Overview & Reviews

The Fiat 500e is an electric-powered version of the Fiat 500 hatchback and represents a stylish entry in the growing electric-car field. While the 500e's price is considerably higher than that of the standard 500, Fiat has tried to build value into it, making most of the regular-grade 500's optional features standard and dressing up the body with aerodynamic enhancements. Plus, when you add up all the possible federal, state and local tax incentives, the actual purchase price of a new Fiat 500e gets closer to that of a comparably equipped gasoline Fiat 500.

One other major drawback involves the packaging of the battery and electrical systems, which gobbles up rear seat and cargo space and leaves the 500e with one of the smallest rear seats in existence. Even so, the Fiat 500e is an appealing choice for an electric car. For the moment, you'll need to dwell in California if you want to buy one, as Fiat has not announced plans to sell the 500e outside the Golden State.

Current Fiat 500e
The Fiat 500e is a subcompact two-door hatchback with front wheels powered by an 83-kilowatt electric motor generating 111 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. Electricity is provided by a 24kWh lithium-ion battery. The EPA gives the Fiat 500e an energy consumption estimate of 29 kWh per 100 miles (the lower the kWh number, the better here), which translates to MPGe figures of 116 MPGe combined (122 city/108 highway). Estimated range is a livable 87 miles, according to the EPA. The 500e can fully recharge in less than 4 hours on a 240-volt outlet. However, if you have to plug into a 120-volt circuit (like a regular household plug) estimated charging time shoots up to "less than 24 hours."

A single, well-equipped trim level is offered. Standard features include keyless ignition and entry, automatic climate control, cruise control, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, split-folding rear seats, rear parking sensors, a TomTom navigation system (that can scan and request nearby charging stations in real time) and a six-speaker Alpine audio system with satellite radio, a USB/iPod interface and an auxiliary audio jack. Compared to the gasoline-powered 500, the 500e wears unique front and rear fascias, wide side sills, smooth underbody panels, a rear spoiler and aero-engineered 15-inch wheels.

In reviews, we've found that thanks to the instantaneous torque of the electric motor, the Fiat 500e gathers speed briskly, though acceleration drops off considerably once you reach highway speeds. Despite being much heavier than the standard 500, its more powerful electric powertrain hustles the 500e to 60 mph in about 8 seconds. That's quicker than the gas-powered, base 500 and similar to the acceleration of other similarly priced electric cars.

The 500e's eye-catching aerodynamic enhancements not only reduce drag, but they help make it quiet at speed, too. Even the regenerative brakes feel very natural. The only major dynamic shortcoming is the 500e's overboosted steering, which offers little feedback and makes the car less fun to toss around corners than the regular 500. The Fiat 500e is otherwise enjoyable from behind the wheel thanks to its small dimensions, tightly tuned suspension and instant-on power.

Used Fiat 500e Models
The Fiat 500e debuted in 2013 and hasn't received any significant changes.

User Reviews:

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  My Favorite car out of dozens! - 2016 Fiat 500e
  By Jon Sanserino - May 29 - 11:30 pm

  I bought this car because 95% of my driving is short range for shopping, post office, etc. when I am not traveling out of the country for business. Also - the dealer and government incentives made the lease price so low, the car was essentially free - the lease is about the amount I paid for gas monthly. I truly did not expect to fall in love with this little car! It makes me smile every time I drive it. It is amazingly quiet and solid, and very quick. You really need to watch your speed. It brakes very well, and also handles better than expected considering it has hundreds of pounds of batteries in the floor. Whenever someone new gets in, the first thing they say is "Wow - its nice! And its roomier inside than I expected!" It is usually just me and a dog, or the two of us, but we have had 4 people in the car to go a short way to dinner, etc. The fact that there is NO SOUND except the (excellent) radio turning on when you "start" it, still takes some getting used to. The seats are surprisingly comfortable considering that they are so small and thin. Totally adequate for the car. The sound system is better than my Acuras. The NAV is a simple TomTom system, but it works, and it has nearby charging stations pre-programmed in. The Bluetooth works perfectly as does the climate control system. This little car really is well equipped with everything except a backup camera, but the rear bumper is about 10" behind the rear window so it isnt a serious issue, and it has the parking sensors anyway. Yes, there are a few little ergonomic issues about the car that frustrate me, and the steering requires real attention on the freeway, but in general, for what it is intended for, this is what everyone should be driving around town. I have owned around 50 cars, and this will be the one that will be hardest to let go of. GREAT WORK FIAT! And thanks to Fiat of Glendale for making the purchase so easy.

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  When you need a simple and efficient car - 2014 Fiat 500e
  By Eric - March 13 - 10:13 am

  Having originally leased a 2016 FIAT 500e, when it came time to find a new vehicle due to high mileage driving, I did not hesitate getting a previous year model, since electric is the way to go, and I have enjoyed good reliability and efficiency with the Fiat 500e. When looking at previous vehicles, you just need to factor technology and bluetooth as upgrades needed.

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  Zippy Electric Vehicle - 2016 Fiat 500e
  By Califas - August 17 - 10:59 pm

  The 500e has a better response than the gas-powered version. It handles better, has the best pickup and go, and is so fun to drive. I wanted to lease an electric vehicle so I wouldnt have to pay for parking in my citys parking meters and garages (my city has an incentive to lease/purchase EVs) especially as I work downtown and must pay to park. Its a dream to drive and park, and recharges when you break, so it becomes a game to get as much mileage from a charge as possible. So far, Ive had no problems with the car at all. The lease is up the end of the year, and Ive become spoiled with having an EV; its wonderful not to pay for gas, oil, or smog check! I hope to continue with either leasing or owning another EV. At least in California, this is the way to go especially as the state has a pay back money incentive to own/lease an EV.

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  Great-ish car. - 2016 Fiat 500e
  By Jon Sweitzernoffenhold - March 25 - 1:18 am

  I like the way the car drives, but dislike a lot of the interior features. First off, the performance is great and Ive never had such a fun car to drive. The acceleration sets you back in your seat and is instantaneous. I dont mind the range as we kept our gas cars and 95% of our driving is local. The charging has been fine with the standard 110 outlet and I dont see a need for the fast charger. My 7 year old daughter fits in the rear seat without a problem, but Im happy the lease will be up in a few years as well run out of room as she grows. As for the bad....Headroom is awful. Im 63" and basically have to put my head into the sunroof area to drive. Backing out of a driveway is difficult as the rear visibility is very poor. Im happy for the sensors. Storage inside the car is also horrible. The glove box interior is flat so all your stuff comes out when you open the door. The cupholders are too close together for even 2 medium drinks. Theres nowhere to put a cell phone. I hate the radio. Theres a navigation warning that comes on for a while that prevents you from changing the channel...unless you take your eyes off the road and hit the "accept" button twice. I dont need navigation as my cell phone does it better. The Satellite Radio sounds compressed and worse than a cassette tape. Theres no CD player. I love audio and honestly cant speak to the quality of the speakers since broadcast radio is the best quality thing Ive listened to. I hate that every statistic is listed in MPGe, but we fill the car in kilowatts. I find MPGe to be a worthless number. One cool feature about the car is the smartphone app that allows me to turn on the climate control before I get to the car. Its just tough that it only turns on the last setting you had. If I drove with the air off and the windows down, I have to remember to turn it back to automatic 68 degrees when I park if I want to use the app. I also love/hate the Apps function to show where the car is because it allows the person with whom you share the car with to spy on you. I have nothing to hide, but it gets weird when the other person knows where you went out for lunch. The regenerative braking is cool, but it doesnt seem to activate fully until the car is less than 90% charged. i.e. It will regenerate up to -10kw, but after 89% battery remaining it will go up to -40kw regeneration. It almost pays not to fully charge the car if you dont need the range. Theres also a weird spot between 5mph and 0 where the brakes engage differently and grip strongly into a forceful stop. Overall I like the car as a car, but dont like the comfort features. Ill miss it when the lease is up because it is such a unique experience.

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  WAY more expensive than you can even imagine!! - 2016 Fiat 500e
  By Holly Johnson - October 25 - 11:01 am

  DO NOT BUY THE FIAT 500e!! There is a major design flaw that will cost you $2000 at least once, and likely $2000 / year. This is NOT covered by the warranty. Before buying one, take a look at the plug (where the gas cap would normally be). It is very fragile plastic. Now think that for 8 hours or more a day, this will be plugged into a charger with a handle slightly smaller than a gas pump handle. Now think that if a small child bumps that even once, the plastic connector will snap. That simple looking connector costs almost $2000 to replace. It is part of a cable bundle that runs to the front of the car. It takes 7 hours to replace (at least thats what they bill). This will break!! Beware before buying this car!! Warranty will not cover it because they say it is the childs fault for bumping into it, not a car problem.

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  Great Electric Car. Fun to drive. - 2015 Fiat 500e
  By Joseph - January 9 - 2:33 pm

  I recommend this car to anyone that is looking for a car that feels like it came from the distant future of the automotive industry. We purchased a used Fiat 500e and we are very happy with it. We test drove about 8 Fiat 500e at different dealerships until we found one that we liked. We studied the car and read many reviews before making the choice to buy the car. The battery is the most expensive part of the car and Fiat provides an 8 year or 100,000 mile warranty on the battery.

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  Fiat 500e is really fun driving machine - 2015 Fiat 500e
  By FLJeff - November 17 - 8:59 pm

  I purchased a used low mileage 2015 Fiat 500e a couple of months ago and was so impressed with how it handles that I purchased another for my sister. These cars are a real steal on the used car market. I live in South Florida where it is warm and flat and generally have been getting over 100 miles of range (EPA 87). A Fiat 500 in general is not the most practical car but if you want something really fun to drive, this is it. This car handles very similar to my former Mini Cooper but without the gas.