First Look Review: The new Fiat 500e is impossible to ignore!

Introduced in March 2020, the all-new Fiat 500 has finally reached U.S. dealers as the 2024 Fiat 500e. The North American-spec 500e is priced at $32,500, excluding the destination fee, and deliveries began on April 1, 2024. Recently I got a chance to check out the new all-electric 500 in Dubai, and here’s everything you need to know about the MINI Cooper Electric rival:

Design

The new Fiat 500 Electric features a sophisticated exterior that gives it an upmarket look, but it has a familiar shape and retains the signature design elements. Looks are subjective, but I think it would be hard to find someone who doesn’t find the EV charming and friendly!

Most automakers just started deleting upper grilles and using covered surfaces instead to prepare for the EV era, but the 21st-century Fiat 500 was born ready for that look. The second-gen car builds on that design with more flair, featuring two slim chrome stripes and a chrome 500 logo in the middle.

The main attraction of the new Fiat 500e is the hood separating the modular elliptical headlights from the DRLs that look like eyelashes on the hood. Additional, circular LED DRLs below the headlights, spread further out on the horizontal axis, to add emotion. An intricately detailed wide grille serves the cooling needs of the EV’s core components.

On the sides, the new Fiat 500e flaunts flush-fitting door handles and 17-inch 3D-look two-tone alloy wheels. At the rear, there’s a block-lettered Fiat logo below the glass and a new set of LED combination lamps that gives the car a more assertive and confident look despite the small dimensions.

Interior

The interior of the new 500 has a completely new design, but with clear references to the first-gen model’s elements. The sleeker dashboard, steering wheel, and infotainment system display make the cabin seem modern and spacious. The circular instrument binnacle houses a 7-inch color display. An all-new Uconnect 5 infotainment system is available with a 7-inch touchscreen in the basic configurations and a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the more expensive configurations.

I’m six feet tall, and given the low roofline of the new 500e, I expected to face ingress/egress issues. What I found out was that it was surprisingly easy to get in and out of the vehicle!

Once I was in the driver’s seat, I checked for all-around visibility. Though the 500e is a city car, the large windows help in getting a good view of the surroundings. The steering wheel with manually adjustable column felt quite solid in feel. My head was quite clear from the headliner. As for the driver seat, the lumbar support was adequate while under-thigh support felt good. During my time with the car, I particularly liked the tactile feel of using the buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel.

Specifications

Fiat sells the new 500e in Europe in three body styles: 2-door hatchback, convertible, and 3-door hatchback. The company only offers the 2-door hatchback in the U.S.

Fiat produces the new 500e in two power electric variants, driven by a single motor on the front axle. The base variant produces 70 kW (94 hp) and 220 Nm (162 lb.-ft.) of torque and the top-end variant’s motor generates 87 kW (117 hp) and 220 Nm (162 lb.-ft.) of torque. The former has a 21.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and the latter uses a 37.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

Aspect	Base New Fiat 500e Specification	Top-end New Fiat 500e Specification
Length	3,632 mm (143.0 in.)	3,632 mm (143.0 in.)
Width	1,748 mm (68.8 in.)	1,748 mm (68.8 in.)
Height	1,527 mm (60.1 in.)	1,527 mm (60.1 in.)
Wheelbase	2,332 mm (91.8 in.)	2,332 mm (91.8 in.)
Drivetrain Layout	FWD	FWD
Power	70 kW (94 hp)	87 kW (117 hp)
Torque	220 Nm (162 lb.-ft.)	220 Nm (162 lb.-ft.)
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) Acceleration Time	9.5 seconds	9 seconds
Top Speed	135 km/h (84 mph)	150 km/h (93 mph)
Battery Pack Capacity (Net)	21.3 kWh	37.3 kWh
Maximum WLTP Range (Combined)	2-door hatchback: 190 km (118 miles) Convertible: 190 km (118 miles) 3-door hatchback: 190 km (118 miles)	2-door hatchback: 322 km (200 miles) Convertible: 305 km (189.5 miles) 3-door hatchback: 313 km (194.4 miles)
Maximum AC Charging Power	11 kW	11 kW
Lowest AC Charging Time (0-100% SoC)	2 hours 30 minutes	4 hours 15 minutes
Maximum DC Charging Power	50 kW	85 kW
Lowest DC Charging Time (0-80% SoC)	30 minutes	35 minutes

Also Read: First Look Review: The Abarth 500e is a city hopper on steroids

TopElectricSUV says

Once in a while, good things truly do come in small packages, and the 2024 Fiat 500e exemplifies this in the automotive world. It’s chic, high-quality, easy and fun to drive, and an absolute head-turner. While a potential premium price might deter some, for others, it will be an excellent choice, whether as a first car for a teenager or a convenient city runabout.

2024 Fiat 500e FAQs