The first electric model from Fiat for all markets (the previous one was only for the USA and Norway), the Fiat 500e is a design gem, which saw great success in its first years both in Italy and in countries like Germany and France, as well as in Denmark and Norway.
But after 4 years, sales have declined: does this mean it is no longer an interesting choice?
Fiat 500e: our tops and flops
When it was launched in 2020, the Fiat 500 electric represented one of the most affordable electric cars, and a city car with good build quality and decent range compared to other electric city cars. Today, it remains a valid choice for those who appreciate the timeless style of the model, equipped, however, with good interior finishes – which, in some areas, could be improved – a good infotainment system, and also complete ADAS, along with the famous sound from Amarcord, the film by Federico Fellini, at every startup. These features have made it the best-selling electric car in many countries for several years, but now the 4 years on the market and the arrival of competitors with the same concept, but more affordable and with more range, are being felt. The car still remains quite efficient, very enjoyable to drive thanks to its 118 HP, and capable of allowing for out-of-town trips. Even the charging system is not bad, as it supports up to 85 kW for a 20-80% charge in about 20 minutes. But a new and larger battery could make the difference, such as a Battery Swapping system Stellantis is working on precisely with this car.
What we like:
- It’s a fun little toy to drive
- Overall well-finished interiors
- Interesting performance for a city car
What we don’t like:
- The range is limiting
- Not all ADAS features are standard
- Some trim pieces clash with the general quality
Prices in Scandinavia
- Denmark: from 239.990 DKK
- Sweden: from 349.900 SEK
- Norway: from 369.900 NOK
The timeless Design of Fiat 500e
The Fiat 500e, let’s remember, is an entirely new car: the technology changes, the platform changes, and the dimensions change. The stylistic choices are also different compared to the hybrid, which is still available in Denmark and Sweden, although overall, you can immediately recognize it as a 500: Fiat has learned that a winning team doesn’t change, and the 500, despite its age, continues to be popular, starting with its vintage aesthetic.
The new electric model is larger than the combustion engine version: it is 3.61 meters long (6 cm more than the combustion version), 1.69 meters wide, and 1.4 meters high. Thanks to the absence of the transmission and the smaller engine, the cabin, especially in the front, is quite spacious, so much so that it can be included in my personal ranking of cars for tall people. But only in the front, as the rear seat is compromised for both the comfort of those sitting in front and for the trunk space.
Inside, it is very comfortable, with no space issues for the head and knees, especially because the central tunnel is absent. The absence of the tunnel also makes it easier to move from one seat to another: I had to exit through the passenger door due to space constraints, and I did so without problems. It may seem minor, but it’s a very practical solution and quite rare.
Back to the exterior, it is truly beautiful: the headlights are new and divided into two parts, between the hood and the bumper. In the Icon trims, they are dual LED-halogen, while in the “La Prima” trim, the technology is three-dimensional, “Full LED Infinity” as Fiat calls it, very scenic and capable of illuminating very well. The Rosegold color, standard from 2023, is also very pleasant: a champagne with a rosy touch, which I found is liked by both girls and boys.
However, my favorites remain the “Celestial Blue,” with a pearlescent tri-coat that creates amazing light effects; and especially the “Ocean Green,” which is very elegant. The standard wheels are the classic 16-inch ones, while on La Prima, the standard ones are the 17-inch black diamond-cut wheels.
In our case, we personalized the car with 16-inch MSW by OZ 80/4 wheels.
The rear is equally elegant and clean: the taillights are dark red, regular in design, with a smooth line. For example, the license plate area, with a button to open the trunk, blends almost naturally with the body, creating a sinuous effect, while the only thing that disrupts the design is the new Fiat logo.
The interiors
The interiors of the Fiat 500e Icon are equally pleasant and well-crafted – though it should be noted that the interiors of the 500 vary greatly between trims. Anyway, these are very well done, starting with the Seaqual fabric seat upholstery, a fabric made from marine plastic waste. The texture and colors are very nice, and the Seaqual does not become a sticky oven in summer, like leather, and in the case of the 500, it is also quite comfortable.
The dashboard echoes the Rosegold of the body (though it can be covered in wood if desired), and the design follows the exterior philosophy with the non-plastic part enclosed in a sinuous, rounded line that separates it from the upper and lower parts of the dashboard.
My favorite element, however, is the steering wheel, chic and elegant with its two-spoke design and flat bottom. It is also lightweight as expected from a city car and pleasant to touch. The Fiat 500e remains a practical car, with appreciated solutions: for example, the automatic transmission buttons are all in the center, large and intuitive, while on the small tunnel below the armrest are the volume and drive mode selector wheels, separated by the electronic parking brake. Less intuitive, however, are the steering wheel controls for changing songs or radio stations, as they are hidden behind the spokes.
For the first time, I don’t mind the “suspended” display on the dashboard, which in our case has a 21:9 ratio and high definition. It houses the 5th generation Uconnect system, entirely Android-based and wirelessly compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto. Its operation is generally good, intuitive, and with modern graphics, but it occasionally lags.
Unfortunately, there are some hard plastics on the door panels that somewhat spoil the overall look. They have soft-touch buttons to open the doors, which I generally like, but I admit that they are not particularly intuitive, especially at first. Anyway, there is a lever at the bottom of the door to unlock it in case the buttons fail.
A simple drive
As refined in design as it is simple to drive. We’ve already seen this partly with the button layout, and it becomes even more evident when driving it. First of all, it’s impossible not to mention the symphony of “Amarcord” by Federico Fellini that plays the first time the car starts with every ignition. Aside from this, everything is designed to make driving simple and not too different from the combustion 500.
There are 3 driving modes: Normal, Range, and Sherpa. Normal simulates the operation of a combustion car, while Range, as the name suggests, increases range and uses One Pedal driving. I mostly used this mode because, especially in the city, it’s a “godsend”: you not only don’t use your left foot, but your right foot only needs to press or release the accelerator, without using the brake.
When you lift your foot off the pedal, the car slows down on its own to a stop as if pressing the brake by itself, and even when stopped, you don’t need to keep it stationary by pressing the pedal. Sherpa, on the other hand, deactivates almost all functions of the car to preserve range when the battery is low.
The Fiat 500e is not designed for sporty driving, but its electric motor is very lively: thanks to the torque and the not excessive weight, it moves quickly and nimbly both in the city and on the ring road, allowing for quick merges and sudden overtakes, which is exactly what you need in an urban context, especially during rush hours.
Its maneuverability, so fun that it encourages you to drive fast, is also appreciated during parking: the Fiat 500e parks easily both in Copenhagen and in chaotic cities like Milan, downtown, without too much effort. Although it has a rearview camera with good definition, it’s so small and with a very wide rear window that you could do without it. Compared to the combustion version, the turning radius has been significantly improved, which greatly reduces the number of maneuvers needed when entering or exiting a parking spot.
