Fiat 600 Review: can a manual gearbox give this Italian crossover more appeal?
The 600 is a B-segment crossover. (Fiat)
Small crossovers dominate Britain’s roads, thanks to their raised driving positions, affordable running costs and smart looks.
Fiat is a brand that is associated with style and charisma, and the 600 is its take on the B-segment SUV class, going up against the Ford Puma and Vauxhall Mokka.
The 600 was initially launched with just an electric powertrain, before a hybrid variant later joined the range. Now, Fiat is adding more choice to the 600 line-up with a conventional petrol-engined model, which focuses on value for money and ease of ownership.
Updates
There is now the option of a new flagship Sport model. (Fiat)
Not a lot has changed externally and internally; in fact, it’s identical to what went before.
The biggest change comes from under the bonnet, where there is now the option of a standard petrol powertrain fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Furthermore, there is a new top-of-the-range Sport trim, which sits above the La Prima model and adds gloss black exterior details and new seat upholstery.
Engines and transmissions
The 600 can now be specced with a 1.2-litre petrol engine that sends its power through to a six-speed manual gearbox. (Fiat)
The 600 is available with several powertrains, but it’s the new 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine we’re focusing on.
Power is transmitted through to a six-speed manual gearbox – the first for the 600 range – and produces 98bhp and 205Nm of torque.
It can dash to 60mph in 10.3 seconds and will reach a top speed of 114mph, while Fiat claims this model can achieve up to 50.4mpg on the combined cycle.
You can also get the 600 with a mild-hybrid setup, which uses the same 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, but boasts a 48-volt battery and can be specced with a choice of 109bhp and 143bhp power outputs.
There is also a fully electric 600e, which is hooked up to a 54kWh battery pack and an electric motor to deliver a claimed range of up to 251 miles.
Behind the wheel
The manual gearbox is notchy, but it’s a lot more engaging than the hybrid model. (Fiat)
The addition of an extra pedal and a manual gearbox makes the 600 a lot more engaging compared with the hybrid model.
Its 1.2-litre turbocharged engine has a decent amount of low-down torque, which means it feels peppy around town, while the light controls make it very easy to drive.
On a twisty road, the steering is surprisingly well weighted and feels a lot more dynamic than first impressions would suggest.
The manual gearbox itself, however, isn’t the most refined with it feeling notchy and our test car occasionally crunching into second gear. It’s also not the most refined car in this segment, with a substantial amount of wind noise entering the cabin – a Hyundai Kona is quieter.
Styling
The 600 is a good-looking small crossover. (Fiat)
It’s hard for car manufacturers to make small crossovers stand out from the crowd in this hugely competitive market, but the 600 manages to be very distinctive.
From some angles, it looks like its smaller sibling – the 500 – with its bulbous front end, circular headlights and upright taillights.
Other details include the 600 badge featured on the lower-body mouldings and the optional black contrasting roof.
As it’s a Fiat, you can order the 600 in several bright colours such as Sunset Orange, Red by (RED) and Sky Blue, while the new Sport variant can be specced in Acid Green.
Interior and practicality
The cabin is functional. (Cameron Richards)
Step inside and the 600’s cabin is a nice place to be, with its brightly coloured dashboard and seat upholstery.
The only difference between the petrol model and the electrified variants is you lose the deep storage box in the centre console for the manual gearbox, but that shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.
Fiat has kept physical buttons for the climate control, while the two-spoke steering wheel has proper dials too. The materials feel cheap in places, though it’s balanced out with a good blend of dark grey gloss trim around the dashboard.
In terms of storage, there are large front door bins, a cubby hole in the centre console, a secret compartment under the centre armrest, a place to put your mobile phone under the climate control dials as well as a small glove box.
Rear-seat space is more than acceptable with six-foot-plus adults having just about enough headroom, legroom and kneeroom for a short journey.
In the back, the 600 petrol provides 385 litres of boot space, which is 69 litres less than on a Ford Puma, and 79 litres below a Hyundai Kona. The 60:40 split-folding rear seat does expand the overall volume to 1,256 litres, though it’s not the most usable in this class.
Prices and trim levels
The 600 petrol starts at £23,995. (Fiat)
The 600 is available in four trim levels: Pop, Icon, La Prima and Sport, while every model is well equipped and priced competitively.
Pop (£23,995): This is the entry-level car and features equipment such as LED headlights, rear parking sensors, a 10.25-inch infotainment system, DAB radio and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Icon (£24,995): For an extra £1,000, the Icon model has all of the equipment of the Pop and more, including a reversing camera, a six-speaker sound system, a wireless smartphone charger and front parking sensors.
La Prima (£26,995): The La Prima is the poshest model in the 600 range and boasts 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, a powered tailgate and a heated front windscreen.
Sport (£26,995): The Sport is the latest addition to the 600 model line-up and is on price parity with the La Prima, adding 18-inch Black Sport alloy wheels, a gloss black body kit, a chrome exhaust tip and unique seat upholstery.
In terms of the competition, the Fiat 600 is £3,000 cheaper than a Ford Puma and more than £4,000 less than a Hyundai Kona, while both of those cars offer a similar amount of standard equipment, making the Fiat look like great value for money.
Verdict
So, does adding a conventional petrol engine with a manual gearbox bring more appeal to the Fiat 600?
We think so, as it’s more enjoyable to drive than the hybrid model, it’s cheaper, and offers the same stylish design and practical cabin.
Rivals such as the Ford Puma are slightly sharper to drive, and the Hyundai Kona is more refined, but with the 600 undercutting both of those cars on price, it shouldn’t be overlooked in this very competitive market.
Star rating: ★★★½☆
Pros:
More engaging to drive
Good-looking exterior
Stylish interior
Practical
Cons:
Not the most refined
Manual gearbox is a bit notchy
Lots of Stellantis-borrowed switchgear
FACTS & FIGURES
Model we’ve tested: Fiat 600 1.2-litre La Prima manual
Price of test car: £28,045
Engine: 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol
Power: 98bhp
Torque: 205Nm
0-60mph: 10.3 seconds
Top speed: 114mph
MPG: 50.4mpg
CO2 emissions: TBA
