The new-to-America Fiat 500e is an all-electric city-friendly car destined to be an afterthought for most electric vehicle (EV) buyers. It directly competes with the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX30 in size and price.
This new electric Fiat is a second-generation car that's late arriving to the U.S. It's been on sale in Europe for over a year. The first model making its way to America is the Fiat (500e) RED. The bright red car is part of the company's larger partnership with (RED). A donation to the Global Fund is made every time a (RED) product is purchased.
The 2024 Fiat 500e (RED) Edition was offered up to assembled automotive journalists in Miami for a test drive.
Fiat's brand head is based in Miami, a market he sees as have similar values to Fiat. "Hosting this event here in Miami makes [the 500e] even more special. Not just because I live here in Miami, but because Miami, you know, is sweet life as its best, is all about dolce vita, like Fiat," Olivier Francois, CEO of Fiat and global chief marketing officer of Stellantis said during a presentation.
Fiat will be leaning heavily into cities to launch the car, Aamir Ahmed, Fiat's North American brand, said, naming cities including Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Houston, Austin, Dallas, and New York among the areas of concentration. Thirty Southern California dealers have expressed interest in selling the model and some of the first shipment of vehicles to be sold will be allocated for the West Coast.
When it arrives on roadways, the 500e will be immediately recognizable as unique, even if passersby don't know what it is. Even from a distance, the 500e is distinctly a Fiat. Round headlights with over-under LED signatures, a unique body shape, and lack of model recognizability on the road are its hallmarks.
You didn't see many Fiats on U.S. roads before this, and you might not any time soon, but if there's a model that could make a larger dent in the market than Fiat has been able to thus far, it's the 500e.
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Zipping around a city in the 500e is an exercise best measured in zero to 30 miles per hour (mph) times rather than zero to 60 mph ones. The car is quick enough off the line, with measured acceleration that makes the transition from standstill to going smooth, rather than aggressive tip-in that some EVs are known for.
It offers up 117 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque for drivers, which is plenty in city driving and for getting on and off highway ramps at reasonable, but not blistering, speed.
Fiat has given the 500e an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated 149 miles of all-electric range, powered by a 42 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery that can charge via a 240-volt Level 2 plug in six hours. Charging from zero to 80 percent takes just over half an hour, which is slow by Hyundai Motor Group standards, but competitive compared to what most other automakers are currently offering globally.
Every 500e comes with a Level 2 wall charging unit and an 11-kilowatt (kW) AC-DC on-board charger.
The 500e has some unique touches courtesy of its Italian automaker. A digital melody called "The Sound of 500" by Flavio Ibba-Marco Gualdi plays during the first moments of every drive.
Drivers can run the car in three modes: Normal, Range, and Sherpa. Normal most closely resembles the drive experience of an internal combustion engine car, allowing for easy transition for first-time EV owners.
Range mode allows for one-pedal driving, optimizing regenerative braking. It is best used on rural roads rather than the cities where most 500e drivers will have their models.
Utilizing Sherpa mode helps extend the range of the vehicle in moments of a critically low state of charge. The car's technology reduces certain operational parameters to preserve charge, limiting the top speed of the 500e to 50 mph and reducing power from 87 kW to 47 kW. Upon request, drivers can fully depress the throttle and achieve the car's 87 kW of power.
The interior of the 500e is surprisingly spacious, owing that feeling to tight design and the naturally flat floor that is thanks to the electric vehicle platform that doesn't require a transmission tunnel or considerations for exhaust.
Packing three adults in the car was a bit of a squeeze, especially for the rear seat passenger, but two, comfortably, is no problem at all. Even when packed with people and gear, the car didn't ride as heavily over the road's imperfections as a Tesla. Nor did it feel like the powertrain was insufficient.
The cabin's design and appointments are suitable for a car of the 500e's price point, similar to the EX30. Both have pebbled plastics and sculpted plastic elements that take the place of finer leathers and fabrics in more expensive cars.
Fiat has made good use of Stellantis group bits and bobs in 500e where it makes sense, without the vehicle losing its sense of identity. This plays out especially well on the infotainment system, which uses the company's Uconnect 5 user experience, based on Android Automotive.
Frequently used features are available via one touch and the car is connected to Alexa. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. A wireless smartphone charging pad also comes on the model.
The car's infotainment system is updatable over the air, courtesy of the hardware behind the scenes. This means that the vehicle will stay fresher longer than cars sold by the brand in the past.
Fiat has equipped every 500e with a good roster of standard safety and driver assist features including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and alert, and lane keeping assist.
The Italian automaker candidly admits that they expect most 500es to be leased rather than purchased as buyers take advantage of government incentives, which knocks the starting price of the car down by $7,500.
Buying the (500e) RED outright will cost $32,500, not including $1,595 destination or any government incentives.
The new Fiat won't be held back by its comparatively slow charging speed, but rather dealership spread and brand awareness. It's a good car, but that only goes so far. Stellantis' family of dealerships will be key to this model's success.
The Fiat 500e is built at the Mirafiori Assembly Plant in Turin, Italy, the company's historic home, and the oldest automobile manufacturing plant in Europe.
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Jake Lingeman is the Managing Editor for the Autos team at Newsweek. He has previously worked for Autoweek, The Detroit ... Read more
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