Fiat's New 600e Is a Chic Electric Successor to the 500X SUV

Fiat unveiled a new EV for the European market called the 600e that slots in above the electric version of the 500.The 600e is a few inches shorter than the 500X crossover, the only model Fiat currently sells in the U.S. It is rated at 249 miles of range in Europe. The 600e has 154 horsepower reaches 62 mph in a claimed 9.0 seconds. It is not expected to reach the U.S. market as Fiat prepares to launch the 500e here next year.

Last fall, Jeep unveiled its first EV, a tiny crossover called the Avenger for the European market. Now Fiat has created its own spin on the same platform, revealing the new 600e today with a cute design, solid all-electric range, and a chic-looking interior. Fiat says the electric underpinnings bring more interior space and an “increased Dolce Vita feel.” We’ll have to figure out a new test to measure whatever that means.

Fiat

The 600 name hails from the 1950s, when Fiat launched a slightly bigger alternative to the iconic 500, and the new 600e occupies a similar space in the current Fiat lineup. At 164.2 inches long, the 600e stretches about 14.0 inches further than the 500e. But it’s around 8.0 inches shy of a 2023 Kia Rio, among the smallest cars on sale in the U.S. today. The 600e still fits five passengers and offers nearly 13 cubic feet of space in the cargo area.

Like the Avenger, the 600e uses a 54.0-kWh lithium-ion battery, providing over 249 miles of range on Europe’s WLTP test cycle, which typically returns more optimistic numbers than the EPA’s. In city driving, which will be the 600e’s comfort zone, Fiat claims a range of over 373 miles. Fiat says the 600e can charge at up to 100 kW, replenishing the battery to 80 percent in under 30 minutes. A single electric motor sends 154 horsepower to the front wheels, and Fiat says that the 600e can reach 62 mph in 9.0 seconds.

Fiat

The 600e features similarly rounded styling to the 500e, with lots of smooth surfacing and soft-looking, friendly features. Like the 500e, the oval LED headlights envelop a piece of body-colored trim, mirrored by the running lights below. Within the wheel arches—accented by black trim that extends down the side skirts—are 18-inch wheels with a snazzy design, at least on the higher trims. There are “600e” badges on every side of the car, with the logo in the rear incorporating the colors of the Italian flag.

The ovoid styling continues inside, where the curved dashboard sprouts a 10.3-inch screen that runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This is complemented by a 7.0-inch digital gauge display, and the 600e also packs a wireless charger and plenty of USB ports. The ambient lighting can be set to eight different colors and there’s also a hands-free power liftgate and a six-speaker sound system. The driver’s seat is power adjustable and offers a back-massage function as standard, which Fiat says will help you enter “complete Italian spa time.”

The 600e will add a hybrid powertrain by the middle of next year, after the electric version reaches Italian customers starting in September. Beyond that, it’s unclear what Fiat has planned for the 600e. The 600e is just a few inches shorter than the 500X, which has been soldiering on since 2016. But Fiat’s CEO told Car and Driver last year that there will not be a replacement for the 500X in the U.S., with the brand fully focused on the 500e that hits the American market in 2024, so the 600e will presumably remain forbidden fruit.

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Associate News Editor

Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.