2024 Fiat 500e Bets Big on Being Small

• The 2024 Fiat 500e packs a single drive module that sends 117 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels.
  

• The 2024 Fiat 500e carries a 42 kWh battery pack that feeds that single drive module for up to 149 miles on a single charge.

• The 2024 Fiat 500e is arriving at dealerships now, with a $34,095 starting price.

In the United States, Fiat is putting all of its sales-figure eggs into the basket of the battery-electric 500e—the automaker’s sole offering now that the Fiat 500x has left the building.

With a crossover-hungry U.S. customer base, the folks at Fiat are taking a different approach to the prevailing trends, and trying to borrow other parts of American culture to help drive interest in this tiny hatchback.

This push for electrification isn’t new to the company or the 500 nameplate. Fiat launched the first-generation 500e in 2013, which was then limited to certain markets. Before even the 500e, the folks at Fiat showed interest in an EV with its Panda Elettra way back in 1990, though the Panda Elettra never made its way to the States.

This new 500e draws sees its front wheels driven by a single electric drive module making 117 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. Feeding that electric drive module is a 42-kWh battery pack, which advertises a relatively short 149 miles of range on a single charge.

Compared to the outgoing 500e, those are all improvements. The ’24 Fiat 500e bests the outgoing car by 6 hp, 15 lb-ft of torque, and 65 more miles of range per charge. However, that last figure does come with the penalty of a larger battery, with the previous 500e packing only 24 kWh worth of battery pack.

Even though the new 500e still qualifies as a city car, it has grown over the previous generation. Fiat stretched the 500e almost an inch in length, and added 2.2 inch in width. That might not seem like a big bump, but it does translate to more interior space than the outgoing 500e, especially in shoulder room.

The short, 91.4-inch wheelbase makes navigating congested city centers a nimble affair. And while that extra track width does give you a surer footing than the outgoing model, you’re not going to be too concerned with how planted the 500e feels relative to its predecessor; rather, if you can fit into the turning lane at your local Starbucks.

Power delivery is EV quick, but it will fall off the more you push it. Even though the 500e has a higher top speed than its predecessor, you’ll only be able to run it up to 94 mph.

Fiat says that the 500e jumps from a standing start to 30 mph in 3.1 seconds, which isn’t exactly impressive in a world where high-end BEVs are doing twice the speed in less time, but it does fit with the general direction of the car. Climbing to 60 will take you 8.5 seconds. Adaptive cruise control and a speed limiter are both standard issue.

Those numbers aren’t exactly great when you compare it to the ostensible competition like a Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Bolt, but in urban driving situations, the initial 30 mph jaunt is probably what Fiat—and you—care more about.

Fiat’s latest 500 doesn’t offer super swift charging numbers, but the small battery helps take up the slack. Level 1 charging takes a whopping 37 hours to get you from five percent to 100 percent charge, at 3 kW. Level two charging cranks the output to 11 kW and can bring you from zero to 100 percent in only six. Peak charging is with a level 3 charger at 85 kW, which can stuff 80 percent of charge into a low battery in only 35 minutes.

On the inside, the reborn 500e feels modern and sleek. A large, 10.25-inch touchscreen handles your media and navigation needs. The uConnect 5’s native user interface is fine, but you’ll probably have your phone attached to run the standard Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The added space in the front of the cabin is welcome and comfortable. Rear seat space is better than you’d think from a small, city-focused car, but it’s still snug. If you’re taller than six feet, you’ll have to slouch to avoid running into the headliner in the rear.

The seats also don’t fold flat, even though they do fold – you’ll still not be able to haul anything too large, or fragile. With the rear seats up, you’ll have enough space to pack a large backpack or a smaller carry-on suitcase. This won’t be your de facto Costco hoard hauler.

Hoping to stem the inevitable range anxiety, Fiat packs three drive modes. Normal drive mode delivers the most traditional driving experience of the three—the 500e will coast when you're off the throttle and behave like you’d expect your piccola macchina should. Range drive mode turns on one-pedal regenerative braking and a slightly remapped right pedal.

The most interesting part of the 500e’s entire program is the Sherpa drive mode. This mode shuts off the climate control, cranks up the regenerative braking feel, and cuts motor power and limits your speed at 50 mph. You can turn your climate control back on but at the cost of some of your range.

The 500e is targeting urban areas, and it’s a sound solution for those who are EV curious. Still, the most confusing part of the latest 500e is its trim options. The team at Fiat is taking inspiration from the fashion world and is launching various versions of the 500e as part of a “merch drop” approach. That means your 500e Mr. Beast edition could be down the road one day.

The current product tie-in is the Product (Red), which Fiat says they will donate part of your new car’s proceeds to the Global Life fund. Joining the (Red) models at your Fiat dealer are the Inspired by Music and Inspired by Beauty models. The Inspired by Music 500e comes with a JBL sound system, while the Inspired by Beauty model comes with a special rose gold paint finish and a beige interior.

Kicking off the price sheet for the 500e is the aforementioned 500e (Red) models. Formally called Inspi(Red), this 500e will set you back $34,095. While this 500e has red baked into the name, it’s also available in glacier white and tuxedo black for no extra cost. A set of summer tires are also available as a no-cost option.

Included in the base price is also a level 2 charger or charge credits from Free2Move. Unfortunately, Americans won’t get a¥ level 1 charger as standard, because of the other two options. Both the Inspired by models start at $37,595. All 500e models headed to the United States are built in Turin, Italy.

Do you think that Fiat can succeed with a small BEV in the United States? Tell us your thoughts below.