The new Fiat 600 crossover has arrived in Ireland, and with a starting price of €28,995, it’s coming in cheaper than most of its competition.
Hybrid or fully-electric
The new model - larger and roomier than the diminutive 500, as the name suggests, and with a five-door layout and a 360-litre boot - will be available as both a hybrid and a fully-electric car, with a 51kWh battery and a range of up to 400km on one charge.
The most affordable electric model costs € 32,995, and there are more expensive Dolce Vita and La Prima trims if you want a bit more equipment. As standard, you get a seven-inch digital instrument screen, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, cruise control, keyless start, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, and air conditioning.
Enduring popularity
John Saunders, Managing Director at Fiat Ireland, said, "We are excited to introduce the stunning new Fiat 600 to our lineup. Building on the enduring popularity of the iconic 500 among Irish drivers, we believe this new model will resonate just as strongly. Arriving just in time for the 242 registration period, we are confident that the Fiat 600 will significantly boost our market share in Ireland."
You can really spec the 600 up, too. The La Prima model comes with synthetic leather seats embossed with the Fiat badge, which are also heated and massaging. The alloy wheels go up to 18 inches optionally, and the safety kit on offer includes adaptive cruise control (ACC), an electric parking brake, autonomous emergency braking and drowsy driver detection to monitor driver concentration levels.
Italian racing red
The hybrid version uses a 100hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine backed up by a 48-volt hybrid electric motor built into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It boasts CO2 emissions of 109g/km and claimed fuel economy of 5.0 litres per 100km.
The electric 600e uses the 51kWh battery and 156hp electric motor familiar from the likes of the Jeep Avenger and Peugeot e-2008. It has an official WLTP range of 406km, but Fiat reckons that if you stick to town driving, you could get it up to almost 600km, 591km to be exact.
That electric version is currently only available in two trims - the range-topping La Prima (priced at €37,995) and the €33,995 (RED) model which is made in association with the famous HIV/AIDS charity and which is, appropriately, available in bright Italian racing red.
Actually, speaking of colours, Fiat is proudly announcing that the new 600 won’t be available in the usual palette of dull metallic grey that all other car makers offer. In fact, according to the Italians, there’s no grey in the 600 catalogue at all. Instead, all oft he 600’s colours are inspired by the Italian landscape, aside from Black, Red, and White which are all just basic colours. The Blue is meant to represent sky, Orange is for the sun, Green is for the sea, and Sand (which is a tiny bit grey…) is for earth or, y’know, sand.