Are you tired of big EVs that weigh as much as a tower block and cost as much as the moon? Yeah, me too. That’s why it’s exciting to hear that the 2024 Fiat 500e weighs just 2,952 pounds. How on earth did Fiat do that? Well, there are some sacrifices made to keep the weight and footprint down, but it isn’t all bad news. In fact, it might just make this little electric car perfect for urbanites at a price they can afford.
For those keeping track, this is the second Fiat 500e sold in America. The first was a compliance car with just 84 miles of range that was a loss leader for then-Fiat Chrysler. I guess if they took a bath on electric Fiats, they’d be able to sell more Hellcats and all that sort of stuff [Ed Note: Actually, all automakers selling vehicles in California were required to sell an EV, so FCA sucked it up and offered the loss-leading 500e. -DT]. Regardless, Reuters reports that then-CEO Sergio Marchionne told people to not buy it, which leaves the old 500e with quite the interesting legacy.
However, the Hellcat is dead, the 500e is reborn, and it really couldn’t have come at a better time for Stellantis. After all, the Chevrolet Bolt is set to temporarily shuffle off this mortal coil when the calendar year ends, the Nissan Leaf is, um, not great, and the current Mini Cooper SE isn’t exactly a range king.
Granted, neither is the Fiat 500e. Promising just 149 miles of range, that’s only 35 miles more than what the current Mini offers. However, when you’re playing in the shallow end of the range pool, every mile counts. Besides, there’s more to an EV than sheer range — it matters how quickly you can juice up the battery pack when on the road. With that in mind, the 42 kWh “Nickel Manganese Cobalt” lithium0ion battery pack in the 2024 Fiat 500e supports CCS DC fast charging at up to 85 kW. That’s not a massive number, but this isn’t a massive battery pack.
Power output isn’t massive either. The front-wheel-drive 500e puts out just 118 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque. Zero-to-60 mph happens in a claimed 8.5 seconds, but top speed is a fairly low 94 mph. Never mind that most people won’t go any faster than that, the performance figures of the 500e just aren’t giant-slaying like some might expect from an electric car. That’s okay though, as they don’t have to be. Hell, it also seems perfectly fine that the 2024 Fiat 500e sports drum brakes and a twist beam out back. This thing’s all about style and affordability, two things it has in spades.
The old, rear-engined Fiat 500 of the 1950s is a style icon, and the reborn front-wheel-drive car that went off sale a few years ago reinvented it perfectly. However, as many manufacturers will tell you, getting a second retro rebirth right is a tricky thing. Get it right, and you end up with something like the 2007 Mini Cooper. Get it wrong, and you’ll end up with something glued to the showroom floor. Happily, the 2024 Fiat 500e doesn’t mess too much with a good thing, instead refining it just enough to add a little extra modernity.
Compared to the previous car, the new car stays compact but looks a whole lot more expensive. The daytime running lights in the hood that complete a circular light signature imbue the car with a cute yet feisty face, while touches like the recessed door handles, faceted taillights, and frosted tricolore emblems add a dose of class.
To start, the 2024 Fiat 500e will only come in a special RED trim that supports the fight against AIDS, which you can have in any color so long as it’s red, but that includes a ton of kit as standard. I’m talking LED headlights, automatic climate control, wireless phone charging, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a seven-inch digital cluster, alloy wheels, automatic wipers, and all the stuff you’d expect in a posh city car.
Then there’s the design of the interior, a festival of minimalism and painted surfaces that doesn’t totally eschew physical controls. Beneath the touchscreen, a set of buttons allow hotkey access to everything from the climate control to the power door locks, while a volume scroll wheel takes up residence in the center console next to the drive mode selector and electronic parking brake. I’m particularly fond of the truncated center console that allows step-through access to the driver’s seat from the curbside while opening up the cabin. Oh, and the embossed seat fabric covering seats for four in a pinch? Fabulous, in Italian tradition.
So, the 2024 Fiat 500e is cute and should have enough range for urbanites, but what about affordability? Well, this small electric car with all the amenities most people could realistically want stickers for $34,095 including a $1,595 freight charge. Admittedly, that’s not quite as good as the Chevrolet Bolt, but the Chevrolet soon won’t be an option. It’s worth noting that the 500e probably won’t qualify for any tax incentives if you purchase it outright or finance it, but the leasing loophole is still open, so with some clever accounting, it may effectively cost well under $30,000. A brand new EV for sensible money? Sure, why not.
If you live in Canada, things aren’t quite as affordable with a price tag of $39,995 excluding an unspecified freight charge, but due to the lopsided EV pricing landscape up there, the 500e will still be one of the most affordable EVs in Canada when it goes on sale in British Columbia and Quebec early next year.
Oh yeah, expect the 2024 Fiat 500e to go on sale in early 2024 as a 2024 model. While it certainly isn’t looking like the right EV for everyone, those who can live with 149 miles of range and want a stylish little urban runabout are sure to be stoked. With the affordable side of the American EV market soon to be a bit of a wasteland, this might just be what Fiat needs to survive in America.
(Photo credits: Fiat)
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I love how the Hyundai IONIQ 5 looks but it’s too big for my taste. Take that styling and scale it down to the size of this 500e, and it would be a consideration at the same or (since it’s Hyundai) lower price.
Of course, I would also love it if they can take their N Vision 74 concept, remove the overly racer bits, and scale that down for production, too.
Not sure which of these two dreams is more realistic.
I’ve been thinking about an urban commuter car and this one checks almost all the boxes. The price seems high though although leasing might take care of that as well. Plus, I’ve always wanted an Italian car but the Ferraris aren’t getting any cheaper
Looks good…wondering if they will have an Abarth or Giannini version 😀
There is a lot to like here. But $34,095 hard earned American fucking dollars is absurd. Market conditions, inflation, blah blah blah. $34,095 for this thing is a joke. FWD and limited utility and range are gonna make this a hard sell. At $22-25 its a maybe if you really like it, but $34,095 is a joke. This is basically stillborn and will sell in incredibly small numbers.
Yeah, exactly. At $10k less, I might consider it for my needs (an around-town commuter for daily stuff when I’m not using my other car) but that price is “only car” territory. No way.
It looks nice, but I’d rather have the range of the Bolt.
It really looks more like the original because of the non-existent grille.
I’ve been wanting a “city EV” for a bit now since I’ve got two ICE cars for longer drives. Debating between a 2024 500e and a pre-owned BMW i3 (that one is DT’s fault).
It’s so cute it has dimples! The design is great, range acceptable, acceleration disappointing, and price laughable. $25k plus incentives and I’m in.
This whole return to work mandate has put Southern California gas prices in perspective. Seriously looking at electric/hybrid commuter sedans for the weekday slog (100 mile round trip everyday to work). Truck and motorcycle can be left in the garage for the weekend or the evening blast through the hills.
So what I’m seeing is that the Volvo EX30 is the one to beat for new 2024-release smaller EVs, yes? I was interested in this Fiat but the price seems a let-down compared to what the Volvo offers.
The advantage of made in China cars.
True, but China seems to make most everything else battery-powered, and Volvo’s done a good job with QC coming out of the Chinese factory.
I’ve been casually on the lookout for a newer Volvo, and whole I’d prefer one made in the South Carolina plant (if a Sweden-made one wasn’t available, but I like the idea of a US-built one), but if the right one came along that had the L VIN (Chinese final assembly, as also seen on several GM models made there), I might not say no.