Say the Fiat call and as it rolls off your tongue, the eyes around you will soften. The 125-year-old Italian logo is known for its small European cars with a strong sense of style. It’s what an old Volkswagen bug would wish it were if it had more fashion sense.
Fiat has returned its delicious 500e to the US market after five years, and it has a new attitude and innovations throughout. With a range of 149 miles and a price tag under $35,000, this is an all-electric city car that even the most stylish among us wouldn’t mind being noticed driving. Except for my teenage son, who claimed he would never have a friend if he stayed driving the rose gold Inspired Through Beauty edition of the Fiat 500e.
While EVs – particularly a quirky mini-compact EV like this one – may not be for everyone, this application is a perfect fit for the iconic Fiat.
La dolce vita means “the sweet life” in Italian, and the number 500 plays the role. The number 500 was first filed in a publishing house (RED), adding parentheses to designate its agreement with the nonprofit of the same name. RED) presented in 2006 through Bono and U2 frontman Bobthrough Shriver to raise funds to fight AIDS.
Since the release of this first bright red model, Fiat has added two further features to the range: the Inspired through Music and Inspired through Beauty editions. The 500e Inspired through Music edition is finished in Tuxedo Black, with a chrome strip and a premium JBL sound formula tuned with one of my favourite Italian musicians, Andrea Bocelli. The 500e Inspired through Beauty comes in a rose gold external and cream vegan leather inner with the word “Fiat” stitched over and over into the fabric.
Fiat’s (RED) 500e starts at $34,095, while the Inspired by Music and Inspired by Beauty models start at $37,595.
Fiat plans to continue launching other special versions of the 500e going forward, like one of the limited-edition Stanley cups people wait in line for hours to obtain. At least, the automaker certainly hopes the demand will be that exciting. Speaking of cups, though, one big improvement we’d like to see inside the cabin is cupholder space. Currently, there’s only one and it folds down from the console and there’s no way you can fit a beverage in the door pocket.
Elle Woods, the main character of Legally Blonde, dressed her chihuahua “Bruiser” in outfits and accessories and carried him in her purse. I like to think of the Fiat 500e as the automotive edition of an accessory dog; He’s funny, he seems smart, and he’s so cute you still can’t love him.
Fiat added a sweet detail to the 500e that – as far as I know – no other automaker has done. Once the Fiat reaches 20 miles an hour, the 500e “sings” a little ditty called “The Sound of 500” composed by two Italian musicians. Every time you start the car and roll up to the prescribed speed, the song plays to alert pedestrians that you’re there. You don’t need the Inspired by Music edition to get that feature either; it comes with all 500e models.
Italian flags adorn the outside of the car outside of the half-lidded headlamps, like smile lines on a person’s face. The car does appear to be smiling happily, its crescent-shaped lower grille showing off a wide grin and a prominent “500” front and center. The Inspired by Beauty takes its Italian-ness a step further with “La Prima” inscribed in flowery script on a metal window plate.
The 500e has 3 driving modes (Normal, Range and Sherpa) that determine the desired result. Those looking for a ride close to the feel of a gasoline car will prefer Normal. Puts the car in default mode. unlocking the maximum 94 miles per hour and a big hill when you lift your foot off the accelerator. Save energy? Opt for Range mode, which lets you drive with just one pedal and extends your total mileage. If you’re looking to get home or access a charger with just a few miles of range, slide it into Sherpa mode, which reduces the power to 90 horsepower and turns off the air conditioning. The most sensible speed is just 50 miles per hour in Sherpa mode, so keep to the right.
The piccolo (small, in Italian) 500e is equipped with a single motor that efficiently generates 117 horsepower. It also offers 162 pound-feet of torque, which means you have plenty of get-up-and-go at a stoplight. Behind the rear view mirror is a camera that reads traffic signs when the cruise control is on, and the car will ask you if you want to adjust speed when the speed limit changes.
When you are ready to charge it up, the Fiat 500e takes about 35 minutes on a DC fast charger to take it from 10 percent to 80 percent. Or if you just need a teensy bit, it takes just five minutes to add 31 miles to the power bank. Of course, it can also be charged at home with a regular old household outlet, albeit not very fast.
Although Fiat calls the 500e a 2+2, which means it can technically hold four people, you might want to reserve the back seat for kids or short trips. Fun fact, though: the designer of this car, Klaus Busse, is 6’8”—so if he can ride comfortably in it, anyone can.
The cargo area is proportional to the dimensions of the car, and the sedan can hold 7. 51 cubic feet of luggage. Surprisingly, that’s more than you get in a Mazda Miata or a Toyota 86. Add your carry-on, your favorite user, and even some furry friends and explore the nearest city. You might find yourself whistling “That’s Amore,” so lean in. This is the sweetness of Fiat’s life.
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