LAOIS MOTORING: The Fiat 500e - funky, fun and truly full of character!

Fiat have a fab new 500, known as the 500e. Its a new EV designed from the start as an EV and not a modified version of the petrol powered 500.

Fiat were always brilliant at building very good small cars. The original Fiat 500 was a tremendous success, the original 126 did ok too.  Then straight from the start when it was launched back in 2008 the 500 caused a real stir, winning the coveted title of European Car Of The Year 2008. 

Now the model line up includes a a fully electric version with no less than four trim levels, Action, Icon, La Prima and Cabrio and a claimed range of about 320km. So lets see.

So has it got real street cred?

Neat, cute, funky, stylish, are all words that sum up the Fiat 500e.  It really is a very attractive small car.

My test car was finished in a lovely metallic grey, with two tone alloys and a fixed glass panoramic roof. Its a really attractive small car.

What is it like inside?

Lovely actually! Inside the funky theme continues with a fabulous cabin again with echoes of the original Fiat 500 with a modern Sporty twist. The digital instruments manage to keep the theme of the original 500 of the 1960’s but with a fully modern digital twist.

The car is fully upholstered in soft eco-leather look upholstery ( read recycled plastic) but  it all looks, smells and feels truly luxurious. I like the Fiat embossed the the seats and the Turin Skyline image on the wireless charge pad. Nice touches!

Loads of goodies and safety features are standard I must say it all gels together very well to create a unique and very stylish package. The new 500e offers the very latest in connectivity even including a Wi Fi hotspot, while the 10.25 centrally mounted touchscreen is clear, easy to use though some graphics such s outside temperature are a bit small.

On the practical front it really is a two seater. It has a small boot large enough to take one compact size holiday suitcase. The rear seats though are for the smallest of kids really.

Performance

There are two battery options, a 24kWh battery or a larger 42kWh battery, with 85 KW fast charging available from the middle of the range.

The La Prima model on test had the 42 kW battery with a power output of 120bhp. Overall I found performance to be very good indeed. It gets off the line with gusto and cruises silently at motorway speeds.

Range wise I managed an average of 230km between charges not anywhere near the claimed 320km but this is true of almost all EV’s. It will charge from about 25% to 80% in about 24 minutes at a fast charger if you can find one!

Road tax is €120.00

What is it like to drive?

It handles like a little Go Kart. With a wheel at every corner it really is fun to hustle along a twisty road. The nimble handling makes it a truly fun car to drive.

It will whisk up to the legal limit and beyond with ease yet is compact and perfectly proportioned for the city. It disguises the weight of the battery very well, though the ride can be bouncy on less smooth roads.

Verdict

I really enjoyed the Fiat 500e It turned many heads, and deservedly so.

It is a very nice package indeed, but there is a catch! The La Prima version costs €33,495, while the range starts with the Action model at €24,995.