The diminutive Fiat 500e is an EV that strays into a distinct segment that we hardly ever see crammed as of late, given Australian automobile importers insist on providing us an virtually unique eating regimen of medium to massive electrical SUV.
It was subsequently a breath of contemporary air to not too long ago be provided a 4-day mortgage of the tiny electrical hatch from Fiat. At 3.6 metres lengthy, weighing solely 1290 kg and 42kWh battery (37.5 usable) with 311 km of WLTP vary: on paper it appears the best car for one or two individuals to buzz across the metropolis, and even take out of town bounds for the occasional day journey.
As I’m following up on Tim’s earlier report on the 500e right here at TheDriven – I’ll stick with a brief write-up of my impressions throughout my 4 day stint.
First-up, as a homage to the unique Fiat 500 (constructed from 1957 – 1975), in appears it stacks up nicely. Nevertheless, it dwarfs the unique. That model was a mere 2.9 metres lengthy and weighed barely 500 kg! Thoughts-you, the 500e must be loads safer than the unique: in 2021 the 500e scored a 4 star ANCAP security score.
Over the 4 days I had with it, I used it as my metropolis commuter plus, to provide it a great testing out, my associate took it for a drive exterior town limits for a day journey to Sorrento. (For non-Victorians studying this, Sorrento is round Port Phillip Bay, close to the tip of the Mornington Peninsula).
For 2 individuals, the automobile felt roomy within the entrance and even at freeway speeds didn’t really feel prefer it was out of its consolation zone. At a round-trip size of 200 km, it also needs to have been nicely inside its 311 km WLTP vary, which proved to be the case – though the right vary after the journey would in all probability be extra within the vary of 270-ish km.
The Fiat is a enjoyable automobile, but it surely isn’t essentially the most environment friendly with its electrons in comparison with some others. Nevertheless, for journeys like this there’s now a community of DC chargers (and much more AC ones) so had we began with a full cost, top-up choices had been accessible in lots of locations.
Measurement
For one to 2 individuals to zip round city or the occasional day journey – the Fiat 500e is a extremely good possibility. Boot house with the rear seats up might solely be 185 litres, however a little bit of ‘packing Tetris’ allowed me to squeeze in a picnic basket, field of meals, blanket, charging leads, and so on for a picnic time out.
Even for a weekend away, the again seats fold down to offer a helpful 550 litres of boot house. However – don’t attempt to squeeze an grownup into the again seat!
Even my 175 cm tall body meant I bumped the roof when within the again …. plus it took a contortionist act to squeeze out and in by the door and across the entrance seat.
Match and end
Inside and outside, the truth that the Fiat isn’t completely a price range automobile confirmed. The inside had a high quality appear and feel and was nicely put collectively, plus the inside color scheme was attractively completely different with out being ‘busy’, garish or Spartan.
The sprint was additionally a pleasing shock. The drivers show contained all the knowledge wanted (velocity, drive choice, vary, cost stage and energy stage used) while remaining a compact dimension.
Identical for the centre show. Smaller than most at 26.7 cm (10.5 inches), at first look one thinks it will likely be arduous to see or use. As a substitute, you ended up feeling the grand 39 cm … and even 43 cm screens in vehicles just like the Ford and Tesla EVs of this world had been monuments to extra!
One other breathe of contemporary air was using tactile buttons for all the most important features. Air flow and air con had been instantly beneath the centre display screen, drive features under that.
Lighting was managed from the proper hand facet of the sprint – all inside straightforward attain with out the necessity to spend time wanting away from the highway to scroll by menus or to hit the proper spot on the touchscreen.
Driving
For a small automobile, it naturally does skip round a bit greater than a big, heavy SUV. Nevertheless that nimbleness is its benefit for around-town driving and I for one favored the texture of it for each metropolis and occasional freeway use. Sure, it does really feel agency on its 45 profile tyres, however sadly that’s the present trend and low profile tyres lead to a harsher journey.
Summing up
For many who desire a small automobile as a substitute of a cumbersome SUV (and whose car price range isn’t constrained) the Fiat 500e could be a worthy contender on your EV greenback. However – should you carry teenage to grownup third or 4th passengers or wish to journey longer distances commonly – this isn’t the automobile for you.
So there it’s: that’s my temporary take of the Fiat 500e. For a fuller report and various evaluate of it – see Tim’s October report right here.
Bryce Gaton is an knowledgeable on electrical autos and contributor for The Pushed and Renew Financial system. He has been working within the EV sector since 2008 and is at the moment working as EV electrical security coach/supervisor for the College of Melbourne. He additionally offers assist for the EV Transition to enterprise, authorities and the general public by his EV Transition consultancy EVchoice.