Review - 2023 Fiat 500e

The recipe for the Fiat 500e is relatively simple - take everything that buyers have come to love about its looks, compact footprint and user-friendliness around town and add an electric motor to help cut down fuel bills.

Just how well has Fiat’s recipe worked with the 500e, and how well does it stack up as an electric city car? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Fiat 500e Competition

Starting Price: $52,500

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Fiat 500e is offered here in Australia in a single variant lineup, with prices standing at $52,500 for the Fiat 500e La Prima.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You?

You could save money by getting one of OnlineAuto’s car buying agents to assist you in finding the greatest value model for you.

Fiat 500e (LA PRIMA) Specifications

What Features Does the Fiat 500e Have?

The Fiat 500e comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys and receives automatic LED headlights, LED tail lights and daytime running lamps, a glass roof adaptive cruise control, climate control, keyless entry and start, eco-leather upholstery with a woven dashboard design, heated front seats.

On the technological front, the Fiat 500e comes packing a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, a 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto paired with a six-speaker sound system.

Range Features:

• 17-inch alloys

• Automatic LED headlights

• LED tail lights, daytime running lamps 

• Glass roof 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors 

• Eco-leather upholstery and steering wheel 

• Woven dashboard 

• Heated seats 

• 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster 

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• Six-speaker sound system

Is the Fiat 500e Fun and Comfortable to Drive?

The Fiat 500 was already a featherweight and pretty zippy little city car.

Now, though, with the addition of an electric motor delivering an instantaneous injection of toruqe, the 500e is far more eager to pick up speed at a set of lights and feels like a more purposeful yet relaxing city car to pilot.

Fiat’s single electric motor setup powers the front wheel to the tune of 87kW of power and 220Nm of torque which is officially rated at 9.0 seconds on a sprint to 100km/h.

Don’t let that number fool you, though, because the 500e charges off a set of traffic lights up to typical city speeds of 60-80km/h with its immediate torque and feels like a little go-kart off the line.

Combine that with its lightweight platform, narrow wheelbase and agile handling and the 500e oozes personality on everything from a mundane commute to a more spirited drive with friends.

Daily duties are taken care of without a second thought thanks to the excellent visibility around the cabin and its responsive handling, with the 500e happy to squeeze into even the most impossible of car parks.

To handle the weight of the battery pack, Fiat has upgraded the suspension package to keep things flat which, around town, offers a noticeably firmer ride quality than the standard 500, though as a complete package, it’s a healthy and, admittedly, charming balance to drive.

How Far Can the Fiat 500e Drive on a Single Charge?

The Fiat 500e comes powered by a compact 42kWh lithium-ion battery pack that, Fiat claims, is rated up to 311km.

This puts it somewhere in the middle to lower end of the battery-electric hatchback range when it comes to overall driving range figures per charge, though we understand the difficulties in squeezing in a larger battery pack into such a petite package.

How Fast Can the Fiat 500e Charge the Battery Pack?

Fiat’s 42kWh lithium-ion pack can be DC fast-charged up to speeds of 85kW, which offers a 0-80 per cent charge in around 35 minutes.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

As you might imagine, one of the most famous small cars on the planet doesn’t knock space and practicality out of the park, though Fiat has done well to ensure it feels like a more premium package than the standard 500.

Step inside the 500e’s cabin and you’re greeted with a massively revamped interior layout with a new twin-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel and a dashboard layout that flows more seamlessly across the cabin.

Below that dashboard, there’s a redesigned centre console that retains an armrest and retractable storage underneath and a completely open area between the centre console and the dash.

This allows for more storage of smaller bags and loose items while helping to make the 500e’s pint-sized cabin feel more spacious while offering a healthy premium of storage spots over the standard 500.

The Fiat 500e is impressive at accommodating even the tallest of adults without much of a problem, while the large windows and a massive glass roof helps to add light and a sense of airiness into the cabin.

Move to the rear of the 500e, though, and things remain just as cramped as the standard car.

Yes, there’s two seats, though you’ll be challenged to find anyone other than a medium-sized child that will be comfortable sitting back here on an extended journey, though the addition of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts make it a great place for a pair of child seats.

Finally, the 500e has a boot measuring in at 185L, which expands to a total of 550L with the rear seats folded to help accommodate bulky gear and sports equipment, if needed.

Is it Safe?

The Fiat 500e has received a four-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, scoring 78% for adult protection, 79% for child protection, 67% for vulnerable road user protection and 67% for safety assist.

As standard, the Fiat 500e range comes fitted with autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assistance, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, lane centring, tyre pressure monitoring, speed assist and a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors.

Our Verdict: Is the Fiat 500e Worth it?

While the Fiat 500e commands a hefty premium over the standard 500, it’s such a charming and unique package that lends itself so well to a battery-electric powertrain that its hard to compare it directly to a rival.

In this respect, the Fiat 500e stands on its own feet as a charismatic little city hatch that offers decent range figures for urban buyers and its premium interior layout that won’t leave buyers that absolutely love the 500’s aesthetics feeling too short-changed from the upgrade.

If you’re looking to buy a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying specialists who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Three-year/150,000km warranty 

2. Eight-year/160,000km battery warranty 

3. Four-star Euro NCAP safety rating 

4. 311km of range from 42kWh battery pack 

5. Single electric motor (87kW/220Nm) with front-wheel drive layout