Fiat 600 Petrol Manual Long-term test: Report 1 , first impressions

Price as tested: £28,045

There’s something reassuring about a Fiat that looks like a Fiat. In a market increasingly filled with family cars you’d struggle to identify without reading the badge, the 600 is quite clearly a larger sibling for the ubiquitous little 500.

It’s bigger, more practical, a bit less playful, but it hasn't lost the personality and charm of the retro reboot that first introduced us to the cheeky looks and rounded lines.

It’s also available with a choice of powertrains, but Fiat has now fitted it with an oh-so conventional petrol engine, with a six-speed manual gearbox.

I'm going to be living with this car for three months, and it already feels like a warm, nostalgic antidote to the onslaught of generic and mundane EVs and hybrids that we're plastering across our automotive landscape.

There is also an electric version. I've driven it, and it's quite good, and there's a hybrid, too, which is also pretty decent. Abarth has had a play with it too, but if you're just after a no-fuss family car with a familiar powertrain and more accessible entry price, this is the one for you.

The interior carries on the familiar theme, with a rounded instrument binnacle and a dashboard that has a bit more character than the usual black plastic shelf. There’s a 10.25-inch touchscreen, but Fiat has thankfully retained a separate bank of climate controls. Having spent rather too much time discussing touchscreen menus recently, I’m pleased to have something else to write about. And I'm absolutely delighted to be living with buttons, let me tell you.

There are some thoughtful storage spaces, too, particularly the large covered centre compartment on the higher trims.

The practicality does need some perspective, though. This is a small crossover, not a miniature people carrier. The rear seats are better suited to children than tall adults, and if you regularly carry teenagers I’d make sure they come along to the showroom for a fitting.

The 385-litre boot is a useful size and slightly larger than the electric version’s, but rivals such as the Ford Puma offer more luggage space.

The 600 makes most sense as a step up from a small hatchback, rather than something you buy because you need the biggest boot for your money.

Under the bonnet is a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 100HP, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox.

There’s no hybrid assistance here, and no need to learn anything new. You fill it with petrol, choose your own gears, and get on with driving it.

There's presumably going to be a pay-off here in terms of fuel economy, and I'll be finding that out soon, but the petrol costs £2,000 less to buy at the bottom of the range. So some of us could definitely make the sums work.

The manual also gives you more direct control over that little engine. With 100HP, it's not going to set your trousers on fire, obviously, but in my first few goes it feels surprisingly punchy, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it fares out on the open road.

Prices start at £23,995 for the Pop, rising to £24,995 for the Icon and £26,995 for either the Sport or La Prima.

Even the Pop gets alloy wheels, LED headlights, rear parking sensors and wireless smartphone connectivity.

La Prima adds a more indulgent cabin, including heated front seats and a massaging driver’s seat. That's the one I'm living with and I do think it's the one I'd pick. Given it's the same price as the Sport, I'd value the equipment over the looks.

The standard UK warranty runs for three years, with a 60,000-mile limit in the third year. That’s worth comparing with the longer cover offered by some rivals.

If you like the character of a 500 but need rear doors, this will suit you well. I have two dogs, and I head out regularly for tip runs and weekly shops, so it's pretty much a perfect size for me.

I'll let you know how I'm getting on in a few weeks.