Fiat 600 Petrol Arrives With Manual Gearbox and Lower Price

The Fiat 600 petrol arrives with a simple brief: lower the cost of entry, keep the B-SUV shape buyers want, and give the range a version that feels mechanically straightforward. Fiat has done exactly that. The new model uses a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine with 100 hp, sends power through a six-speed manual gearbox, and posts official WLTP fuel consumption of 5.7 L/100 km with 129 g/km of CO2.

That matters because the Fiat 600 range now covers three distinct buying patterns. The 600e targets drivers ready to commit to battery power. The 600 Hybrid serves buyers who want lower consumption and an automatic transmission. The new 600 Petrol goes after the customer who still wants a manual gearbox, a lower list price, and a powertrain with fewer moving parts than a mild-hybrid system.

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In Germany, the new petrol model starts at 24,490 euros, which works out to about $28,300. The launch edition Fiat 600 STREET starts at 28,490 euros, or about $32,920. Those numbers put the petrol 600 in a stronger spot for buyers who shop first by monthly cost and only then by drivetrain type.

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Why Fiat needed this version

Fiat did not add the petrol 600 for nostalgia. It added it because the compact SUV class still rewards a clear value story. A manual transmission cuts cost. A pure petrol setup avoids the extra hardware of a 48-volt system. Service expectations stay familiar. For many buyers, that still counts.

From a product-planning angle, the move also fixes a gap in the lineup. The 600 already had style, cabin tech, and a usable footprint. What it lacked was a genuine price-led entry model. The new Fiat 600 Benziner solves that without changing the car's core packaging.

The engine and what it changes on the road

At the center of the new version sits Fiat's Turbo 100 HP petrol engine. It uses a silent timing chain, variable-geometry turbocharger, and 350-bar high-pressure direct injection. Those details are not brochure filler. They tell you how Fiat wants this engine to behave.

A small turbo three-cylinder needs quick boost response and stable combustion to feel natural in daily driving. The variable-geometry turbo helps the engine build torque earlier in the rev range. The high injection pressure improves fuel atomisation, which supports cleaner combustion and tighter efficiency control. The timing chain also points to durability planning, since buyers in this part of the market still care about long-term running costs more than they care about spec-sheet theatre.

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Definition: variable-geometry turbo

A variable-geometry turbocharger changes vane position inside the turbo housing to manage exhaust flow. At lower engine speed, it helps the turbo spool faster. At higher load, it opens up to keep airflow stable. In a 100 hp compact SUV, that usually means better low-speed response and less hesitation when pulling away from traffic lights or feeding in throttle on a short merge.

Fiat 600 petrol key specs

Looking at the data, Fiat kept the body's practical strengths intact. The 4,178 mm length keeps the 600 easy to place in city traffic and tight parking bays. The 385-litre boot also holds up well for a small SUV with this footprint. That volume will matter more to many buyers than an extra half-second in a 0-100 km/h claim.

Trim walk: where the value sits

Fiat sells the petrol model in POP, ICON, and LA PRIMA trim, with STREET serving as the launch edition. The structure makes sense. POP gets the job done. ICON looks like the sweet spot. LA PRIMA piles on comfort and driver-assistance kit.

Version and pricing table

The ICON trim looks strongest on paper. It adds the equipment most owners use every day without pushing the price into premium-brand territory. The LA PRIMA makes sense for buyers who want a fuller safety and convenience package, but the petrol engine itself feels most at home in the lower and middle parts of the range.

STREET edition: style first, and Fiat knows it

The Fiat 600 STREET exists to catch attention. Fiat will build 2,000 units, and it will sell them in a single fixed configuration. That approach keeps dealer stock simpler and gives the model a cleaner identity.

This version does not change the powertrain. It changes the pitch. STREET tells buyers they can get the lower-cost petrol engine without stepping into an entry-grade visual package. That matters in Europe, where compact SUVs sell on image almost as hard as they sell on efficiency.