Fiat 600 vs MG ZS I: which is more reliable?
According to the MotorFiable Score, the Fiat 600 and the MG ZS I are tied (7.3/10): the differences lie in which systems fail, not how much.
| Item | Fiat 600 | MG ZS I |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Small SUV | Small SUV |
| Years | 2023–today | 2017–2024 |
| MotorFiable Score | 7.3 out of 10 | 7.3 out of 10 |
| Engine score | 7.9/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Most recommended engine | 1.2 PureTech · With caution | 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI · Buy |
| Score for the rest of the car | 6.8/10 | 6.7/10 |
| Suspension | No documented faults | 8.3 out of 101 faultLow severity |
| Brakes | No documented faults | 9.0 out of 101 faultLow severity |
| Steering | 8.6 out of 101 faultCritical severity | 7.2 out of 101 faultHigh severity |
| Gearbox and clutch | 7.9 out of 101 faultHigh severity | 8.6 out of 101 faultMedium severity |
| Electrical system | 8.6 out of 101 faultCritical severity | 9.1 out of 102 faultsMedium severity |
| Electronics and infotainment | 8.2 out of 102 faultsMedium severity | 7.9 out of 101 faultMedium severity |
| Bodywork and interior | 9.3 out of 101 faultLow severity | 6.0 out of 100 faults |
Scores out of 10: the higher, the fewer serious documented faults. How we calculate them
Main faults of the Fiat 600
Outside the engine
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalGearbox and clutchJerking, lock-ups and risk of early failure in the e-DCS6 hybrid gearboxYes: fiches-auto.fr documents that the e-DCS6 hybrid dual-clutch gearbox in the Fiat 600 can produce jerking and lock-ups, with cases of early failure, and several owners have reported transmission faults; the source itself notes that this recently introduced gearbox 'has yet to prove its reliability'.
- Critical severityFrequency: RareElectrical systemFire risk from water ingress into the 48 V belt-starter generator protection (built 2023-2025)Yes: a recall covers cars built between 28 July 2023 and 19 December 2025 in which insufficient clearance between the petrol particulate filter pipe and the protective cap of the 48 V starter-generator allows water in and can cause an electrical arc and a fire.
- Critical severityFrequency: RareSteeringPower steering motor with a crack that can lock the steering (built April-May 2024)A European campaign covers the Fiat 600 and 600e built in April-May 2024, in which a crack in the electric motor of the steering rack can release plastic pieces from the worm wheel and lock the steering.
In their engines
- Critical severityFrequency: RareStellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…)Astra Electric: communication fault between control units that can make the car move backwards (2023)In 2023 Opel recalled 1,466 Astra L Electrics because a communication fault between the engine control unit and the body control unit misread the immobiliser data, and the car could move in reverse when pulling away on a slope.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalStellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…)On-board charger and charging port: AC charging refused or interruptedOwners of the e-208, e-2008, Corsa-e, ë-C4 and 600e mainly cite faults with the on-board charger, the cable lock or the charging port, which stop AC charging even when the battery is healthy.
- Critical severityFrequency: Rare1.2 PureTechPossible petrol leak in the high-pressure circuit (chain-driven generation)In 2025 Stellantis recalled the new-generation 1.2 turbos (chain-driven, 100 and 136 hp, hybrids included) built from 2023 to 2025: a joint on the high-pressure pipe could leak petrol, with a risk of fire. It is fixed with a free re-tightening taking under 30 minutes.Repair: €0
Main faults of the MG ZS I
Outside the engine
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonElectronics and infotainmentThe infotainment screen freezes and the rear camera failsIt is one of the most repeated complaints about the MG ZS: the infotainment screen freezes, restarts by itself or loses functions, and the reversing camera image can disappear or stay black; sometimes a software update fixes it and other times the unit has to be replaced.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalGearbox and clutchThe 1.0 T-GDI automatic gearbox can be jerkyThe 1.0 turbo's automatic gearbox can show jerks or judders when driving, according to an Autopista.es test; a compilation of owner reports also places the gearbox among the categories with issues on the model, without being able to say how many cases are the automatic version.
- High severityFrequency: RareSteeringSteering column universal joint coming apart on the MG ZSAuto Express warns in its MG ZS buying guide that some steering columns have been replaced under warranty and that the universal joint has been found detached in at least one unit.
In their engines
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R)Charging faults: on-board charger and interrupted chargingOn the MG4, ZS EV and Marvel R there are owners who see AC charging rejected or interrupted; fiches-auto attributes it to the on-board charger or its software. It is an occasional issue, not a systemic one.
- High severityFrequency: RareMG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R)High-voltage system fault warning and loss of propulsionIsolated cases have been documented of MG4 and ZS EV cars going into limp mode or losing propulsion with high-voltage system warnings. They are scattered testimonies, with no official diagnosis or campaign.