Fiat's pretty little 600 family hatch makes more sense in Hybrid form, thinks Jonathan Crouch.

Background

If the market for full EVs hadn't slowed as much as it has recently, the only version of Fiat's rather pretty 600 family hatch we'd have for our market would be a full-EV. That was certainly the brand's intention for the UK when they first launched this model. But it turns out that an increasing number of customers in this segment want an interim full-Hybrid step to full electrification. Which is why Fiat's thought again and widened the 600 range to include the Hybrid version we're looking at here. This car uses much the same dual clutch auto 1.2-litre Hybrid petrol three cylinder drivetrain we've now seen in quite a few Stellantis Group models. And gets both 100hp and 136hp versions of it. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

Built on the Stellantis Group's advanced CMP2 platform, the 600 Hybrid is structurally the same as its EV range stablemate. But gets an advanced 48V petrol-electric powertrain that works through a dual clutch 6-speed automatic gearbox. As with the Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 308 and Citroen C4 models that use this drivetrain, this Hybrid unit is available with 145hp, but most customers will choose it in its lesser 110hp form (as used by the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 superminis). It's a clever set-up. The auto gearbox's casing houses the DC inverter, the Engine Control Unit and a little 28hp electric motor powered by a tiny battery secreted beneath the front passenger seat. On the move, the petrol engine and the electric motor can operate together - or separately. And, unlike with a mild hybrid system like that fitted to say, a Golf eTSI, here the car can be driven for short urban distances (under 18mph) on electric power alone. The motor also assists the engine under acceleration - such as from standstill to 62mph, which in the 110hp model takes 10.9s (it's 8.5s for the 145hp version) en route to 114mph (or 124mph for the 145hp model). During deceleration, the petrol engine stops and the e-motor acts as a generator to recharge the Hybrid system's 48V battery. The battery also stores the energy recuperated by the regenerative braking system.

Design and Build

Is this the most eye-catching mainstream brand small hatch money can buy? Very possibly. You'll immediately notice the 'eye-lid'-style LED headlights. And possibly the fact that the usual central brand badge has been dropped in favour of the model number. In size and profile, the 600e isn't that far off the brand's 500X small SUV, the crossover theme here indicated by wheels of up to 18-inches in size, along with matt black skirts and wheel arches. There's 4.17-metres of body length, about 8cm more than this Fiat's Jeep Avenger close cousin. Inside, it's actually very similar to that Jeep, though Fiat has tried to disguise the fact by carrying forward the thin-rimmed two-spoke wheel and the climate controls from the smaller 500e model. The 10.25-inch centre touchscreen is shared with the Avenger; and there's a 7-inch digital instrument display. Various handy cabin storage compartments collectively offer 15-litres of stowage space. The quality of the materials used around this interior is nothing to write home about. But there's plenty of cabin storage space. And some fashionable touches like the lovely variant-branded magnetic folding panel on the centre tunnel; and the intricately-stitched seats of the top 'La Prima' version. Fiat engineers focused quite a lot on rear seat occupants. Getting inside has been made easier by making the door ring 37 millimetres wider. Legroom and roominess in the back was maximised by moving the design's fundamental 'H' points, which allowed for a gain of an extra 30mm of legroom. The result isn't quite as spacious as those claims would lead you to expect and adults in the back behind lanky front occupants will need co-operation from those ahead. Boot space is average at 360-litres. If you fold the rear seat flat, up to 1,231-litres of luggage room can be freed up.

Market and Model

There are three 600 Hybrid variants on offer; a base 'Pop' version priced from around £26,000, a mid-spec 'Icon' version at around £27,000 and 'Sport' and 'La Prima' variants for which around £29,000 is required. Add £1,000 in each case if you want to upgrade from the 100hp engine to the 136hp unit. These figures are similar to the cost of the alternative all-electric 600e model (which benefits from a £1,500 Electric Car Grant deduction). Standard features on the base model include 17-inch Diamond-Cut alloy wheels, Black & Ivory bi-colour fabric upholstery and heated front seats. Other standard features include a 7-inch TFT digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch Uconnect central infotainment touchscreen. You also get rear parking sensors, LED headlights, cruise control, an auto dimming frameless rear view mirror and keyless go locking. You can add red paint at no extra cost. 'Icon'-spec adds Black and Ivory bi-colour fabric seats, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera with 180-degree view and satellite navigation. Premium features on the plusher 'La Prima' version run to larger 18-inch Diamond-Cut alloy wheels, more luxurious 'Eco-Leather' seats, driver seat massage, wireless 'phone charging and Level 2 autonomous driving tech. At this level in the range, you can add Fiat's special 'Sun of Italy' paint finish. Various other optional paint upgrades are also available. Safety features fitted across the 600 range include autonomous emergency braking and vulnerable road user projection. Plus there's lane keeping assist and an intelligent speed assistant. Along with traffic sign information and drowsy driver detection.

Cost of Ownership

Both versions of this 600 Hybrid manage up to 57.6mpg on the combined cycle, which for some reason is about 5mpg less than an identically-engined Citroen C4 Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 and about 3mpg less than an (also identically-engined) Vauxhall Astra Hybrid 136 e-DSC6. The CO2 return (up to 109g/km) is also down on this car's Stellantis Group close cousins. To give you some broad Hybrid family hatch segment perspective, we'll tell you that a Toyota Corolla manages up to 62.8mpg and up to 102g/km. All 600 Hybrid models are covered by the brand's usual unremarkable three-year, unlimited mileage warranty and there's 36 months of breakdown cover included as well. Should you have a problem on a journey, you can use the 'Uconnect' infotainment system to contact roadside assistance. What else might you need to know? Well, servicing intervals are every year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Owners can keep up to date with their car's maintenance schedule via the 'My Car' section of the Fiat app, which briefs you on the time of your next service and various maintenance issues.

Summary

For all the headlines given to the full-electric version of this 600, it's this Hybrid model that it might well be worth looking at first. Because right here, right now, it might be a better bet for most potential family customers. It can run on battery power in urban conditions for at least 50% of the time. But still give you the flexibility for longer journeys that might be sometimes white-knuckle trips of range anxiety in the 600e. Visually, there's very little to give away the fact that you haven't opted for the full-EV version. And we remain of the view that the 600 is one of the most appealing-looking family hatchbacks out there. But it's this Hybrid version we'd opt for right at the moment. When the public charging infrastructure improves and if the price gap ever narrows between combustion and EV, it might be a different story.