Fiat 600 verdict
Should you buy one?
If you like the way the it looks, can put up with the slightly downmarket interior quality and don’t need an exciting driving experience then the Fiat 600 Hybrid is perfectly fine. Some aspects of the hybrid powertrain are even quite impressive – the gearbox in particular – and it feels quicker than the on-paper numbers suggest.
However, rear space is tight and the boot small, somewhat limiting its appeal to families. The suspension never really settles into a truly comfortable ride, and the letterbox-sized infotainment screen seems rather miserly. Pricing is keen, so it does at least have that going for it.
We’d pick other cars ahead of it, though, starting with the Skoda Kamiq. Which although not available with any kind of hybrid system is otherwise a better all-round small SUV and family car.
What we like
The Fiat 600 Hybrid is stylish on the outside, has plenty of space for passengers in the front and comes with an unusually sophisticated mild hybrid system that can actually drive the car on electric power alone for short periods. Performance is smooth.
What we don’t like
The interior quality doesn’t feel good enough to us, the ride is unsettled and there’s not enough space in the rear seats or boot – especially considering the amount of space the 600 seems to take up on the road. Overall, you can do better.