2024 Fiat 500e First Drive - Fiat's Plucky EV Is The Italian Answer to Chic Urban Transport
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Date: 2024-04-10
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Comments and reviews: 20
faeinthebay
I bought the previous generation 500e as my city car after moving to San Francisco this year. I'm disappointed to see the new model is much bigger, as it defeats the purpose of a city car (squeezing between traffic and fitting in tiny parking spots. Despite the better tech in most of the car, I'm amused to see the speedometer is actually looks worse than the previous model. I also hope Fiat adds more vibrant colors; the old orange exterior with white interior is especially bright snd fun. The new interior looks bland, especially without the cool chrome door handles and rounded accents. They should have at least kept the cute round window switches and shifter buttons! Those complaints aside, I appreciate the new model adding legroom and improving the suspension and range for highway trips.
The price is a whole other matter. I can't complain much about my 2013 500e because it was only $2, 500 after California rebates for used EVs. But for the new model's MSRP you can get a Tesla Model 3, which is much nicer and more capable. My only hope is that Stellantis discounts it to get more emissions credits. But I still doubt this will sell well, since rich city residents prefer compact SUVs and sports cars over fashionable economy cars.
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I bought the previous generation 500e as my city car after moving to San Francisco this year. I'm disappointed to see the new model is much bigger, as it defeats the purpose of a city car (squeezing between traffic and fitting in tiny parking spots. Despite the better tech in most of the car, I'm amused to see the speedometer is actually looks worse than the previous model. I also hope Fiat adds more vibrant colors; the old orange exterior with white interior is especially bright snd fun. The new interior looks bland, especially without the cool chrome door handles and rounded accents. They should have at least kept the cute round window switches and shifter buttons! Those complaints aside, I appreciate the new model adding legroom and improving the suspension and range for highway trips.
The price is a whole other matter. I can't complain much about my 2013 500e because it was only $2, 500 after California rebates for used EVs. But for the new model's MSRP you can get a Tesla Model 3, which is much nicer and more capable. My only hope is that Stellantis discounts it to get more emissions credits. But I still doubt this will sell well, since rich city residents prefer compact SUVs and sports cars over fashionable economy cars.
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toyotaprius79
Coming from Europe there's lots I want to love about the 500e. It's like the new Prius in a way where the PR dept pushes it two steps forward and one stride back. It is too expensive in Europe for the sake of appealing to typical new 500 buyers (wealthy who wants a 4th car who would buy a MINI. The debut for the car was literally adorned with Italian fashion brands and that show's Fiat's aim. Profit begets inflation afterall.
The scratchy plastic doors is definitely a step back from the exposed painted metal that was an attractive, characterful element of the previous 500. The big fat tyres don't help but only the 24kWh 500e has sensible rubber.
There should be no reason for Fiat not to have a Panda on the same platform. Or at least a Giardinia (estate) 500
The 500e is almost 4 years old now Fiat/Stellantis should pull their fingers out and step up their act with some needed versatility, not fashionable toys for rich tastes.
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Coming from Europe there's lots I want to love about the 500e. It's like the new Prius in a way where the PR dept pushes it two steps forward and one stride back. It is too expensive in Europe for the sake of appealing to typical new 500 buyers (wealthy who wants a 4th car who would buy a MINI. The debut for the car was literally adorned with Italian fashion brands and that show's Fiat's aim. Profit begets inflation afterall.
The scratchy plastic doors is definitely a step back from the exposed painted metal that was an attractive, characterful element of the previous 500. The big fat tyres don't help but only the 24kWh 500e has sensible rubber.
There should be no reason for Fiat not to have a Panda on the same platform. Or at least a Giardinia (estate) 500
The 500e is almost 4 years old now Fiat/Stellantis should pull their fingers out and step up their act with some needed versatility, not fashionable toys for rich tastes.
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juliusdamato2487
This is exciting! My wife and I really miss our 500 pops, and I'm glad to see them back. The range for me isn't an issue. I'd be using it to commute 30 miles each way. Given gas has shot up to $5 a gallon where I am, I've been looking for an EV for under $40k. The price is a little steep, but if I can lease or finance at $300 a month near zero down, it's a no brainier for me. I think if they dropped the (red) it would be closer to $30k. For comparison, the second fiat 500 pop we purchased new was $16k after taxes in 2015.
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This is exciting! My wife and I really miss our 500 pops, and I'm glad to see them back. The range for me isn't an issue. I'd be using it to commute 30 miles each way. Given gas has shot up to $5 a gallon where I am, I've been looking for an EV for under $40k. The price is a little steep, but if I can lease or finance at $300 a month near zero down, it's a no brainier for me. I think if they dropped the (red) it would be closer to $30k. For comparison, the second fiat 500 pop we purchased new was $16k after taxes in 2015.
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tjs114
Limited range, tiny interior, questionable reliability and dealership support, all for a starting price of $34k It doesn't matter how many times you say 'style forward' it's still a sow's ear trying to be a silk purse.
I doubt we'll see much, if any, accessories for this niche vehicle because the only logical places for it to be sold are highly urban areas where no one in their right might keeps anything of value in their car because it will be stolen. This is a car for Los Angeles, Manhattan and Miami type locales.
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Limited range, tiny interior, questionable reliability and dealership support, all for a starting price of $34k It doesn't matter how many times you say 'style forward' it's still a sow's ear trying to be a silk purse.
I doubt we'll see much, if any, accessories for this niche vehicle because the only logical places for it to be sold are highly urban areas where no one in their right might keeps anything of value in their car because it will be stolen. This is a car for Los Angeles, Manhattan and Miami type locales.
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fryke
Oof. The beginning part sounds quite badly underexpecting. Never been planned as a high volume model. It's been on the market in Europe for 4 years and quite successful. I understand that the US is a completely different market, but that phrasing, to me, sounds quite bad. It's a perfect little car for 1-2 people that don't want to constantly do long trips. (It _can_ do long trips, and if it's only once or twice a year, it's certainly fine for that. If your daily commute is 30-50 miles, it's perfect)
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Oof. The beginning part sounds quite badly underexpecting. Never been planned as a high volume model. It's been on the market in Europe for 4 years and quite successful. I understand that the US is a completely different market, but that phrasing, to me, sounds quite bad. It's a perfect little car for 1-2 people that don't want to constantly do long trips. (It _can_ do long trips, and if it's only once or twice a year, it's certainly fine for that. If your daily commute is 30-50 miles, it's perfect)
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Poorgeniu5
Im deeply in love with the design but I think the price will be a hard sell for the city folks who can afford and adapt to a electric bike (pedal assisted) and suburbanites who knows where to look for other options. But if they can get the price to the mid $20K or even better; get it built in the US, they could steal Nissan's lunch from their aging Leaf sales and beat Chevy to the punch in the affordable EV segment.
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Im deeply in love with the design but I think the price will be a hard sell for the city folks who can afford and adapt to a electric bike (pedal assisted) and suburbanites who knows where to look for other options. But if they can get the price to the mid $20K or even better; get it built in the US, they could steal Nissan's lunch from their aging Leaf sales and beat Chevy to the punch in the affordable EV segment.
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lawrenceralph7481
Interesting. Thank you.
I thought a light vehicle specified this way would have much better performance. The range, power, recharge, price, size tradeoff are awful value compared to a Model 3.
Good try. But no thanks. Don't want an expensive golf cart.
Perhaps Stellantis can actually make money on these in the $12-15k range. Then it might sell as a material affordable alternative.
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Interesting. Thank you.
I thought a light vehicle specified this way would have much better performance. The range, power, recharge, price, size tradeoff are awful value compared to a Model 3.
Good try. But no thanks. Don't want an expensive golf cart.
Perhaps Stellantis can actually make money on these in the $12-15k range. Then it might sell as a material affordable alternative.
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paintsmeller
I think the price of this vehicle will make it really hard to sell. It might end up like the Mazda MX-30. Both have a high price, low range, and less practical design. Not only that, Fiat has to fight the negative stigma of it being a unreliable. I wish Fiat the best of luck, but I wouldn't be surprised if it got discontinued due to poor sales.
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I think the price of this vehicle will make it really hard to sell. It might end up like the Mazda MX-30. Both have a high price, low range, and less practical design. Not only that, Fiat has to fight the negative stigma of it being a unreliable. I wish Fiat the best of luck, but I wouldn't be surprised if it got discontinued due to poor sales.
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farcinue
This is the kind of ev that I’ve been waiting for. I live in LA, and this would be a perfect commuting and errand car for tight parking lots. The fact that it is more affordable than where the ev market seems to be. That being said, I would love an ev Fit or Corolla hatch.
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This is the kind of ev that I’ve been waiting for. I live in LA, and this would be a perfect commuting and errand car for tight parking lots. The fact that it is more affordable than where the ev market seems to be. That being said, I would love an ev Fit or Corolla hatch.
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charleshall7033
Seems like the Mini Cooper SE is an obvious alternative. I loved my old Fiat 500c but these models seem to have lost the magic. Interior styling doesn't grab me. I actually prefer the old compliance car 500e to this. Convertible model would change the equation though.
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Seems like the Mini Cooper SE is an obvious alternative. I loved my old Fiat 500c but these models seem to have lost the magic. Interior styling doesn't grab me. I actually prefer the old compliance car 500e to this. Convertible model would change the equation though.
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petercasperdyloco
This will never sell at that price and I wouldn’t be surprised to see screaming lease deals in a year or two. China sells a BYD Seagull for $10k. Even at a 100% premium to that car (which honestly isn’t far off where this is) this should be $25k tops.
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This will never sell at that price and I wouldn’t be surprised to see screaming lease deals in a year or two. China sells a BYD Seagull for $10k. Even at a 100% premium to that car (which honestly isn’t far off where this is) this should be $25k tops.
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ghtuklklo
Bought the Red version with the 42 KWh battery in 2023 (in France. Reliability problems from day one. I couldn't use the car for months. When I got it back, the range was barely 155 km, so, less than 100 miles. Good luck if you buy it.
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Bought the Red version with the 42 KWh battery in 2023 (in France. Reliability problems from day one. I couldn't use the car for months. When I got it back, the range was barely 155 km, so, less than 100 miles. Good luck if you buy it.
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barryw9473
Regen in Polestar 2 RWD and Model 3 RWD is super strong. My FWD e-Golf has weak regen in comparison. Not convinced FWD helps regen. I think battery size matters more than driven wheels since bigger packs can accept more power input.
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Regen in Polestar 2 RWD and Model 3 RWD is super strong. My FWD e-Golf has weak regen in comparison. Not convinced FWD helps regen. I think battery size matters more than driven wheels since bigger packs can accept more power input.
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toyotaprius79
Crazy that marketers didn't think the Fiat Panda (4x4) wouldn't be a good fit for the US.
Even crazier is that Fiat didn't see fit to electrify the current Panda (without turning its successor into an SUV)
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Crazy that marketers didn't think the Fiat Panda (4x4) wouldn't be a good fit for the US.
Even crazier is that Fiat didn't see fit to electrify the current Panda (without turning its successor into an SUV)
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johnbrandon4713
It's very cute, but $37, 000 USD means around $50, 000 CAD and. yeah, that's not going to happen, even if I'm pretty much the target market for the car. (I'm short, live alone, and have a longish commute)
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It's very cute, but $37, 000 USD means around $50, 000 CAD and. yeah, that's not going to happen, even if I'm pretty much the target market for the car. (I'm short, live alone, and have a longish commute)
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megananderson8833
I drive a 2017 500e and it has been great for a daily commuter. These cars are perfect for urban enviroments and I expect the new model with the longer range will be a big improvement.
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I drive a 2017 500e and it has been great for a daily commuter. These cars are perfect for urban enviroments and I expect the new model with the longer range will be a big improvement.
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krzysztofcwik5347
In Europe we have Jeep Avenger - built in Poland in Tychy with bigger Fiat 600. 4 door, 5 people ev as well as ICE option. Wondering if Jeep brings the smallest one in US.
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In Europe we have Jeep Avenger - built in Poland in Tychy with bigger Fiat 600. 4 door, 5 people ev as well as ICE option. Wondering if Jeep brings the smallest one in US.
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alex_on_autos
Do they have a thermoregulate battery
If yes, is it possible pre-conditioning the battery for a quick charge in a cold weather
It's the time for little EV.
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Do they have a thermoregulate battery
If yes, is it possible pre-conditioning the battery for a quick charge in a cold weather
It's the time for little EV.
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rms492
This is great. A two door electric is what I’m looking for. Is this and the mini cooper ev the only two-doors ev I’ll have to see the cooper ev as well
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This is great. A two door electric is what I’m looking for. Is this and the mini cooper ev the only two-doors ev I’ll have to see the cooper ev as well
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dpose6525
I've never put a tablet computer in a glove box. Also, never replaced a temporary spare tire with a full size spare. Not sure anyone does. : -)
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I've never put a tablet computer in a glove box. Also, never replaced a temporary spare tire with a full size spare. Not sure anyone does. : -)
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