Italian automaker Fiat has been promoting a completely electrical model of its iconic 500 metropolis automobile abroad since early 2020. The 500e is now accessible in Australian Fiat dealerships and joins the Mini Cooper Electrical as one of many smallest electrical autos you should buy.
The Fiat 500e price ticket shouldn’t be small although, because it is available in a single extremely specified La Prima variant which begins at $52,500 earlier than on-road prices, nearly double the $27,220 beginning value of a petroleum Fiat 500.
Consumers who’re eager for extra efficiency and a focus in search of seems to be can go for the much more costly Abarth 500e, beginning at $58,900 plus on-road prices for the Turismo model or $60,500 for the Scorpionissima.
La Prima 500e variants include a 42 kWh battery pack that provides as much as 311 km of WLTP driving vary. Abroad markets have entry to extra reasonably priced 500e variants with a smaller 24 kWh battery in addition to a convertible model however these will not be accessible right here.
Fiat manufactures the 500e in Turin, Italy and proudly promote this truth in a number of locations all through the automobile similar to the underside of the inside door handles and Turin metropolis skyline featured on the wi-fi charging pad.
When the chance to borrow a Fiat 500e got here up, I used to be excited to try it out for every week and see what this little metropolis automobile was prefer to stay with. The 500e I examined got here with the non-compulsory Ocean Inexperienced metallic paint.
Cute design, restricted space for storing
I’m typically not one to name issues cute, but it surely’s exhausting to not use the phrase when describing the Fiat 500e. From its cute little dimension and rounded exterior styling to issues just like the miniature parcel shelf within the boot, cute is the very first thing that pops into your head when taking a look at this automobile.
Small and cute doesn’t bode effectively for space for storing although, with a tiny 185 L of storage within the boot with the rear seats up. On this configuration you possibly can’t match way more than three carry-on dimension baggage within the boot.
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The 500e relies on a devoted EV platform and is barely greater than the petrol 500, though there isn’t any entrance trunk (frunk) as that is the place the electrical motor, inverter and on-board charger are located. Boot area could be expanded to a good 550 L by folding the rear seats down should you don’t want to hold a couple of passenger.
First rate inside and infotainment
The 500e inside is pretty effectively geared up with a 7 inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25 inch central touchscreen that helps wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Each screens had been responsive and sharp, together with the reversing digicam.
I discovered the built-in navigation system a bit clunky to make use of, however wi-fi Android Auto labored effectively aside from draining the battery on my cellphone rapidly. This seems to be a problem particular to sure Pixel telephones and never the Fiat 500e or Android Auto although.
![](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fiat-500e-touchscreen-and-dash.jpg?lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
Bodily buttons for controlling the air-conditioning are situated under the central touchscreen together with a single USB-A port and wi-fi charging pad. One other USB-A charging port in addition to a USB-C and 12 V outlet are situated within the centre console.
Just like exterior storage, the 500e has restricted space for storing in door bins and a centre console that matches a single bottle, cup and some small gadgets. In entrance of the centre console is the place you’ll discover a quantity knob for the automobile audio in addition to the drive mode selector.
![](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fiat-500e-centre-console.jpg?lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
One quirk of the Fiat 500e are the audio controls which can be mounted on the again facet of the steering wheel, with no indication or labels exhibiting what they do. By trial and error I discovered the left hand facet skips backwards or forwards and modifications audio supply, whereas the best hand facet mutes audio and modifications quantity.
In relation to seating, the entrance is roomy sufficient with solely two folks on board. My two early teenage youngsters managed to squeeze into the again seat and didn’t thoughts the 500e for brief journeys. Nevertheless, their suggestions was that they wouldn’t wish to spend greater than an hour or so again there.
![](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fiat-500e-seats.jpg?lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
The seating place was greater than anticipated within the 500e, I used to be sitting barely above drivers of different hatchbacks and sedans even with the driving force’s seat at its lowest place. Entrance seats are manually adjusted with no top adjustment for the passenger, and really feel a bit flat and unsupportive on longer drives.
Seats are comprised of Fiat’s artificial Eco Leather-based and have FIAT stitching and in addition heating for the entrance two. Apart from the seats and armrests, the remainder of the inside was made from exhausting plastics together with the weave sample on the sprint which looks as if it might be mushy till you contact it.
There’s a fastened glass sunroof over the entrance two seats of the 500e which makes the cabin really feel gentle and ethereal. You’ll need the retractable shade that pulls throughout because the tint on the glass wasn’t sturdy sufficient to chop out glare on brilliant sunny days.
Zippy and simple to park, though bumpy at occasions
The Fiat 500e appears like a zippy little automobile, simply getting as much as freeway speeds with energy left to overhaul when mandatory. It feels most at house across the metropolis although, the place its small dimension is a bonus and light-weight steering additionally makes for straightforward parking.
![](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fiat-500e-easy-parking.jpg?lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
Based on specs, the electrical motor produces 87 kW of energy which is lots for a automobile weighing 1365 kg. When accelerating exhausting I really noticed extra energy, with as much as 96 kW flowing to the motor by way of a pleasant show of real-time vitality consumption on the central touchscreen.
![](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fiat-500e-instant-consumption.jpg?lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
This show additionally confirmed that the brake pedal within the 500e blends regenerative braking with friction brakes as essential to gradual you down.
Three driving modes can be found within the Fiat 500e, Regular, Vary and Sherpa. Regular behaves like an computerized inside combustion automobile with very weak regenerative braking and creep mode, though computerized maintain can nonetheless be enabled to carry the automobile nonetheless as soon as stopped.
Vary mode allows full one pedal driving, bringing the automobile to an entire cease whenever you elevate off the accelerator and holding it nonetheless till you speed up once more. Sherpa mode is supposed for these conditions the place you must eke out barely extra vary, turning off the air-conditioning, limiting energy and high velocity to 80 km/h.
Fiat’s one pedal driving implementation wants some tuning, particularly at low speeds and driving on slopes the place I discovered it notably jerky. For instance, when coming to a cease the friction brakes are jammed on whereas the automobile continues to be travelling a number of km/h which results in a sudden cease.
Beginning off on a slope requires extra accelerator strain than anticipated to launch the friction brakes which results in a sudden and jerky take off as effectively. This felt horrible and unsafe when reversing down my steep driveway, a lot in order that I needed to revert again to Regular drive mode every time.
Suspension is one other facet of the Fiat 500e that wants enchancment in my view. It may be harsh over bumps and bounces occupants round except you’re taking further care over velocity bumps and uneven surfaces.
When it comes to effectivity, the Fiat 500e was OK however not overly spectacular for a comparatively gentle EV of this dimension.
Throughout metropolis driving I noticed vitality utilization of 14.2 kWh/100 km, and for a 171 km freeway loop the determine was 15.8 kWh/100 km. With 37 kWh of usable vitality within the battery pack this equates to actual world vary between 235 km and 260 km relying in your driving state of affairs.
![](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fiat-500e-highway-consumption.jpg?lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
Charging and possession
The Fiat 500e most cost charges are 85 kW DC and 11 kW AC by way of a 3-phase wallbox or 7 kW AC with single part. The cost port is situated on the rear driver’s facet of the automobile so take this into consideration should you intend to make use of kerbside chargers typically.
Relating to inclusions, the 500e solely comes with a mode 3 type-2 cable, no moveable EVSE or wallbox so you will have to buy one thing individually should you plan to cost at house.
Fiat’s guarantee solely covers the 500e for 3 years or 150,000 km though the excessive voltage battery pack receives a reasonably commonplace 8 years or 160,000 km protection. Servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000 km and prices $250 per service.
Conclusions
Regardless of its cute seems to be and zippy driving expertise, the Fiat 500e will solely enchantment to a distinct segment viewers. The potential set of consumers is additional restricted by the costly step up from the petrol Fiat 500 to the electrical 500e at $52,500 earlier than on-road prices.
Hopefully Fiat can enhance the smoothness of the one pedal drive implementation and iron out the bumps within the 500e suspension, then this cute little Italian shall be much more interesting.
The dearth of space for storing in a automobile this dimension is to be anticipated, and if you’re contemplating the 500e as a second small automobile or don’t intend to make use of the rear seats a lot then space for storing ought to be advantageous.
Key specs for the Fiat 500e are under.
Beginning value
$52,500 earlier than on-road prices
Paint colors
Ice White for gratis.
5 non-compulsory colors:
Onyx Black Metallic – $700
Mineral Gray Metallic – $700
Rose Gold Metallic – $700
Ocean Inexperienced Metallic – $700
Celestial Blue Tri-Coat – $1600
Battery dimension
42 kWh gross, 37 kWh usable
Battery provider and chemistry
Samsung, nickel manganese cobalt (NMC)
Vary
311 km WLTP
Pushed wheels
Entrance-wheel drive
Energy / Torque
87 kW / 220 Nm
Charging velocity
85 kW DC, 11 kW AC
Charging socket
CCS2 combo
Exterior dimensions
Size: 3632 mmWidth: 1683 mmTop: 1527 mmWheelbase: 2322 mmFloor clearance: 130 mm
Kerb weight
1365 kg
Cupboard space
Frunk: no frunk.Boot, rear seats up: 185 LBoot rear seats folded: 550 L
Service interval
12 months / 15,000 km
![](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Tim-Eden-profile.jpg?size=100x100&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
Tim has 20 years expertise within the IT business together with 14 years as a community engineer and website reliability engineer at Google Australia. He’s an EV and renewable vitality fanatic who’s most obsessed with serving to folks perceive and undertake these applied sciences.