The Fiat 500e is back for 2024 with three distinct models and is exclusively electric. The 500 is one of Fiat's most iconic models that dates to 1957. Assembled in Italy, the new 500e is the first all-electric model from parent company, Stellantis, to make its way to North America. It has an estimated range of 149 miles (more on that later) enabled by a 42-kWh battery with a Level 2 (11kW) charge time of six hours. It is available exclusively as a 2-door model that seats four. All models come with an 87-kW electric motor that delivers 117 horsepower and 162-pound feet of torque. Competition primarily includes the Mini Cooper electric and new Volvo EX30.
The three available models are the Fiat 500e Red, 500e Inspired by Beauty, and 500e Inspired by Music. Red is the base model and starts at $32,500. It comes with red exterior paint, LED headlights and front grille details, 17" diamond cut alloys wheels, and a red dashboard. The Inspired by Beauty model comes in Rose Gold with Fiat-embroidered leather trimmed seats, bi-color soft touch steering wheel, and an eco-leather wrapped dashboard with a starting price of $36,000. Finally, the Inspired by Music model comes in Piano Black paint with a JBL 7-speaker, amplified audio system with a subwoofer. Featuring four venues hand-selected by Maestro Bocelli, the Virtual Venues feature in the JBL premium sound system offers listeners a virtual-reality audio experience that changes the acoustic characteristics of the car depending on the chosen location, transporting listeners to unique listening environments. Inspired by Music also starts at $36,000. With three distinct design options, it's only a matter of choosing which one fits your personality. I spent a week in the Fiat 500e Red and here's what stood out...
Performance (+/-) Weighing in at 2,952 pounds, the 500e is a lightweight by today's standards. Its small stature makes this a fun car to toss around with 117 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque. Overall power is on the lower side, but the electrification is enough to make it feel zippy and faster than it is. It will get from 0-60 MPH in around 8.5 seconds. There are three modes for driving that include normal, range, and sherpa. Normal mode closely resembles familiar driving characteristics including the coasting experience of an internal combustion engine. Range activates one-pedal-drive function, which optimizes regenerative braking to capture more energy when coasting. And Sherpa maximizes energy efficiency to ensure the driver reaches their planned destination or the nearest charging station. This mode adjusts various parameters, such as limiting the vehicle top speed to 50 mph and reducing power from 87 kW to 57 kW. Full throttle delivers full power if requested. The various settings allow for varying needs and driving styles.
The 500e is fun around town as it is very nimble around corners and easy to navigate tight streets. It has a firmer ride and more direct steering. These are both features that make the Fiat a standout at the Midwest Automotive Media Association's autocross track. Road noise is kept out for a comfortable, quiet ride. Being that it is small and light, it does feel more uncontrolled at higher speeds on the highway. While driving back from Wisconsin with 65 MPH speed limits, the 500e felt tossable as large trucks zipped by. I much preferred this as a city car versus a highway cruiser.
Range (-) When fully charged, Fiat estimates the 500e will get 149 miles of driving range. I maxed out around 130 miles of range during my time with it. It is among the lowest ranges available in the electric vehicle segment, one that is sure to cause range anxiety on any longer trips outside city limits. It's powered by a 42-kWh, high-voltage, lithium-ion battery system.
Every Fiat 500e includes a level 2 charging wall unit or charge credits through Free2Move Charge to ease the transition to electrification. Free2Move is Stellantis' 360-degree ecosystem, delivering seamless charging and energy management to address all electric-vehicle customer needs.
The 500e handily tackles the common concern of charge time using the equipped 85-kW fast charger system in which five minutes of charge time translates to a range of up to 31 miles. The bigger challenge will be finding the available fast charger. I can attest to the 500e's ability to charge quickly once connected. It also includes an 11-kW AC-DC on-board charger and a combo 1 socket for easy charging at home or on the road. Estimated charge time from 0% to 80% is approximately 35 minutes with an 85-kW DC fast charge; estimated time from 0% to 100% is six hours with a Level 2 (11-kW) charging station.
I first received the keys to my Fiat 500e Red at the Midwest Automotive Media Association spring rally up in Elkhart Lake, WI. The 500e had spent the day whipping around the Autocross track evoking smiles left and right. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their time behind the wheel pushing it to its limits and experiencing how nimble and light it actually is. Unfortunately for me, the range was then limited to around 80 miles for me to get it to the nearest charging location that was around 64 miles away in Milwaukee. I had two factors against me with it having a limited range and being up in rural Wisconsin. As I watched the range drop as I cruised the highway, I experienced true range anxiety. Fortunately, I made it to the Electrify America chargers around 10 miles to spare (too close for comfort in my opinion). Because it does have fast charging capability, I was able to recharge it to over 100 miles of range in around 45 minutes which was enough to make it the rest of the way home to the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago with 30 miles to spare. While I made it home, the max range of 145 miles is limiting for any kind of road trip outside city limits. It took me longer to get home and added a bit of unneeded stress. That said, I recharged the 500e the next day and made better use of my time zipping around the suburbs comfortably knowing there were charging options all around.
Exterior Style (+) The new 500e is unmistakable as the next generation Fiat 500. It embodies the originals overall silhouette and style cues with modern flare. It has larger dimensions and a solid stance with minimal overhangs to maximize interior space. New front and rear LED lighting, a new front grill, and e-latch aero door handles all give it a more sophisticated look. Within the front grill is "500" just in case you had any question about what the vehicle is. All models are exclusively 2 doors and have a defined character line that wraps around the top of the car extending from the seam in the front hood. It has a taller roofline and little details like the Fiat 500 emblem embedded in the trim under the back windows. Around the back, square LED taillights are pushed to the fenders while a tall hatch slopes down with a spoiler on top. Reverse lights are centered in the lower portion of the bumper. It also comes standard with 17" diamond-cut alloy wheels that suit the overall style nicely and fill the wheel openings. It is a very definitive FIat style that gives this small hatch Italian character. It garners a lot of looks and smiles from those that pass by.
Interior Detail (+) Hopping inside, this small car is filled with little touches of design detail that harken back to the original 1957 Fiat 500. Drivers will face a 7" round digital cluster with a single gauge circle and information on either side. A full red painted dash insert brings the outside in along with a two-spoke steering wheel for that nostalgic vibe. I appreciated the details like the RED 500 emblem and gloss black accents within the steering wheel along with the city skyline on the rubber insert in the wireless charging tray and an original Fiat drawing within the door handles. It's also fully modern with a 10.25" center touchscreen, PRND touch buttons for electronic gear selection, a wireless phone charger, USB ports, push button start, and a push button door release.
Customers also have more storage available with a newly designed center console and door panels, giving drivers the space needed to carry daily essentials. Unfortunately, there is only one real cup holder in the center console that folds out which proved to be a challenge in our household where everyone always leaves the house with a Yeti or Stanley water bottle. As an additional nuisance, every time I pulled my drink out of the holder, the rubber holder came out with it. Not a huge ordeal, but still somewhat frustrating if I'm being critical.
Seating (+/-) The seats feature a fresh design as well, with six-way manual adjustability for the driver, including height adjustment for an improved driving position. The front passenger seat features four-way manual adjustability. All seating offers thoughtful use of recycled materials. The cloth seats in the Red model featured FIAT pattern across the back of the seats , (500)RED stitching and red trim along the edges of the seats. There was ample head, leg, and shoulder room up front, and the seats proved comfortable for my longer drive home from Wisconsin. Back seats are a little tighter (as expected), but access to the seats is easy thanks to a latch at the top of the front seats. Synthetic leather upholstery and heated front seats are available.
Cargo (-) Cargo space is limited in the 500e with a total of 7.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. The seats do fold down, but not quite flat. There is a total of 101 cubic feet of cabin space overall, so this is not an ideal car for hauling anything significant. It does, however, come standard with a power liftgate.
Technology (+) All models feature Stellantis' latest version of Uconnect 5 as its base for the infotainment system on the 10.25" touchscreen which integrates wirelessly with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Uconnect 5 works seamlessly at quick speeds and allows for a customizable home screen that allows quick access to frequently used features with one-touch operation. It also expands Alexa Home to Car functionality with an in-vehicle virtual assistant and a "Hey, Fiat" wake-up word. Other benefits include over-the-air updates and the Fita Connect App which allows for remote operations, drive alerts, range mapping, and the ability to find a charger near you. Opt for the Inspired by music model for upgraded technology via JBL Virtual Venues which includes sound settings that emulate four different venues selected by opera maestro Andrea Bocelli.
Driver Assist Technology (+/-) The Fiat 500e comes equipped with standard safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, pedestrian alert and lane keep assist, giving drivers confidence to navigate urban traffic with ease. Available on the Inspired By models is a Level 2 advanced driver assist system that will maintain speeds, lane placement and braking distance when activated. Also available is a drowsy driver detection feature that will automatically detect initial signs of driver fatigue and deliver both a visual and acoustic warning sound if inattentiveness is detected.
Final Statement Overall, I like the Fiat 500e for what it is. It is a great urban commuter type of vehicle that has some charismatic style that stands out. Unfortunately, the driving range is limiting and a tough challenge to overcome if you venture out of urban environments. Increasing range or possibly adding a PHEV model would be a great future solution. For now, buyers will have to be cognizant of their use, charger locations, and consider installing at least a Level 2 charger at home.
First Impression Summary: Test Vehicle: 2024 Fiat 500e Red Exterior Color: Red Interior Color: Black Options: NA MSRP as tested: $34,095 MSRP plus Delivery/Destination
Jim is Senior Director of Marketing for the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and Chicago Auto Show and a co-host of Drive Chicago Radio on WLS 890 AM Chicago. He also serves as the Communications Director for the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) and creates digital content for Drive Chicago, The Chicago Auto Show, and MAMA. His passion for cars started young and he’s often referred to as the ‘car-guy’ among family and friends. Early in his career he worked at several car dealerships in various areas of the business. Jim has attended track school and driven vehicles on multiple circuits such as Road America and Gingerman Raceway. Jim also collects Hot Wheels and has been invited to be a guest judge for the Hot Wheels Legends Tour. He enjoys the trails and taking trucks like his 4Runner off road. He has a special appreciation for older cars and can often be found spending free time at cruise nights (where has also guest judged vehicles) or home washing one his four vehicles. Jim resides in the northwest suburbs with his wife and three kids. Follow Jim on Instagram at @jpcars22 for new vehicle content or @forgotten_survivors.312 for shots of older car content.
