11:30 22-06-2026

Fiat 600: Simpler and Cheaper With a Petrol Engine and Manual Instead of Electrification

Fiat adds a non-hybrid petrol Fiat 600 with a six-speed manual to the UK lineup. The base Pop starts at £23,995 — £3,000 less than the electric 600e.

Fiat has expanded its UK 600 range in the most straightforward way possible: it added a petrol version with no hybrid system and no automatic gearbox. Against the backdrop of universal electrification, it looks almost old-fashioned — but this is exactly the variant that makes the crossover cheaper and closer to the mass-market buyer.

The new Fiat 600 gets a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo engine producing around 100 hp, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. Drive is front-wheel only. Stellantis lists modern touches like a variable-geometry turbocharger, direct injection at up to 350 bar and a quieter timing chain. Combined WLTP fuel consumption is 5.6–5.7 l/100 km.

The main argument is the price. The entry-level Fiat 600 Pop starts in the UK at £23,995, which is £3,000 less than the electric 600e — even after the British EV grant is factored in. The Icon trim costs £24,995, while Sport and La Prima are priced at £26,995.

Crucially, Fiat hasn’t locked the manual into a stripped-out base model. The Pop comes with 17-inch wheels, LED headlights and tail lights, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, a 60:40 split-folding rear bench and an eco-leather steering wheel. From Icon upwards, automatic climate control is added.

According to 32CARS, this is a direct response to competition in the small crossover segment. The electric 600e matters for image, but not every buyer is ready to pay more for a battery and live with charging. A petrol 600 with a manual is easier to explain: lower price, less complicated technology, familiar everyday use. Especially in Britain, where compact crossovers are bought not for long road trips but as a versatile city car.

Stellantis also has internal rivals here — the Peugeot 2008 and Jeep Avenger on a closely related technical base. So Fiat needs to defend its niche not only on design but also on entry price. The new petrol 600 covers the buyer who likes the Italian looks and the compact format but doesn’t want mandatory electrification.

The Fiat 600 with a manual makes one simple point: sometimes the most important upgrade of a new model isn’t the screen or the battery — it’s the option to buy it for less and without unnecessary tech.