After disappearing from the Canadian market for five years, the Fiat 500 has returned—in zero-emissions form.
“What we do that's really fun about EVs is we take cars, and we make EVs—we don't have to design something that looks like a jelly bean or a fish. We want to take designs that work, make them applicable, and then make them electric,” says Aamir Ahmed, head of Fiat North America, during a recent media presentation in Vancouver. He adds, “From the ground up, it’s a brand-new car. Dimensionally, this vehicle is very similar to the car it replaced.”
Called the 500e, the subcompact is actually marginally larger than the former model, measuring approximately 61 millimeters longer and 56 millimeters wide. The wheelbase is 22 millimeters long as well, translating into a little extra passenger space in the cabin. Visually, the hatchback retains the cute rounded appearance and sloping rear end with some enhancements, like 500 numbering across the grille, half-moon LED headlights, 3D LED taillights, flush door handles, and bigger 17-inch wheels.
The interior also gets a significant glow-up, made more impressive considering the vehicle is being positioned as the lowest MSRP BEV in Canada. For example, there’s a neat flat-bottom two-spoke steering wheel paying homage to the original 1957 Fiat 500, and the same Uconnect 5-powered 10.25 infotainment display found in the Maserati MC20 supercar courtesy of the parent company Stellantis’ trickle-down effect. The seven-inch instrument panel is fully digital, and even the door handle has been swapped out in lieu of a touch release button.
Redesigned door panels and the center console provide much-needed additional storage space and a wireless charging pad underneath the screen. The seating position is still curiously high, but fortunately, the driver’s side is six-way adjustable while the passenger’s is four-way. Fiat says the fabric is made from recycled materials.
A single 87-kilowatt electric motor spins the front wheels, and though it only produces 117 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, the instant-on delivery and near 3,000-pound curb weight allow for brisk acceleration and tight handling. The 42-kilowatt-hour battery is said to yield an estimated range of 240 kilometers.
I would have liked to see a more robust capacity, but at least up to 85-kilowatt Level 3 charging is supported. A full top-up plugged into a standard Level 2 (11 kilowatt) source takes around six hours. Activating the Range driving mode turns on one-pedal functionality to optimize regenerative braking, and the Sherpa mode maximizes efficiency by limiting top speed to 80 km/h and reducing output to 57 kilowatts to ensure the desired destination will be reached.
All models come equipped with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian alert, and lane keep assist. To kick off the 2024 Fiat 500e’s North American introduction, a special (RED) Edition is offered, bundling red-painted side mirrors, a diamond-cut alloy wheel design, and a red-colored dashboard. Every sale goes to support the Global Fund, supporting prevention and treatment programs for communities in need.
Highlights:
MSRP: $37,765 (includes $5,000 government incentive)
Motor: 87-kilowatt electric motor
Horsepower: 117
Torque (lb-ft): 162
Gearbox: Single-speed automatic
Layout: Front-wheel drive
Fuel Economy: 2.1 Le/100 km mixed city/highway (manufacturer estimate)