First Look Review: The Fiat Topolino is impossible not to love!

Update: Introduction, ‘Design,’ ‘Interior,’ and ‘Specifications’ updated and ‘Topolino not going to Canada’ added.

The Fiat Topolino has arrived in the U.S., and while it may not be a car, its charming design and retro-inspired styling pay tribute to the original Fiat 500. I spent some time with its Euro-spec version in Switzerland a few months ago, and it’s 100% something you’ll want even if you don’t need it.

Design

The Fiat Topolino, unlike the Citroen Ami that it is based on, doesn’t have symmetrical front and rear fascias. The layout is more car-like, with a hood-like upper panel and two-tier lighting setup styled like the Fiat 500, wheel and side mirror caps inspired by vintage Italian cars, and vertical LED loops that serve as the taillights.

The vehicle also features ‘bumpers,’ which are satin chrome trim pieces attached to the lower front and rear. The upper part of the body is finished in black, which adds a nice contrast to the light green ‘Verde Vita’ color. The entire vehicle is constructed with fiberglass-reinforced thermoplastic (FRP), but feels stronger than a well-specified electric scooter.

Fiat offers the Topolino in the U.S. in standard and Dolcevita versions. The standard version has a rear-hinged left door, a front-hinged right door, and a hardtop with a panoramic sunroof. The Dolcevita version has ropes instead of doors and a roll-back soft-top.

According to the media announcement, the standard version features a windshield defroster but the Dolcevita does not. The online configurator lists this feature for both versions, though. The Dolcevita version does miss out on windshield wipers, though. Both share the same 14-inch wheels with vintage covers.

Interior

When I entered the standard Fiat Topolino, I noticed it doesn’t have any handles inside. Instead, there’s a simple strap on each side, and you pull them to close the doors.

The cabin has that unmistakable Italian character, reminding me of the original Fiat 500. Everything is minimal but thoughtfully styled. The seats are tiny and meant for short distances, but they’d still feel better than sitting on a scooter seat in the rain.

I’d say this is a perfect city runabout for quick neighborhood trips. For a six-footer like me, there’s enough headroom, though the seats could be wider. My thighs pressed against the seatbelt buckle, which wasn’t ideal. Still, for what it is, space isn’t bad.

It comes with a three-point seatbelt, a manual parking brake, something I haven’t seen in ages, and a small instrument cluster showing speed and remaining range. The buttons are all physical, and there’s a USB-C port for phone charging. There’s no infotainment system, just a phone holder.

There is no air conditioning, which is fine given the price and purpose. Outward visibility is excellent, thanks to large glass panels, and the bottom half of the windows tilts upward for ventilation. This is the first vehicle I’ve sat in where the roof glass panel is ahead of the steering wheel, a quirky but cool touch.

Specifications

The Fiat Topolino is powered by an 8 hp electric motor, driving the front wheels through an automatic transmission. It gives the vehicle a top speed of 19 mph. A 5.4 kWh battery powers this motor, and it can be charged at up to 2.3 kW, with a 0-100% session taking approximately five hours.

Fiat claims the Topolino can travel up to 46 miles on a single charge. The company says it will start offering a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) conversion kit that increases the top speed to 25 mph to make the EV street legal by the end of summer 2026. The online configurator states fall 2026 as the timeline, though.

Measuring 2,535 mm (99.8 in.) in length, 1,400 mm (55.1 in.) in width, and 1,530 mm (60.2 in.) in height, the compact EV is designed for urban mobility. The standard version weighs 1,073 lbs.

Pricing

The Fiat Topolino retails at USD 13,995 in both standard and Dolcevita versions. A standard USD 990 destination fee brings the total to USD 14,985, although this figure still excludes taxes and other fees. Limited quantities have started arriving at select dealerships across the U.S.

The Topolino name is familiar to Americans, as this nameplate was used on a mass-market city car until the 1950s. Well-maintained examples fetch north of USD 20,000, and enthusiasts also modify old Topolinos in tune with the hot-rod culture.

Fiat has a unique history in the country, having sold ‘fun’ and youthful cars like the 500 series. It has also displayed the modern-day Topolino at auto shows across the country, including Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.

This could be a perfect opportunity for Stellantis to leverage those aspects of the brand and offer the Topolino for shuttle services in resorts, hotels, residential communities, and golf courses across the U.S., particularly in places like Florida and California.

Topolino not going to Canada

While the Topolino is now available at U.S. dealerships, there’s no plan to launch it in Canada. A Stellantis Canada spokesperson told Global News in July 2026 that availability may expand to other regions if there is enough interest and demand but did not confirm a Canadian launch.