The U.S. has always been known for its love of big cars. Trucks, SUVs, and crossovers are way more popular than sedans and smaller cars. That’s not really shocking, though—while other countries might depend more on trains or public transport, in the U.S., driving is pretty much essential to get anywhere. And since Americans drive a lot and often cover long distances, it makes sense to want something a bit roomier. But Fiat believes this trend can change and thinks there’s a market for smaller city cars in North America. So, it’s bringing the 2024 Fiat 500e to the U.S. market.
The Fiat 500e isn’t just small; it’s also relatively inexpensive. With a starting price of $32,500, it’s cheaper than the average electric vehicle (EV).
I understand why some might be drawn to a car like this. It may not be everyone’s main car—but the U.S. isn’t just the land of big cars; it’s also the land of multiple cars per household, especially in those with two or more adults. But does the Fiat 500e offer enough to justify its existence in North America? I’ve been driving the Fiat 500e Inspi(Red) for the past week to find out.
Calling the Fiat 500e small doesn’t quite capture how truly tiny it is; I was surprised by its size when I first saw it in person. Technically, it seats four, with a second row that’s accessible by crawling through one of the two doors.
The 500e isn’t the most stylish car, but it’s undeniably cute—though not as cute as a Mini, for instance. Mini sells the Mini Electric Hardtop in a similar price range to the 500e, and purely in terms of looks, I’d say the Mini has an edge. Whether it’s a great EV is another matter.
The 500e comes with a rounded roofline and a hatchback that hides a small trunk. With the rear seats up, there’s just 9.5 cubic feet of space; however, you could fold down the rear seats and get 30.1 cubic feet, treating it like a two-seater. Alternatively, you can fold down one rear seat to split the difference.
The second row is definitely cramped and not the most comfortable. But it’s handy that it’s there at all. To be clear, this car is not meant to be a family vehicle; the rear seats are for short trips or emergencies.
At the front, the car features two semicircle headlights and a prominent “500” logo above a lower air intake grille. Its short nose suits the overall design.
The front seats are relatively comfortable. While the car isn’t high-end, it’s not supposed to be a luxury vehicle. I was pleasantly surprised by the nice black-and-red stitched leather on the seats, which were comfortable for short drives.
The car’s interior includes a 10.2-inch infotainment display with Fiat’s system. The software wasn’t great—slow and somewhat confusing to navigate—but fortunately, it supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wirelessly, so you can bypass Fiat’s software.
The Fiat 500e offers some basic driver-assist features, though our model didn’t include many. The Inspi(Red) we tested is the base model for 2024, lacking features like adaptive cruise control and lane-centering, which are available on the pricier “Inspired by Music” and “Inspired by Beauty” models. Our model featured only basic cruise control.
Driving the Fiat 500e is pretty much what you’d expect. It’s not designed for speed but is nimble and responsive in steering. You definitely feel the small size when driving.
However, there are some driving quirks. For instance, when you enter the car, place your foot on the brake, and press the on button, it only turns on the accessories. You have to press it again and then put the car into drive to get moving. Also, the drive mode switch was frustratingly unresponsive.
The car has three drive modes: Normal, Range, and Sherpa. These modes focus on preserving range rather than performance, with Sherpa being the most range-efficient by limiting performance. If this is truly a city car for you and you can charge it at home, Normal mode might suffice. I found Sherpa mode to be fine for driving too.
You’ll get used to these quirks over time, and driving the car becomes a fairly good experience. It’s not the fastest EV, but it is responsive in terms of acceleration and steering.
One of the downsides is the limited range. The Fiat 500e is built for short trips and regular charging, offering a range of about 150 miles, according to Fiat. The EPA hasn’t rated it yet, but this estimate seemed accurate during my testing.
While 150 miles isn’t impressive compared to high-end EVs that offer up to 300 miles, this car isn’t meant for long road trips. It’s ideal for city driving, possibly as a secondary car, with consistent home charging.
Charging is another limitation. The car supports charging at up to 85 kilowatts at a DC fast charger, which should add 31 miles of range in around five minutes. Fiat is also selling the car with Level 2 chargers that can be installed in your garage by an electrician, allowing the car to fully charge in about six hours overnight. That makes the lower range a bit easier to manage.
The Fiat 500e has plenty of appeal if you set your expectations right. It’s a great option for city driving, especially if you can charge it at home. For longer distances, it’s better as a secondary car.
If you’re interested in the 500e, the base model isn’t a bad option, since the higher-end trims don’t offer extra range or faster charging. The higher trims do add features like adaptive cruise control and lane-centering, which can be useful. We recommend going for the base model to save some money—unless you really want those extra features.
It’s worth looking at alternatives as well. The Mini Electric Hardtop looks better but has an even lower range and doesn’t come with a Level 2 charger. If range is a concern, the 500e is the better option. If you want more style, consider the cheaper Mini. Another option in the U.S. is the Bolt EV, which is cheaper yet offers better range and faster charging, though it’s much less exciting in appearance. If you’re focused on EV performance, the Bolt EV is probably the best choice.