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By Jonathan Crouch

Fiat's pretty little 600 family hatch makes more sense in Hybrid form, thinks Jonathan Crouch.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 51

Fiat's 600 family hatch has garnered plenty of headlines in full-EV form, but it's this Hybrid version that could arguably make more sense for quite a few potential customers. It's largely electric for suburban travel, as you might want to be. There's also a frugal combustion engine for the open road.

Backgroundword count: 127

If the market for full EVs hadn't slowed as much as it has recently, the only version of Fiat's rather pretty 600 family hatch we'd have for our market would be a full-EV. That was certainly the brand's intention for the UK when they first launched this model. But it turns out that an increasing number of customers in this segment want an interim full-Hybrid step to full electrification. Which is why Fiat's thought again and widened the 600 range to include the Hybrid version we're looking at here. This car uses much the same dual clutch auto 1.2-litre Hybrid petrol three cylinder drivetrain we've now seen in quite a few Stellantis Group models. But gets the 100hp supermini-orientated version of it. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 236

Built on the Stellantis Group's advanced CMP2 platform, the 600 Hybrid is structurally the same as its EV range stablemate. But gets an advanced 48V petrol-electric powertrain that works through a dual clutch 6-speed automatic gearbox. Unlike with the Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 308 and Citroen C4 models that use this drivetrain, this Hybrid unit features here in its lesser 100hp form (as used by the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 superminis), rather than the 136hp version of this drivetrain that features on those other Stellantis Group family hatch rivals. It's still a clever set-up though. The auto gearbox's casing houses the DC inverter, the Engine Control Unit and a little 28hp electric motor powered by a tiny battery secreted beneath the front passenger seat. On the move, the petrol engine and the electric motor can operate together - or separately. And, unlike with a mild hybrid system like that fitted to say, a Golf eTSI, here the car can be driven for short urban distances (under 18mph) on electric power alone. The motor also assists the engine under acceleration - such as from standstill to 62mph, which takes 10.9s (about 3 seconds slower than an equivalent Astra, 308 or C4) en route to 114mph. During deceleration, the petrol engine stops and the e-motor acts as a generator to recharge the Hybrid system's 48V battery. The battery also stores the energy recuperated by the regenerative braking system.

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