The Fiat 500 hasn’t been a huge success in the United States, but focusing this small car on a portion of the market might change things for the 2024 Fiat 500e.
The new 500e is a bit of a reboot for the North American market. This car isn’t aimed at those drivers who have long daily commutes or love road trips into the country. Instead, this new electric Fiat could be an ideal car for drivers who spend their time on city streets or in local suburban neighborhoods. This car represents a carefree, Italian approach to driving, but that driving needs to be done in the concrete jungle.
A new model changes the game
The first version of the 500e was a compliance car. This car was built to satisfy requirements and regulations as the market moved into electric vehicles, but it didn’t change much in terms of actual driving. The previous electric Fiat sat higher in the trim lineup than the base model 500s, but that didn’t make it any better on the road, especially when you added the challenge of the limited driving range.
Early versions of the Fiat 500e couldn’t reach 100 miles of driving range, which couldn’t get you very far. The 2024 version provides up to 150 miles of driving range, which is much better, especially if you’re willing to keep this little Fiat on city streets. We could see a higher-output version that offers nearly 200 miles of driving range, which could be ideal for those drivers living in the suburbs. Every version sends power to the front wheels using one electric motor.
This little car delivers 118 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, making it easy to see how it could be useful around town but not on the highway.
Three Fiat driving modes for the way you want to drive
Every 500e comes with three driving modes: Normal, Range, and Sherpa. The Normal mode is exactly what you expect and ideal for daily driving. Switch to the Range mode, and you’ll maximize the regenerative braking using one-pedal operation, which means you’re adding power to the batteries during your drive. The Sherpa mode limits the top speed to 50 mph, which makes it only useful around town or in heavy traffic. This model reduces the power used, which extends the driving range as long as possible.
How quickly dues the 500e recharge?
The new 2024 Fiat 500e utilizes either Level 2 or Level 3 DC fast charging to refill the batteries. At a DC fast charging station, you can add 31 miles of range in five minutes and reach 80% of the battery capacity in nearly 35 minutes. Using a Level 2 charger at home, which has 240-volt capabilities, you’ll recharge this little car to 100% in four hours and 150 minutes. Fiat includes a Level 2 charger with every 500e sold, which makes it easy to get the necessary at-home charger connected and ready to use.
This Fiat still looks the part
The new 500e is recognizable as the small electric Fiat that you can drive and enjoy. This car is less than 12 feet long and has the signature Italian style we’ve seen since the first Fiat 500 arrived in 1957. This new version has two doors for passengers and the same hatchback rear where you can load and unload cargo.
If you go shopping for this impressive small car, you’ll notice it’s only sold in one color for now. Fiat offers the 500e in the RED edition to welcome it back to the United States. This means every version is painted in bright, gloss red, making a statement on the road among a sea of black, white, and gray cars.
Modern technology in a classically-styled car
The interior area of this new 500e brings stylish materials and designs that give it a look you’re sure to admire. In addition to comfortable and stylish materials and seats, this little electric Fiat has a full package of advanced safety tech and the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. This modern infotainment system is presented to you on a 10.25-inch touchscreen.
Could the new 2024 Fiat 500e be the right little car for you? If you live and work in the city, don’t need to drive more than 150 miles on a given day, and have access to charging at work, this new Fiat could easily fit your lifestyle. This is the target audience for this small Fiat; will this returning model be a success in America? Only time will tell.
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