If you happen to have travelled on the N7 out of Dublin in recent months you may have seen a large Billboard ad near Citywest business park with the words ‘Welcome Big Sister’. The ad was not for some lady coming to Saggart or Rathcoole, but to announce the arrival of the new Fiat 600 at Gowan headquarters in Citywest; Gowan are now the distributors for Fiat in Ireland including the old reliable 500.
Back in the seventies Fiat cars were very popular in Ireland when one in three new cars being a Fiat. The Italian company has dropped right down in the sales charts in recent years, but there is hope of a revival as Fiat can now avail of the marketing expertise that the Gowan Group will provide.
The battery electric version named the Fiat 600e was unveiled on July 4th last year, coinciding with the anniversary of the original Fiat 500 which was launched in July 1957. The mild hybrid version came two months later.
The Fiat 600 nameplate was previously used by Fiat in the fifties and sixties. In 1997 the nameplate was reused by spelling out the number in Italian, Fiat Seicento.
There were two Fiat 600 cars parked outside Gowan headquarters when I went to pick up my test car. The fully electric version, came in Orange Sun, while the official colour of the 1.2-litre Hybrid version I picked up was Sea Green. The 600 is available in some very attractive colours.
When I picked up the car in Citywest the clock, with a full tank of petrol on board, it said the range was 580km, but after some motorway driving the range very quickly had risen to 600km. I found it to be a very frugal engine.
Naturally the 600 is slightly larger than the 500 and it’s a four-door. It measures 4.17 metres in length and is considerably bigger than its sibling and boasts enough room for a family of five and a boot with up to 385 litres of storage. However, I think it’s true to say that it would be more comfortable for the back seat passengers with just two adults or maybe three children.
Externally it’s looks very attractive. The 17-inch Diamond Cut alloys in the Prima version that I drove, really added a touch of class to the external look of the car.
In the cabin you get a neat, slim infotainment screen on the oval-shaped dashboard and it shares some of its interior design with the Jeep Avenger, with bold colours in the upper dash that match the folding centre console.
Underneath the infotainment screen are ten controls for the A/C and lower down you get four separate buttons instead of a gear select. Thankfully you also get a good old-fashioned style button to control the volume on the radio.
Overall, the 600 embodies the Italian Dolce Vita thanks to many features specifically designed to offer the best pampering experience.
There is also plenty of storage space in the cabin and you get USB type A and C ports, a wireless charger for smartphones and keyless entry.
The interior is very bright thanks to the cream seats which in the La Prima version all carry the word Fiat and a white roof line. Leg room was a bit tight in the back seat for a tall person. The boot a decent size and while there is a huge ‘well’ to hold a spare wheel, none is provided.
Prices start at €28,995 for the Hybrid, while the full electric version will cost you €32,995. Road tax is €180. Those who want to go electric can opt for the 600e which comes with a 54kWh battery and a claimed range of 400km.
Yes, Big Sister is very welcome and hopefully she will help to bring back La Dolca Vitae for Fiat in Citywest and elsewhere.
