Even by electrical automobile requirements, the unique Fiat 500e wasn’t precisely an enormous success. The Italian EV was largely obtainable in California, and gross sales peaked in 2015 with 6,194 items dropping to 2,250 by 2018. Former CEO Sergio Marchionne additionally famously claimed the corporate misplaced $14,000 on each 500e offered, which meant the much less profitable it was, the higher. So we weren’t precisely stunned when Fiat killed it off together with the gas-powered 500 in 2019.
An electrical subcompact with solely two doorways, restricted vary and a price ticket that began north of $30,000 simply wasn’t a automotive that numerous Individuals had been enthusiastic about, and on a sure stage, we couldn’t blame them. It labored finest as a metropolis automotive, however should you lived in a metropolis the place the 500e’s small measurement would have been helpful, there was likelihood that you just didn’t have anyplace to park it should you even wanted a automotive within the first place.
And but, a couple of years after Fiat redesigned the 500e, it’s determined to once more supply the little automotive within the U.S., this time in all 50 states and with out shedding cash each time somebody buys one. So if you wish to purchase one to drive round Houston, you’ll be capable of. You may get crushed by a lifted Chevrolet Silverado HD, however Fiat isn’t going to cease you. I lately bought an opportunity to drive the 2024 Fiat 500e in Miami, and whereas I didn’t get a ton of time behind the wheel, it’s clear that Fiat put much more effort into making its tiny EV a greater automotive.
Full disclosure: Fiat flew me to Miami, paid for one evening in a resort room, fed me a pleasant meal, purchased my drinks, supplied the automotive and fortunately resisted the urge to feed me to the alligators.
Earlier than we are able to get into the overview of the brand new Fiat 500e, we have to rewind again to 2020. I used to be dwelling in LA’s Koreatown neighborhood and wanted a automotive. I used to be working for a brand new website that was too small to get press vehicles, and the concept of going electrical was fascinating. After contemplating a couple of different choices, I ended up shopping for a 2015 Fiat 500e. Was it the very best EV in the marketplace on the time? In no way. Was it the very best EV I may afford, although? Oh yeah.
Whereas it wasn’t as enjoyable to drive because the Abarth model, man, that little 500e had allure. It was so dang sensible, particularly with the rear seats down. Charging was largely free as a result of I discovered {an electrical} outlet in my storage that my landlord didn’t know I used to be utilizing, and I may navigate tight parking conditions with ease. Heck, I even strapped a Christmas tree to the roof a couple of months later. It had its flaws, positive, but it surely actually was the right automotive for me on the time. Plus, in contrast to a closely depreciated Nissan Leaf, it wasn’t arduous to get 100 miles out of a cost.
Sadly, life occurs, and I now not have my outdated 500e, however that did imply I had a selected curiosity in driving the brand new one. There’s nonetheless a Fiat-shaped gap in my coronary heart, and the 2024 500e appeared like the right new automotive to fill it. On paper, that shouldn’t have been arduous to do. The brand new automotive provides extra vary from its 42-kWh battery pack, now getting 149 miles in comparison with the outdated automotive’s 87, and it makes extra energy, too. The 117 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque the electrical motor sends to the entrance wheels isn’t a lot by right now’s requirements, but it surely’s nonetheless an enchancment over its predecessor’s 111 hp and 147 lb-ft. It’s additionally barely longer, wider and taller for extra passenger room with out shedding the earlier automotive’s charming styling and small stature.
Relating to charging, you’re in all probability going to need to ensure you have a Stage 2 charger close by. For those who persist with Stage 1 like I did with my outdated automotive, Fiat says it is going to take 37 hours to completely recharge from 5 %. With a Stage 2 charger, you’ll be able to reportedly go from empty to a full cost in six hours. Stick it on an 85-kWh quick charger, although, and you will get an 80-percent cost in about 35 minutes — the outdated automotive didn’t supply fast-charging from the manufacturing facility. You continue to in all probability don’t need to attempt to highway journey the brand new 500e, however at the least this time round it’s type of theoretically possibly believable.
This time round, the 500e additionally has options. I didn’t precisely thoughts not having a lot past a radio, air-con, energy home windows and energy steering, however I additionally purchased my automotive for about $6,000. Folks spending greater than $30,000 on a brand new automotive, then again, are in all probability going to anticipate one thing slightly extra fashionable, and whereas there aren’t any Mercedes Hyperscreens dominating the sprint, having options resembling Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built-in into the infotainment system, a number of drive modes and an up to date driver show are definitely good upgrades.
It’s additionally extra spacious inside than you may anticipate. Precedence is, in fact, given to the entrance seats, however I used to be in a position to match my 6-foot-tall drive companion behind me with out having to amputate his legs. Cabin supplies additionally really feel a lot nicer than earlier than. I wouldn’t name it luxurious, but it surely’s properly designed, and nothing I touched felt like Fiat minimize main corners. It’s additionally not like different vehicles within the sub-$40,000 worth vary supply open-pore wooden, aluminum trim and Nappa leather-based seats.
One factor that did stand out to me as a former proprietor is that the brand new automotive’s rear seats don’t fold as flat as they did earlier than. It’s removed from the tip of the world, however on the similar time, it does seem to be it might make the brand new 500e a bit much less sensible should you’re making an attempt to move bigger objects.
Sadly I didn’t get a lot time to truly drive the brand new 500e, in order a lot as I want I may go extra in-depth right here, there’s solely a lot you could be taught in lower than two hours. Based on the automotive’s laptop, I drove the 2024 Fiat 500e for 41 minutes, all of which came about in Miami site visitors. With out the chance to get it as much as freeway speeds, I can’t actually let you know something about wind or tire noise, nor do I’ve any insights into the way it handles within the corners or how comfy the seats are past my preliminary impression that sure, they’re fairly cozy and a marked enchancment over the outdated ones.
Then once more, it’s not just like the 500e was designed for carving canyons or cross-country highway journeys. On the finish of the day, it’s purported to be a instrument that will get you from A to B with sufficient model and allure that you just don’t really feel like simply one other equipment. Certain, you might poke enjoyable at Fiat for highlighting the 500e’s 3.1-second 0-to-30-mph time, however then again, I’d argue that it reveals the Italian automaker understands that homeowners in all probability aren’t going to be hitting freeway speeds regularly. They’re going to be driving round city in site visitors similar to I used to be. One of many issues I loved about my outdated automotive was the truth that should you, say, tried to tug out of a parking zone too shortly, it might spin the tires. I’m not the form of man to do this deliberately on any type of a daily foundation, but it surely was a part of the automotive’s allure.
That’s not precisely nice for tire put on, although, and most of the people in all probability didn’t discover it as charming as I did. The brand new automotive has clearly been tuned to maintain that from taking place. Whereas the 500e now not tries to chirp its tires each time you pull out of a parking zone, it did really feel prefer it had loads of energy for what it’s. It doesn’t precisely encourage enthusiastic driving, however should you give it the enterprise at low speeds, it at the least feels considerably fast. Plus, should you occur to have a heavy foot, Fiat may even allow you to go for a set of summer season tires at no further price. Tires additionally occur to be one of many few choices you’ll be able to decide on the 500e Inspi(crimson) that I drove. Past that, it’s simply deciding whether or not you need crimson, white, or black paint. Get the crimson. It’s crimson.
A Sport mode would have been appreciated, however that’s additionally what the Abarth is for. (And also you’re undoubtedly bringing the brand new Abarth to the U.S., proper Fiat? Proper?) Exterior of the Regular setting, you get two different drive modes that Fiat calls Vary and Sherpa. Vary mode is principally an Eco setting that offers you one-pedal driving, whereas Sherpa is much more aggressive, killing the air-con and ensuring you get probably the most vary attainable. I doubt most individuals will use Sherpa mode regularly, but when your battery is low and also you’re attempting to find a charger, it is going to in all probability be good to have.
Because it’s a single-speed, there actually isn’t a lot to say concerning the transmission, both. Fiat caught with a push-button shifter that appears quite a bit higher than it did within the outdated automotive, however the draw back of a horizontal format is that placing the automotive in Drive is a little bit of a attain. You’d in all probability get used to it pretty shortly, however a slight annoyance continues to be a slight annoyance.
Contemplating the 2024 Fiat 500e begins at $34,095 with vacation spot included, I get the sensation it is going to carve out a pleasant little area of interest for itself amongst city drivers who discover its small measurement to be a function, not a bug. On the similar time, although, since we had been solely allowed to drive the automotive for such a brief period of time, I’m going to want a loaner to drive for at the least per week earlier than I can get to understand it sufficient to jot down the overview the brand new 500e in all probability deserves. Both that, or I’ll simply have to attend 5 years for depreciation to make it cheap sufficient for me to afford, purchase one and provides it , old school long-term take a look at.
