• Relatively small battery pack
• 250-mile range is optimistic at best
• Supports 100kW DC rapid charging

What are the running costs?

The Fiat 600e is built on the same e-CMP2 architecture found under most small Stellantis electric cars, but it’s powered by the group’s new 54kWh battery pack. This new tech was introduced with the Jeep Avenger and is steadily being rolled out across the company’s family of cars.

The Italians reckon that’s enough to give the 600e a maximum range of 250 miles with a mixture of motorway and city driving, or up to 375 miles if you’re just dithering around town. But, like the Jeep Avenger and Peugeot e-2008, the 600e can’t achieve its official range predictions in the real world.

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We couldn’t get anywhere near the 5.0 miles per kWh efficiency you’d need to hit 250 miles. In fact, we found the 600e’s real range to be sitting around the 200-mile mark.

There’s one crumb of comfort, though. The 600e charges much more quickly than the older Stellantis EVs based on the previous version of the e-CMP architecture thanks to some snazzy 100kW DC rapid charging. As such, its battery can charge from 20 to 80% capacity in less than half an hour. Slower 11kW AC charging is also supported – and that can fully recharge the car’s cells in around six hours.

Servicing and warranty

Fiat offers a service plan to help you spread the cost of maintenance. They’re managed through the company’s dealer network, so shop around for the best deal. You can also choose to extend the 600e’s warranty for an additional fee, giving you up an extra three years of coverage.

That’s just as well because the Fiat 600e comes as standard with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. That looks incredibly stingy alongside the five-year warranty offered with the Hyundai Kona Electric or the seven-year warranty delivered with the Kia Niro EV. It’s also worth noting that, like its rivals, the 600e’s battery is warrantied for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Reliability

• Underpinnings are used in lots of cars
• Fewer mechanical components on an EV
• Still rather difficult to call a judgement

The Fiat 600e has only been on sale in the UK since early 2024, which means it’s difficult to call an accurate judgement on its long-term reliability. Fiat’s reputation for reliability isn’t exactly sparkling, but the 600e has a trump card. It’s based on a platform that’s found under loads of cars in the Stellantis group.

One of these is the Vauxhall Corsa – and that’s proved itself to be a dependable small car for almost four years now. Plus, it’s regularly appeared near the top of the UK’s list of best-selling cars since it was launched, so drivers are obviously happy with its reliability.

We’ll monitor how the Fiat 600e performs over the next year and update you soon.