2024 Fiat 500e First Look Review: Seeing RED
When the Fiat 500e first landed in the USA as a 2013 model, a range in the mid-80 miles was considered decent, but by 2019, when it was last on sale here, it became thoroughly uncompetitive. Built in Mexico, it was never more than a compliance car to earn Fiat Chrysler clean-energy credits in the US; it was also only sold in California and Oregon. Then CEO Sergio Marchionne even said he hoped no one would buy one because the automaker lost money on every one it sold. The new 2024 Fiat 500e is a completely different kettle of fish. It's brand-new and boasts an updated and chic take on the original 500's cutesy styling, and the first models to arrive are dressed all in red.
While the styling, power output, and performance are pretty similar to the old car, the range is hugely improved and will likely be on par with its obvious rival, the Mini Cooper Electric. It can't touch the Chevrolet Bolt for range. We're still holding out that the US gets the exciting 152-horsepower Abarth derivative, a sorely needed halo car that would do a lot to re-establish Fiat in the local market.
When Is The Fiat 500e Coming Out?
While it has been driving around European streets since 2020, the release date for the Fiat 500e in the USA is set for the Spring of 2024, following its public launch in November 2023 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
2024 Fiat 500e Price and Competition
There are no firm figures for the price of the 2024 Fiat 500e range, but the Red Edition that goes on sale first has an MSRP of $32,500, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. We expected a starting cost of around $35,000 as that would make it good value; we expect other trims in the range to cost a little more.
We also expect the 2025 Mini Cooper EV to start in a similar price range, so buyers in this segment not focusing on looks, status, or characterful styling will want to look at the Bolt EV with its sub-$30k starting price and far better electric range.
New Fiat 500e Exterior and Colors
If the 2012 Fiat 500 can be considered a masterful modern re-imagination of the tiny tot that was the original rear-engined 500 of the '50s, then dare we say that Fiat has done it again. Far from a tasteless pastiche of retro styling cues, the 2024 500e stays faithful to the spirit of the original and is instantly recognizable as a 500, yet it's a forward-thinking and thoroughly modern little electric supermini that is right at home in the 2020s.
It looks fabulous in the fetching oranges and purples that we've seen on the three one-off designer concepts Fiat has teased us with, but the first official model to land in the USA is the Red Edition, which is, naturally, available in only red. European models wear colors like Ocean Green (an attractive turquoise), an iPhone-like Rose Gold, Celestial Blue, Ice White, Onyx Black, and Mineral Grey.
The old gas-powered 500 was offered in hatchback and convertible formats in the US, but the 500e was only ever offered as a hard-top hatchback, and that's likely to be the case here. The Red Edition shows off the cheeky LED headlight design with circular lighting elements positioned below these. The front of the 2024 500e shows off its electric nature by having no traditional grille, and along the side, e-latch aero door handles provide access to the cabin.
The electric Italian icon rides on 17-inch diamond-cut wheels as standard.
Dimensions
The 2019 500e was a tiny car at only 142.4 inches long, and not too much has changed for the new Fiat 500e hatchback. With a wheelbase of 91.4 inches, the latest Fiat 500e has a total length of 142.95 inches, a width of 74.12 inches with the mirrors included, and it stands 66,3 inches tall.
The curb weight for the first model to head to the USA is listed as 2,952 pounds. It's unclear whether there will be heavier models as the automaker also alludes to the 500e breaching the 3,000-pound mark. Perhaps a more potent model is in the cards?
Fiat 500e Powertrain and Performance
The older model 500e had outputs of 111 horsepower and 147 lb-ft, but for 2024, the Fiat 500e produces 118 hp and 162 lb-ft. The electric motor is front-mounted and drives the front wheels, as before. The automaker claims a 0-60-mph sprint of 8.5 seconds for the new 500e, which isn't too different from the last model we had in the USA. That's not fast, but this is no Tesla, and given the instant response of EVs and the brisk 3.1 seconds it needs to get to 31 mph, it should feel nicely responsive in the city, which is its natural habitat.
Normal, Range, and Sherpa driving modes are available, the latter one designed to maximize your mileage to help you get to a planned destination without running out of electrons. It limits top speed to 50 mph (down from a maximum of 94 mph) and reduces available power.
One-pedal driving makes the 2024 Fiat 500e ideal for city commuting and means low-speed bumper-to-bumper traffic won't be such a chore. And with a host of features that include automatic emergency braking, pedestrian alert, and lane keep assist, busy streets won't be a cause for stress.
Range, Charging, Battery Life
The new 500e arrives in Red Edition spec, which comes with a 42-kWh battery as standard. The EPA estimated range is said to be up to 149 miles, and no MPGe figures have been quoted yet. It's unlikely that a smaller battery will make it's way to the US as the range on the 42-kWh battery is already less than ideal and a smaller version would make that even less appealing.
The battery is quick to top up, though, and will accept fast charging, which means it can be charged from 0 - 80% in around 35 minutes. On a level 2 charger, you'd need about 4 hours and 15 minutes from empty to full.
Fiat 500e Interior and Cargo
The last Fiat 500e's trunk space was a tiny 7 cu-ft because it was a compromised package, being a gas-engined car converted into an EV. Freed of the space-gobbling battery, the gas-powered 500 offered a more useful 9.5 cu-ft for cargo space. The new 500e was designed from the ground up to be an EV and we expected no such packaging compromises - yet it still offers just 7.5 cubic feet of cargo volume. It's not ideal, but it's also not an unknown if you're shopping in this segment. Interior space for knick-knacks has been improved, partly thanks to a new dash-mounted push-button-style gear selector, freeing up space in the center console. There are two cupholders up front, and another two in the back.
Passenger space inside the cabin is a touch better and while only children will be comfortable on the cramped rear seats of the Fiat 500e interior, the style and presentation have certainly been taken upmarket. Assembly quality and materials have been improved and the interior comes across as a lot more premium than before - a requirement, given the pricing and boutique feel.
The familiar round gauge cluster of the old model survives but is now a seven-inch configurable digital affair and it's joined by a landscape-style 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen atop the center stack running Stellantis' latest Uconnect 5 infotainment software. This comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, voice recognition, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth. Other noteworthy features include wireless charging, automatic climate control, a 12-volt power outlet, a soft-touch steering wheel, and a seven-speaker standard sound system. A comprehensive safety suite with curtain airbags is standard.
Standard seating is for a maximum of four, as mentioned, and the seats in the Fiat 500e Red Edition are wrapped in black fabric with red stitching, with the 500 logo prominently displayed. The automaker makes a big deal of the fact that the seating upholstery features recycled materials.