph or battling up the motorway at 70mph, it proves to be more than capable.
Just don’t expect it to hug the corners and fly around bends like a sports car - the steering is a bit light for that.
Mild hybrids are economical, and this 600 has an official combined figure of 58.9mpg. An achievable goal if you are light of foot.
And, as it’s a mild hybrid, there is the potential to turn off the petrol engine for a short period and under certain conditions - driving under 20mph and for just over half a mile.
The interior of our car came with smart ivory leather seats and nice chrome touches on the dashboard and door trim.
The controls on the steering wheel are clearly labelled and accessible, and we particularly like the gear selection buttons, which are laid out in a row at the top of the centre console.
Like other 600s, it has a quirky folding vinyl cover over the storage bin.
The price for the 600 La Prima is £29,360. Our test car came in at £950 more with the addition of the bi-colour roof.
Specification
Fiat 600 Hybrid La Prima
Price: £29,360 (as tested £30,310)
Engine: 1.2 litre mild hybrid petrol
Power: 147bhp
Torque: 151lb/ft
Transmission: Six-speed DCT
Top speed: 124mph
0-62mph: 8.5 seconds
CO 2 emissions:109g/km