Fiat 600 long-term test: report 7

The car Fiat 600 1.2 Hybrid 48V La Prima Run by George Hill, Used Car Writer

Why we’re running it To find out whether this small SUV can be a successful urban commuter car

Needs to Be easy to drive, comfortable and cheap to run, but also practical on trips out of town

Mileage 3684 List price £27,350 Target Price £24,742 Price as tested £28,000 Official economy 57.6mpg Test economy 47.8mpg

3 June 2025 – Brother from another mother

Last week, I found myself playing a game of spot the difference, with my Fiat 600 as one of the subjects. It was in a car park where I stumbled across a Jeep Avenger, which happens to be one of my car’s siblings, under the Stellantis umbrella. Just to clarify; this isn’t a game I play very often (I like to think I have better things to do), but I decided to have a quick looksie to see how similar these cars really are.

From an initial inspection of the exterior, you really wouldn’t tell these cars are related. The 600 is noticeably more round and bubble-like, especially at the front with its semi-circular headlights, while the Jeep is much more square, arguably more butch, with its upright bonnet and signature seven slot grille.

Around the back it’s a similar story, with the bubble and square theme continuing. My car has a clear resemblance to the Fiat 500, with very similar taillights, but the Jeep has no obvious similarities to my car or a Jeep Renegade, or any of the larger Jeep models (other than with the somewhat iconic grille).

On closer inspection, the similarities between the siblings becomes more clear. The two cars share the same door mirrors and front door handles, plus the exhaust pipes are in the same location. 

A peak inside the Avenger did cause my heart to sink a little, because the interiors are almost identical. I thought my car had qualities that were unique to the 600 (such as the iPad-style cubby cover and coloured dashboard), but it appears the Avenger has those too. The infotainment screen, climate control toggles and indicator stalks are also the same, as are the steering wheel buttons and door handles.

I do worry that sharing so many parts, especially ones that you see and touch regularly, can make these cars feel the same, even if the design is different on the outside. I can’t see this being much of a problem for most people, but if I were to step inside a Stellantis dealer again and I saw these two cars together, I might be a little disappointed to see that they’re not entirely unique to their own brand, especially after sitting inside.

Of course, the proof of how deeply these cars are related will be in the way they drive. And when I've gotten behind the wheel of the latest Avenger, I'll report back.

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