The Second Era Electrical Cinquecento Affords Dolce Vita!
It wasn’t an enormous shock when Fiat introduced the 2019 500e was in its ultimate 12 months of being imported to America. Solely out there in California and Oregon, its enchantment was challenged by an 84-mile all-electric driving vary (AER) that had lengthy been surpassed by opponents.
Transfer forward 5 years. All-new for 2024, the second technology Fiat 500e this time is obtainable in all 50 states. It brings a number of upgrades, together with being greater (two inches wider, longer and taller), extra highly effective, with an extended driving vary and extra customary options. The 500e works laborious to make Fiat’s case of “not needing to set foot in Italy to expertise Dolce Vita!”
Probably greater information is the five hundred will now include electrical propulsion solely. Here’s a flashback to our time within the sporty 2019 500c Abarth Cabrio; the final inside combustion 500 was a blast to drive.
Easy, Quiet and Zippy
You energy up by urgent the beginning/off button (accompanied by distinctive tones). The sprint gauges awaken, telling you the 500e is able to drive. With none engine noise or vibration, the sprint readouts are your solely indication you’re good-to-go.
The electrical motor places out 117 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. A single-speed transmission drives the entrance wheels, managed by massive buttons on the sprint. Powered by a 42-kWh battery, the 500e scoots alongside from a cease to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds. Its prime velocity is 94 mph. We discovered this tempo to be completely acceptable because it felt even quicker for freeway merging and passing huge rigs. The acceleration is easy, quiet and zippy—and fairly addictive—the fantastic thing about EV torque is it being out there, at any velocity, any time. When taking your check drive, hear for the music that performs at 20 miles per hour.
The 2024 Fiat 500e is rated at a 149-mile all-electric vary, which is a markedly vital enhance from the primary technology. It’s also just about what we skilled. With a lot emphasis positioned on driving vary, you will need to notice 39.7 miles is the common pushed every day in america. Yep, that’s it people. Which means the 500e would fulfill a really massive variety of these folks’s wants. Clear Fleet Report placed on 182 miles tooling round Southern California the place we averaged a really respectable 3.9 miles per kWh.
Rivals primarily based on AER are the Mini Cooper SE at 114 miles and the Nissan Leaf S, additionally at 149 miles. The Mazda MX-30, at 100 miles, was discontinued following the 2023 mannequin 12 months, however could also be out there used.
Automotive Leisure
The Fiat 500e is enjoyable to drive, and possibly may very well be thought of a type of automotive leisure. Round city as a metropolis automobile, it’s utterly in its aspect. The 31.5-feet turning radius and the electrical energy steering made straightforward work of shifting the two,952-pound 500e in-and-out of parking areas and navigating the tightest of alleys.
Out on the open highway, even with the quick 91.4-inch wheelbase, it felt assured at freeway speeds. No gusts of wind or highway situations gave any concern. The McPherson strut entrance and twist-beam axle within the rear smoothed-out most highway irregularities. Our solely situation is the 205/45R Pirelli Cintuarato all-season tires may be loud at freeway speeds.
The 500e is properly balanced because the battery weight below the floorboard makes for a low middle of gravity. The responsive steering has a correctly heavy really feel and good highway suggestions. Being tight and sporty, we have been tempted to assault a number of tight curves the place we discovered there to be no physique roll, pushing or lack of grip. A smile was our reward!
Plug-in Charging
Charging the lithium-ion battery is thru the 11 kW onboard charger. It is very important notice chilly climate can have an effect on the charging time and driving vary.
- 120V (Stage 1) @ 13 Amps – 37 hours – 5% – 100%
- 240V (Stage 2) @ 48 Amps – 6 hours – 0% – 100%
- DC Quick Charging @ 85 kW – 35 minutes – 0% to 80%
Authentic 2024 500e homeowners have the choice to obtain a Stage 2 charging wall unit by way of Fiat, or $600 in charging credit by way of Free2Move Cost. This explains the program to ease the electrification transition.
Regenerative Charging and Drive Modes
Charging additionally happens by way of motor regeneration when coasting or braking, which converts kinetic vitality into electrical vitality and returns it to the battery. The 500e has two one-pedal driving settings, the place the regeneration may be set to completely different ranges of drive.
There are three driver selectable drive mode settings, managed by the “e-MODE”a swap on the middle console, permitting the driving force to optimize vary and return vitality to the battery.
- Regular – Probably the most comparable setting to a gasoline powered automobile and doesn’t have regeneration
- Vary – Prompts the one-pedal-drive and regeneration perform
- Sherpa – Retains the regeneration drive. Sherpa additionally limits the highest velocity to 50 mph, turns-off the heating and air con, and reduces the ability, however doesn’t limit a full throttle if wanted.
The placement of the regen settings management swap is exclusive to the Fiat 500e. On nearly all of the plug-in vehicles Clear Fleet Report checks the regeneration is about by paddles on the bottom of the steering wheel. We choose this method as drivers can modify motor regeneration with their fingertips, by no means eradicating their eyes from the highway.
The 500e structure on the middle console requires a fast look to seek out the swap. After per week driving the 500e, we grew to become comfy with the placement, however wish to see it moved to a extra typical set-up.
Retro Design
Constructed on the Mirafiori meeting plant in Turin, Italy, the Fiat 500e is all about being cool, and having unmistakable Italian design and enjoyable. Fiat proudly says it’s “100-percent Electrical, 100-percent Italian.” Primarily based on the enduring Cinquecento (first launched in 1957 and offered in numerous varieties in america by way of 1983), the brand new, first technology 500 was launched in 2012, adopted by the all-electric 500e for 2013-2019.
Fiat has a novel strategy to introducing the 500e, taking a web page from the style world. There might be a collection of “drops” similar to the style homes do with their clothes traces. The primary drop earlier this 12 months was “RED”; every buy despatched a donation to the International Fund to assist life-saving prevention and remedy packages in communities most in want. The entire launch version 2024 Fiat 500e fashions are painted in non-metallic clear coat Purple.
The subsequent drops, with every solely coming in a single exterior shade, but in addition with extra customary options, have been “Impressed By Magnificence” (Rose Gold), “Impressed By Music” (Tuxedo Black). “Impressed by Los Angeles” (Marine Layer Mist) was launched late Summer season 2024. On the LA Auto Present in November Fiat introduced a Giorgio Armani Collector’s Version coming in early 2025.
The 500e has a enjoyable face with spherical LED projector headlights, with eyebrows and daytime working lights, and a pleasant smile within the mouth-like grille. At slightly below 12-feet lengthy the 500e has an upright design with sides that slope inward in direction of the roof, which ends with a rear hatch spoiler. Chrome items are non-existent save however for the “500” badge on the elevate gate subsequent to the LED tail lights. The automobile has angle.
Cozy Inside
The cabin is compact, however in actuality it truly is roomier than anticipated for the driving force and passenger. The heated entrance seats have handbook changes, making it comfy and offering ample headroom even for 6-footers.
The rear seat is for 2 adults of as much as about 5-foot nine-inches, so don’t plan on taking mates any additional than an area restaurant except you don’t need them to be your folks for much longer. One of the best use for the 500e is to put down the 50:50 cut up rear seat and luxuriate in zipping round with sufficient cupboard space for in-town errands. The cargo capability is compromised a bit because the rear seat doesn’t lay utterly flat. Similar story with the passenger seat, which implies lengthy objects can’t be accommodated.
The 500e sprint has been utterly redesigned from the sooner technology. It’s clear, trendy, smooth and trendy with the whole lot properly inside attain of the driving force. The flat backside steering wheel has controls for the cruise management on the proper facet, and voice activation and controls for the 7-inch instrument cluster on the left facet.
We’re huge followers of the fast-operating and easy-to-understand Fiat UConnect 5 system that’s the gateway to the infotainment system, 3-D navigation and different useful security and safety features.
The 7-speaker JBL audio system offered AM/FM/HD and SiriusXM, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus entry to entrainment apps. Controlling the radio features on the 500e is our favourite of all of the programs we check. There are small up-and-down buttons on the bottom of the steering wheel to, with a easy contact of a finger tip, management the channel and audio settings. No taking eyes off the highway to seek out your favourite station.
Comfort options embrace energy home windows and door locks, keyless entry, 12V and USB energy shops, a wi-fi cellphone charging pad, computerized temperature management (Yay for bodily buttons!) with cabin air filtration, energy exterior mirrors, entrance and rear seat cup holders, tilt and telescopic steering wheel column, rain sensing wipers and a safety alarm.
Security
Normal superior driver help programs (ADAS) embrace Stage 2 autonomous driving, seven airbags, backup digicam, digital stability management, traction management, entrance and rear park help, blind spot and rear cross detection, distant keyless entry, engine immobilizer, tire strain monitoring system, tire restore package, brake help, hill begin help and auto maintain.
Pricing and Warranties
The 2024 Fiat 500e RED we drove had a base value of $32,500. There are not any choices out there, so together with the $1,595 vacation spot charge, the MSRP was $34,095. Communicate along with your CPA earlier than visiting a Fiat supplier to see if the 500e qualifies for federal or a state tax credit. The 500e is eligible in lots of states for a solo driver HOV sticker.
All Fiat 500e fashions include these warranties.
- Primary/Powertrain – 4 Years/50,000 miles
- Electrical Powertrain/Lithium-ion Battery – Eight Years/100,000 miles
- Corrosion – Eight Years/Limitless Miles
Observations: 2024 Fiat 500e
The 2024 Fiat 500e is nimble and enjoyable to drive, straightforward to park and handles twisties nice. The design is exclusive in comparison with anything you will notice on the highway. It isn’t laborious to think about your self in Rome, the place the Cinquecento appears to be in every single place.
Effectively utilizing its saved electrical energy and respectable charging occasions, it’s right-sized for one or two folks to deal with all their in-town, city and quick journey wants. If you do not want to haul round 4 adults, the 500e may very well be a perfect second automobile.
Fiat calls the 500e a “metropolis automobile” which in fact it’s, however that sells it quick. It additionally works properly for suburban dwellers, not simply these dwelling in a metropolis middle comparable to San Francisco, Boston, New York Metropolis and Chicago. Should you spend the vast majority of your time on quick haul commuter freeway driving, working errands and infrequently negotiating the craziness of a metropolis, the 500e is perhaps best for you.
The 2024 Fiat 500e is strictly what it’s meant to be. Mission achieved.
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Story and photographs by John Faulkner.
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Disclosure
Clear Fleet Report is loaned free check automobiles from automakers to judge, sometimes for per week at a time. Our highway checks are primarily based on this one-week drive of a brand new car. Due to this we don’t tackle points comparable to long-term reliability or complete price of possession. As well as, we are sometimes invited to producer occasions highlighting new automobiles or expertise. As a part of these occasions we could also be provided free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our greatest to current our unvarnished evaluations of automobiles and information irrespective of those inducements.
Our focus is on automobiles that supply the most effective gas financial system of their class, which leads us to emphasise electrical vehicles, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and different environment friendly powertrains. We additionally function these environment friendly gas-powered automobiles which are among the many prime mpg automobiles of their class. As well as, we goal to supply evaluations and information on superior expertise and the choice gas car market. We welcome any suggestions from car homeowners and are devoted to offering a discussion board for various viewpoints. Please tell us your views at [email protected].
