2023 Fiat 500e – Better than the Average EV, by Far

Stellantis is one of the biggest car makers in the world, with brands as varied as the muscled hunks who make them. From the rawness of the RAM to the delicate fragility of the Citroën, Stellantis’ brand spread creates a model for every taste and budget.

But, I have a secret love for the Italians, Alfa Romeo and FIAT, AKA Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino. Fiat was founded as the name suggests, in Turin, and its state-of-the-art factory had a test track on the roof that every 500 was required to traverse prior to devliery. Fiat has produced some of the most beautiful cars in the world, from the stylish 124 Sport and 130 Sport, to the Abarth version of Mazda’s MX5. Those craftsman created premium autos loaded with le dolce vita that gave jaguar and Mercedes a run for their money, but it is luxury no more.

Tthe Italian car maker now concentrates on smaller, greener, friendlier modes of personal transportation. The FIAT 500 began life as a performer for the proletariat, but gained attention as a fun and sexy way for punters of all means to treat every journey as an adventure. Gay buyers adore them, even if they won’t admit it.

2023 Fiat 500e La Prima Specifications HERE- MY23 Fiat 500e Buyers Guide (September 2023)

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ABOVE: 2023 Fiat 500e La Prima

Fiat 500e

The 500e is FIAT’s first foray into electrification, and as such, can only be described as ” simply marvelous, sweety”.

Outisde:

The fun exterior, with “Infiniti” LED headlights and tail lights, still looks as youthful as it did in the 50’s despite scant connections to those vintage models. There are nifty clear indicators that protrude through the side trim line, only showing themselves when the 500 wants to politely tell other drivers of a directional change.

It petite 17” alloys are bejewelled with diamond cut details that flash gently as they move through the light.

The coupé-esque body screams class and style, and looks far more expensive than it actually is. It captures the essence of bygone days without slavishly copying it to the point of trashy pastiche. Fiat succeeded because it made the reincarnated car a model in its own right.

Ice White is the standard colour, but other colours can be had if one insists.

The cabin:

The cabin isn’t expensive, but it is very, very tasteful.

FIAT is emblazoned loud and proud across the cream upholstery, and a widescreen infotainment system streams wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Digital driver instruments are basic, but perfectly formed. They don’t douse the driver in a deluge of data, instead, a curated smaple of necessities is placed carefully for consideration.

Fiat 500e comes in at a smidge over $52,000 so I don’t expect the Raj’s summer palace, but electric seat adjustment and an HUD would be nice.

Despite those minor misdemeanours, 500e’s cabin is charming, modern and comfortable. All the instruments and switches are exactly where you expect them, with the exception of the 1-pedal driving feature. It is cunningly concealed within the Drive Mode menu, and even when activated, you’re not aware of this marvel until you try using it. It is fabulous for city driving, something the Fiat 500 was originally made for.

The roof is a fixed glass panel, something I could well do without. Nothing gives me the irrits more than a honking great chunk of glass sitting uselessly overhead. It has an interior screen, but what is the point of it if it isn’t going to let in the jasmine-laden summer evening? Of course, you can open the windows, but then what is the point of the roof?

The bijou bootspace accommodates just the right number of David Jones bags, but if sir requires more, the useless rear seats can be folded down. Anyone actually wanting to ride in the rear seats is in urgent need of assistance of one kind or another.

Safety and range:

Driver and safety aids are now ubiquitous, and it is easier to say what a car doesn’t have than what it does. There is active steering assistance for lane keep and lane departure, and very tetchy AEB with a hair trigger. On “normal” mode, warnings are going off every nanosecond with the threat of emergency braking flashing across the screen.

Fiat 500e is a city car and has city range. Even the pluckiest of commuters does little more than 50km a day, so the promised 311km is plenty. Despite being a low milage test car, our little 500e had a mere 275km range at 100% charge. That is almost 40km short of Fiat’s claim.

For the first few days, I panicked about running out of juice and topped up after every trip. After a few days, a serene air descended over the 500e’s garage, generously shared with a Tesla Model 3.

That’s the secret of coming to terms with EV-dom is t0 wrest the stomach-churning grip that anxiety has on one’s throat. Forget it; send it to the universe with love.

The Drive:

Fiat 500e’s style beguiles even the most jaded of drivers. The 42kwh battery pack takes 85kw fast (ish) DC charging with a 35-minute wait from 0-80%. My nightly top-ups took no time at all, so even a nervous Nellie would always befully juiced up.

The starter button needs a firm push, with a moment’s pause before release, otherwise a second stab is needed.

4 simple buttons control directions, neutral, and Park. Its simplicity is a welcome foil for driversstill punch-drunk from the dizzying arrays that greeted them in posh EV test drives. Steering is properly sporty, and the ride is sumptuous and regal. Keeping the battery pack down to a respectable size not only offers a quick charge, but the Lilliputian 500e chimes in at a mere 1290kg, featherweight in EV terms.

Space for 2 is ample, but rear seats are for storage only. The extra height afforded by the retro design makes the cabin feel more capacious than Lady Bracknell’s handbag. If the space inside doesn’t woo you, the frisky take-offs will. 500e feels so much faster than the 9 second 0-100 listed in the spec-sheet, that I wondered if Fiat’s watch hadn’t come over all continental.

As i previously proffered, the drive mode descriptions need sorting. Nothing indicates which mode includes 1-pedal driving, but once found, the driver almost never needs to touch the brake. NOt only that, the indicator on the dash says even more energy is captured by the system to be stored in the batteries. That is energy that would otherwise be wasted.

Once on the move, the Fiat dances around traffic like a recalcitrant kitten, and glides through car parks like a tiger stalking an elk.

My old mum has been in the wars, so much of the week was short trips between my Brisvegas digs, Coles, and the Princess Alexandra Hospital. There were little side trips over dodgy Queensland b-roads punctuated by poorly signed tunnels at 80kph, 100kph freeways joining areas of moderate interest, and pustulant car parks of steaming hot tarmac.

All in all, the Fiat 500e was me in automobile form.

Conclusion:

The city car is perfect fat doing what it was designed for. It is far nicer to drive than the Mini EV, and is extremely pretty. Its petite rear seats mean no hangers-on, but above all, it screams good taste and individuality.

2023 Fiat 500e