Should you buy one?

The Fiat 600e is a difficult car to recommend because it doesn’t deliver on its goals as an electric family car. The rear seats are just too cramped and there are plenty of rivals on the market that offer more space in the boot and longer electric ranges, such as the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Despite this, we think the Fiat 600e is the best small electric SUV Stellantis has built so far. It’s the only one that rides properly and, with its bright paint finishes, cutesy smiling face and quirky cabin, it’s genuinely desirable. You’ll certainly stand out from the crowd – and its starting price of £32,995 before discounts looks rather enticing alongside the £37,295 you’ll spend on the most basic Kia Niro EV or the £35,950 required for the entry-level Smart #1.

But there’s a caveat to our praise. The 600e is the high watermark in a crashing sea of mediocrity from Stellantis. If you look outside the group, you’ll find plenty of objectively better small electric SUVs that we think you should consider first, such as those mentioned above. So, while the Kia and the Smart might be more expensive, the former offers more space inside while the latter is much more fun to drive.

What we like

A comfortable ride is welcome on Britain’s battered roads, and equipment levels are good. It’s also more affordable than most of its rivals.

What we don’t like

The real world range isn’t great, the rear seats cramped, and the boot is smaller than most rivals’.