Fiat 600 review: Fab revamp will leave you spoilt in EV or hybrid

A whole new generation of motorists fell in love with the little city car and it sold in the millions – reversing years of financial decline.

So, who could blame the Italian manufacturer – now under the Stellantis umbrella – for having another go, only this time with a larger, four-door big sister.

Yes, the epic 600 – which embodied the Dolce Vita philosophy – is back to inject a bit of colour in our lives.

Measuring 4.17 metres in length, it’s considerably bigger than its sibling and boasts enough room for a family of five, with 15 litres of interior storage and a boot with up to 385 litres.

Design-wise, this compact B-Segment crossover draws inspiration from the original and features large, bug-eye LED headlamps and corresponding spotlights below, while the 600 is emblazoned across the solid nose. It sits on super-snazzy 18-inch rims, finished in glossy black that matches the wing mirror casings and the cladding that runs from the apron, around the wheelarches to the diffuser at the rear.

Inside, it’s a masterclass in Italian chic, with bold colours in the upper dash that match the folding sassiness of the centre console. Above it are four separate buttons instead of a gear select.

It’s not short on luxury either and top-end models such as the La Prima version come with ivory synthetic leather seats with Fiat monogram embossed in the centre and turquoise piping. It also comes with three-stage heating, electrical adjustment and a back-massage function.

There are USB type A and C ports, a wireless charger for smartphone and keyless entry.

Other goodies include level-­two assisted driving with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and drowsy driver detection.

Irish customers can choose between fully electric or mild hybrid versions. Built on the CMP2 platform, the 1.2-litre petrol engine is mated to 48V system and a 28bhp electric motor. That combo is twinned to a six-speed electric dual clutch transmission, which means every journey begins in pure electric mode.

There are three trim levels to choose from – Hybrid, Dolce Vita and La Prima – and a whole range of funky colours including our favourite, sunset orange.

Those wanting to go fully green can opt for the 600e which, for now, comes with a 54kWh battery pack, which has a claimed range of 400km and generates the equivalent of 156bhp.

It’s also equipped with a 100kW fast charger system and comes with a 11kW on-board charger and a Mode 3 cable for juicing up at home or in public, which ensures a full battery in less than six hours.

We tested both versions in Citywest and although the test drives were 30-minute slots, we left more than impressed.

The hybrid preformed exceptionally well and was not left wanting for power – a weak link with most of its ilk, but not here.

The EV (available in Red and La Prima spec) felt a tad more responsive, as you’d expect, and because of the even weight distribution handled like a go-kart, while straight-line acceleration was awesome.

The only gripe was the raised floor in the petrol, which I’m sure you probably wouldn’t notice after a while, and tight legroom in the rear with a six-footer driving.

The new Fiat 600 is available to order now, with prices starting from €28,995 for the 600 Hybrid and from €32,995 for the fully electric 600e.

First look: Jeep’s new Wagoneer SUV has EV range of 600km

It was only fitting that Jeep chose New York to launch its first global battery-electric vehicle – the Wagoneer S.

The mid-sized SUV boasts a range of more than 600km on a single charge, bangs out 600bhp, 800Nm of torque and will sprint from 0-100kmh in less than four seconds.

It also promises proper off-road capability, with an exclusive Selec-Terrain traction management system, and features five distinct driving modes: Auto, Sport, Eco, Snow and Sand.

Powering this monster is a 100kWh battery pack that allows owners to charge the vehicle from 20 to 80pc in 23 minutes (with 150kWh DC fast charger).

Despite the fact that it’s no longer needed to allow airflow and cooling, the new model will have the iconic seven-slat grille, which is now back-lit.

With a sloping roofline, deep rear spoiler and flush door handles, the new crossover also has a drag coefficient of 0.29 – the lowest ever for a Jeep and around 15pc better than the average SUV.

Inside, it promises to be a tech lover’s dream, with a best-in-class usable screen space of more than 45 inches.

This is made up of a 12.3in driver cluster, a 12.3in centre display and a 10.25in front interactive passenger display.

They are home to the more than 170 standard safety and security features, including collision avoidance with advanced driver-assist tech and full surround colour camera.

Full specification and prices will be available closer to the Irish launch in coming weeks.

BMW 1-Series gets new look and engines

BMW has pulled the dust covers off the fourth-generation 1-Series, which sports a dynamic new design, hugely improved chassis technology and now comes with higher levels of standard kit across the range.

The little hot hatch gets a much more aggressive look, with sharper lines, new slimmer headlights and a wider kidney grille. The number one is embossed in the C-pillar, while at the rear, revised 3D light clusters and a new bumper give it a meatier feel.

Inside, you’ll be treated to the legendary Curved Display comprising two screens – a 10.25-inch instrument cluster and a larger 10.7in infotainment system – all boosted by BMW’s OS 9 software.

Engine-wise, the diesel offering is no longer, with just two petrols — the 120, a 1.5-litre three pot with mild hybrid tech (168bhp), and the mega M135 with 300bhp.

Available to order now, the BMW 1-series starts at €40,330.