Fiat has had mixed fortunes in the United States, and the brand currently only sells one model here, the 500X. That is changing for the 2024 model year, as the brand is reviving the 500e, an all-electric subcompact hatchback with quirky styling and a unique interior. The new car has a reasonable price tag and a range suitable for an urban commuter.
Fiat will eventually sell the car in a few configurations, but the automaker partnered with (RED), an organization working to end AIDS, on the first release model. Even with its serious affiliation, the Fiat 500e Red will retain Italian style and spirit, with the automaker promising a vehicle that "sings" with the country's culture and attitude. Fiat has also released pricing for the car and noted an on-sale date in early 2024.
Though refined and more futuristic than before, the new 500e is immediately recognizable for what it is. Fiat gave the car LED lighting front and rear, a new-look front fascia, and 17-inch wheels. Fiat offered the 500 here in the U.S. with four doors at one time, but the new 500e comes as a 3-door affair, one of which is the hatchback. It features oval LED daytime running lights and carries the brand's signature round headlight design.
The 500e is a tiny car, but Fiat says it offers plenty of interior storage and a new seat design with sustainable materials. Automatic climate controls, a digital gauge cluster, black upholstery with red stitching, and 50/50 folding rear seats are also standard. The car features a striking red dash that Fiat calls the interior's centerpiece. The automaker says other design elements, such as the rounded gauge cluster and 2-spoke steering wheel, pay respect to the first 1957 Fiat 500.
Fiat rightly positioned the 500e as an urban EV. Its 118 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque produce a claimed zero-to-60-mph time of 8.5 seconds, and the car delivers a range of 149 miles. Those specs are modest, but Fiat says the 500e's curb weight of just over 3,000 pounds makes it the lightest EV in its segment, so it doesn't need massive power to be entertaining to drive.
The 500e offers three driving modes that maximize performance or range, depending on the situation. Normal mode is for everyday driving, while Range mode activates one-pedal driving and boosts regenerative braking to recoup as much energy as possible. The "Sherpa" mode limits vehicle speed to 50 mph and reduces battery power to help the car limp to the nearest charger.
The 500e comes with a home charger box system or charging credits through Stellantis' Free2Move charging initiative. Using an 85-kW DC fast charger, it can recover up to 80 percent of battery capacity in 35 minutes. Charging from zero-to-100 percent takes four hours and 15 minutes using a Level 2 charger.
The 2024 Fiat 500e isn't the most robustly equipped vehicle, which isn't surprising for the price. It comes standard with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, pedestrian detection, and rain-sensing wipers. As of this writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has crash-tested the 500e.
Fiat equips a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 7-inch fully digital gauge cluster running the excellent Uconnect 5 infotainment system. It brings wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, "Hey, Fiat" voice commands, wireless smartphone charging, Amazon Alexa functionality, and more. The system is responsive, colorful, and intuitive, with menus that make it easy to understand what's going on. Even with the robust list of features, the interface remains easy to use and is less distracting than many others while driving.
The 2024 Fiat 500e won't have many direct competitors when it lands, as there are very few affordable EVs on sale in the United States. The Nissan Leaf is a solid alternative, but industry observers expect the automaker to discontinue the car soon. Mini may be Fiat's biggest rival in this segment, as the Electric Hardtop model starts at a similar price and offers decent specs.
Fiat is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of December 6, 2023, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
Chris Teague is an experienced writer in the automotive and technology fields. In addition to JDPower.com, his work appears at Forbes, The Drive, Your Test Driver, and others.
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