Remember the original 500e? Sergio Marchionne famously said that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles lost a staggering $14,000 every time someone bought one, which is a staggering amount of money for a pint-sized electric vehicle that used to retail at $32,500.
Discontinued after the 2019 model year due to poor sales and an even poorer driving range (originally 87 miles, then 84 miles), the all-electric runabout is coming back to the United States in 2024 with the very same retail price as the original. Accounting for inflation, the new one is better value than the first gen. Any other good news? In addition to modern styling and a touchscreen, Fiat has improved the driving range to 149 miles (just under 240 clicks if you prefer metric).
By itself, that abysmal driving range sealed the car's fate in the United States. But it gets worse, though. Fiat has the audacity to describe the 2024 model year 500e as being all-new, which is technically correct because this 500e is a very different animal from its predecessor. On the other hand, the second-generation 500e was revealed in March 2020 in Milan rather than the Turinese brand's home city.
That's almost four years ago, which calls for a mid-cycle refresh in this industry. Having addressed the misleading bravado, it's time for us to pose a question: Does the 500e actually make sense? From a customer's perspective, it does only if said customer intends to drive this fellow in the urban jungle exclusively. From the automaker's perspective, Fiat could have done better by launching an electric crossover instead of an electric three-door hatchback.
The newly revived 600 comes with either internal combustion or a front-mounted electric motor in the European Union, but its platform wasn't designed with North American regulations in mind. The subcompact 600 in question is twinned with the Jeep Avenger, which is also a forbidden fruit in the US.
Photo: Fiat
Here's yet another question: How does the 500e stack up to its closest rivals? Price-wise, it's more expensive than the MINI Cooper SE Electric Hardtop 2 Door, which promises 114 miles (183 kilometers) for $30,900 sans destination charge and options. Quite a bit larger than the Fiat and MINI, the Chevrolet Equinox EV starts at $34,995 in 1LT FWD flavor, thus meaning $27,495 after the $7,500 federal tax credit. The Fiat and MINI sadly do not qualify.
The 500e will be a hard sell, that's for sure! Gifted with a front-mounted electric motor that puts out 118 horsepower and 162 pound-feet (220 Nm) of torque, the 500e needs an estimated 8.5 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour).
At launch, the (RED) Edition will have to suffice. Pompously described as the "coolest, most ethical car in urban mobility," the obnoxiously named (RED) Edition sports red mirror caps, a red grille, and 17-inch alloys with a diamond-cut finish. The red theme continues inside, where you'll also find Uconnect 5 touchscreen infotainment and a digital gauge cluster.
A Level 2 home charger is included in the price of the (RED) Edition. Capable of charging at up to 85 kW, the 2024 Fiat 500e requires 35 minutes to replenish its 42-kWh battery pack to 80 percent. Last but not least, Fiat claims that the second-gen 500e is the lightest electric vehicle in the segment, tipping the scales at around 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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