Fiat embraces nostalgia, launching retro 600e compact electric SUV with 248 miles of range ^↺

Fiat has recently announced the Fiat 600e as the big sister to its ever-popular 500 compact car line-up. As the naming suggests, the 600e is slightly larger than the Fiat 500, bolstering the brand's compact SUV options with an electric offering. Fiat and Stellantis don't mention where, exactly, the motor sits in the 600e, but it's safe to say that it's front-wheel-drive, since it shares a platform with the Jeep Avenger, which notoriously has no AWD option.

At just 4,171 mm (~164 in.) long, 1,781 mm (70 in.) wide, and 1,523 mm (60 in.) tall, the 600e is shorter, narrower, and ever so slightly taller than a 2022 Volkswagen Golf, putting it squarely in compact territory. What's more, it manages to be this compact while still packing 154 hp and a reasonable 54 kWh battery that Fiat says will deliver 248 miles of combined WLTP range. The drivetrain configuration, body size, and 9.0-second 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time suggest that Fiat is targeting comfort and convenience rather than performance.

Reinforcing the comfort and convenience goal, Fiat has equipped the 600e with a host of safety and quality-of-life features, like a hands-free tailgate, 180° rear-view camera, and blind spot detection, as well as Level 2 assisted driving features on some trim levels. Fiat also claims the relatively small battery pack in the 600e can charge up to 80% in around a half an hour, thanks to 100-kW fast charging.

Fiat is already taking pre-orders for the 600e, and the sub-£35,000 (sub-US$40,000) starting MSRP for the vehicle puts it in a strong position to compete with the likes of the new Volvo EX30 and the smash-hit Hyundai Ioniq 5, although some might consider the Ioniq 5 a more premium vehicle thanks to its longer legs and higher price tag.

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