Revealed with much pomp in November 2022 at the LA Auto Show, the 500e for the US market is coming to a dealership near you in the first quarter of 2024. Although the final specs will be published on December 4, the folks at Cars Direct have seen the order guide, which reads $32,500 sans freight.
Let's compare that MSRP with other affordable battery-electric vehicles available in the United States of America, shall we? Over at General Motors, a brand-new Chevrolet Bolt EV will set you back $26,500 at the very least. The more spacious Bolt EUV is $27,800 at press time, whereas $28,140 gets you the Nissan Leaf with the 40-kWh battery.
Next up, the BMW-owned MINI brand wants $30,900 for the Cooper SE Electric Hardtop 2 Door. The Hyundai Kona Electric is $33,550 for the 2023 model year, although the redesigned Kona Electric will be slightly pricier. Speaking of which, the Bolt siblings will be discontinued after 2023 as well. The brand-new MINI Cooper is due next year with electric muscle as well, whereas the Nissan Leaf's heir apparent is expected no later than 2026.
As you can tell, sub-$30,000 electric vehicles will soon be a thing of the past. Even the Chevrolet Equinox EV starts at $34,995, which makes it an interesting alternative to the 2024 Fiat 500e. That said, what's the selling point of the 500e over competitors that offer better value for money?
Those inclined to take advertising at face value may argue that it's a cutesy little thing, a stylish runabout that offers just enough driving range for a day's worth of driving in the urban jungle. As for the problem with that point of view, the 500e isn't unique in this segment due to the redesigned MINI Cooper.
Photo: Fiat
Another problem, which the MINI will also face, is the $7,500 federal tax credit (or lack thereof). How does an EV quality for the maximum amount? For starters, it has to be manufactured in North America. Conditions further concern the high-voltage battery. More specifically, at least 40 percent of critical minerals and at least 50 percent of battery components have to come from the United States or a that has a free trade agreement with the US.
Last but certainly not least, the $7,500 federal tax credit applies to zero-emission SUVs, vans, and trucks with suggested retail prices of up to $80,000. For other BEVs – including city cars like the 500e and electric Cooper – it must be $55,000 or less. However, neither Fiat nor BMW intends to assemble their small electric vehicles in North America, thus meaning no tax credit at all.
What else do we know about the Italian hatchback/convertible? According to the order guide, 17-inch aluminum wheels mounted with 205/45 R17 tires will be standard. The front-wheel-drive 500e further sports a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system (that would be Uconnect 5), satellite navigation, and bucket-style cloth seats with red accents.
The biggest mystery remains driving range, although we do know what to expect from the Euro-spec 500e with the larger of two battery packs. At press time, the WLTP estimate for combined driving range is 330 kilometers or 205 miles. The Environmental Protection Agency is likely to downgrade the 500e to less than 200 miles on a full charge. Looking at the glass half full, it's better than the first generation's 84 miles (135 kilometers) of EPA-rated range.
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
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News