The all-new 2024 Fiat 500e is a chic two-door subcompact battery electric vehicle (BEV) built for urban environments. It’s a modern interpretation of the iconic Fiat 500, a car that captured hearts from 1957 to 1975 and saw nearly four million units produced during its illustrious reign.
Range and Charging
With a range of up to 227 km, this chic EV may cause range anxiety in some. Still, the 500e is ideally suited for those who embrace urban living and understand that their daily journeys primarily occur within the city limits.
With its 42-kWh battery, this sleek hatchback promises a seamless charging experience. In Canada, you’ll find a Level 1, 11-kW AC/DC onboard charger as a standard feature, offering easy charging at home and on the road by plugging into any standard three-prong AC outlet. Using this charger takes 37 hours to charge from five per cent to 100 per cent. For those seeking a quicker charge, consider a Level 2 home charger; charging via a 240V outlet, you’ll be fully charged in about six hours. And for charging during longer trips, the 500e allows DC fast charging at speeds of up to 85 kW, which can add 50 km of range in just five minutes of charging and up to 80 per cent battery capacity in 35 minutes.
The Fiat 500e features cabin preconditioning to get the passenger space cozy by running the energy-intensive climate control systems while your car is plugged in and charging. It preserves vehicle range and ensures your comfort before you even step inside. However, it’s worth noting that while this feature takes care of the cabin temperature, it doesn’t offer battery preconditioning for more efficient charging.
Exterior
The 500e effortlessly captures the essence of previous generations while embracing new elements that set it apart.
One notable feature is its striking 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels, finished in glossy black with a diamond shine. Undeniably gorgeous, they add a touch of sophistication to the overall aesthetic, although their intricate design might pose a challenge during cleaning – a small sacrifice for such beauty.
Moving to the front, the 500e boasts an updated grille designed to resemble a cheerful smile, accompanied by LED lights that mimic eyes with playful eyelashes. Engineers claim that this car is designed to evoke joy. This EV even treats passersby to a catchy tune when it reaches a speed of 32 km/h.
The little details make this car stand out, from the turning indicators featuring the Italian flag to the sleek aerodynamic door handles adorning each side.
There are two trim options available for the 500e, each offering its own unique flair and features. First up is the Fiat 500e Red trim that goes beyond style by supporting a worthy cause. Fiat says that with every purchase of this trim, a donation is made to the Global Fund to aid life-saving prevention and treatment programs. This package boasts eye-catching red exterior mirrors, adding a pop of colour to any chosen exterior shade, whether it’s the sleek Tuxedo Black, crisp Glacier White, or vibrant Red by the charity Red.
Later this year, we can look forward to the La Prima trim, offering an additional colour choice with a stunning rose gold hue. Building upon the features of the 500e Red trim, La Prima introduces additional enhancements like automatic high beams, heated exterior mirrors with body-colour mirror caps, and a windshield wiper de-icer as standard features.
Interior
The interior of the new 500e pays homage to its iconic 1957 predecessor while embracing contemporary features. At first glance, your eyes are drawn to the prominent central 10.25-inch infotainment screen and sleek digital gauge cluster, offering a stylish and user-friendly interface. Equipped with Uconnect 5 services, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an in-vehicle Alexa virtual assistant, the centre screen ensures seamless connectivity and convenience on the road.
Regarding safety, the 500e comes equipped with a range of standard features, including driver drowsiness detection, pedestrian detection, traffic sign recognition, and lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. Park assist and the mandatory backup camera make parking this subcompact car a breeze.
Design-wise, every element is meticulously crafted for both functionality and aesthetics. You’ll find a convenient wireless phone charger built into the dashboard. This EV has accessible buttons, ensuring you’re not overly reliant on the infotainment screen. There’s even a dedicated dial for the front passenger to control the music.
The front seats are stylish and comfortable, featuring cloth upholstery with red trim and Fiat branding stitched throughout. A welcome addition is the armrest, previously missing from older models, adding to the overall comfort and convenience of the cabin.
This new 500e is a tad bigger than its predecessor, offering more interior space for the driver and front passenger. While the car accommodates four passengers on paper, the rear seats are best reserved for short trips or short occupants. Also, installing a baby car seat might be a struggle due to space constraints.
The trunk offers 213 L storage space – comparable to a Mini 3-Door – and the rear seats can be folded down in a 50:50 split to accommodate larger items when needed.
Driving Impressions
Powered by a peppy 117-hp (87-kW) motor, this lightweight car produces 162 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration-wise, it gets you from zero to 100 km/h in a little over 8.5 seconds. On the highway, you have enough power to overtake confidently. While you won’t be winning any races, it is powerful enough to zip around town. This Fiat has a top speed of 150 km/h, which is more than enough.
The 500e is front-wheel drive and offers the convenience of one-pedal driving with regenerative braking. However, Fiat understands that preferences vary, so it has included three driving modes: normal, range, and Sherpa.
In normal mode, drivers can enjoy the traditional two-pedal setup for a more familiar driving experience but will sacrifice some range.
Range is the mode you will want to drive in most of the time. This mode allows for one-pedal driving with regenerative braking, which is ideal for maximizing efficiency. It might take a moment to get used to, but the gains in range make it worth the effort. It was quite smooth and whipping around the city, stop-and-go traffic really allowed the system to do its magic and regenerate range.
Sherpa mode optimizes the vehicle’s range by adjusting responsiveness and speed to conserve battery power. This feature automatically manages energy output by turning off climate control and other auxiliary systems when needed. However, the top speed is limited to 80 km/h, and this mode reduces output to 77 hp.
The 500e handles really well, with a wonderfully tight turning radius. Parking this car is an absolute breeze. This EV thrives in packed cities.
Pricing and Availability
At $39,995, before destination, fees, taxes, and EV rebates, the Fiat 500e Red emerges as the most budget-friendly all-electric option currently available in Canada. This attractive price point makes it an enticing choice for eco-conscious city dwellers looking to switch to electric. Initially rolling out in British Columbia and Quebec, availability is set to expand to other markets as production scales up.
For those seeking a touch of luxury and additional features, the La Prima model is slightly higher priced at $44,995 (excluding EV rebates) and scheduled to hit showrooms in British Columbia and Quebec during the third quarter of 2024.
Final Thoughts
While its attractive price point makes it an appealing option for many, its limited range may give pause to some prospective buyers. Nevertheless, as a subcompact city car, it masterfully balances comfort, convenience, and aesthetics, positioning itself as the ultimate companion for urban explorations.
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