The 2024 Fiat 500e is the perfect second car; we know, we tested it.

Has anyone ever tried to get you to eat something that didn’t appeal to you off the bat, and then when you eventually take that first bite, it’s quite pleasant but not something you’d have thought to order? The 2024 Fiat 500e feels like the automotive equivalent of this scenario. Fiat’s parent company Stellantis believes the key to a sustainable electric future is a small car that doesn’t require a massive battery pack full of rare Earth minerals. That sounds great on paper, but it doesn’t jive well with America’s culture of individualism and excess.

The all-new 500e is the first product introduction from Fiat to the US market since the 500x debuted for the 2016 model year. It arrives at a time when affordable electric vehicles are few and far between – Chevrolet is putting the Bolt EV out to pasture, and the Nissan Leaf is poised to be replaced by a more expensive model. With a reasonable starting price of $32,500, the Fiat 500e is only a little more expensive than the 2024 Mini Cooper Electric (although upcoming models will likely cost more), and just undercuts the entry-level Hyundai Kona Electric; the 500e may very well hold the title of America’s most affordable EV in the near future.

Affordability is great, but Fiat still faces the same uphill battle from when it relaunched in the US back in 2011: how do you get American consumers to embrace the idea of driving a small car? Fiat invited CarBuzz to Miami, Florida – an ideal place to test a small city car – to see how well the 2024 500e can alter American perceptions.

Exterior: Italian Flare Done Small

We showed a picture of the new Fiat 500e to some friends, and they quickly responded with, “Is that the new one?” On first glance, the new 500e retains the same shape and overall theme as the last one, but there are some subtle differences. In terms of its dimensions, the new car is 2.4 inches longer (with a 0.87-inch increase in wheelbase), 2.2 inches wider, and 1.14 inches taller than the outgoing car, in an effort to improve interior space.

Only one body style is coming stateside, with the 3+1 and cabriolet being reserved for Europe. At least, for now. Fiat says it would like to bring the cabriolet to the US, but the 3+1 would require additional side impact crash testing.

The first 500e units that will arrive in the US are the (RED) Edition, built in collaboration with the charitable organization (RED). The (RED) Edition stands out with the obvious red accents on the mirrors and badging – but you won’t see these if your car is painted in Red by (RED), like all the vehicles at the launch event. Those red details are more noticeable if the car is ordered in Tuxedo Black or Glacier White, both of which are no-cost options – and those round out the three-strong palette. Fiat will eventually offer ‘Inspired By’ Special Editions (including Inspired By Music and Inspired By Beauty models) which add other exterior colors such as Rose Gold or black. The (RED) 500e rides on two-tone black/silver 17-inch wheels as-standard.

Fiat wanted to keep the 500e authentically Italian with small details, such as the Italian flag positioned inside little glass housings on the hood. This new 500e looks a bit angrier than the outgoing model, with headlights that are cut off by the hood, making the car look as if it’s shooting you an offended glare. Curved LED daytime running lights sit on the hood itself, looking a bit like a raised eyebrow above the headlights, and lower on the front fascia, a small grille with two openings on either side makes the 500e appear as if it’s smiling.

Interior: A Fashion Statement

If the exterior design wasn’t enough of a sign, Fiat clearly wanted the 500e’s cabin to be a fashion statement. The (RED) Edition features black cloth seats with red piping and red ‘(500) RED’ logos on the seat backs, and a red plastic dashboard accent. The seats also feature the word “FIAT” stitched in repetition, so you’ll never forget what kind of car you are driving. Fiat says the cabin is meant to feel premium, but hard-touch recycled plastics don’t evoke a sense of luxury.

Fiat had the Inspired By models parked on a stage for us to explore, and their more neutral interior color schemes and “eco-leather” did look more elegant. That being said, a top-end Mini Cooper possesses much more premium, soft-touch materials.

Every 500e sold in the US comes nicely equipped, and there are no pricey options that need to be tacked on. You get a 10.25-inch touchscreen as standard, powered by UConnect 5 with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A seven-inch gauge cluster provides useful information, including a full map, audio data, and more. Both Inspired By trims add Level 2 autonomous driver aids, while the Inspired By Music gets a seven-speaker JBL audio system with a subwoofer to do its name justice.

Practicality: Or Lack Thereof

Perhaps unsurprisingly, even a modest size increase hasn’t suddenly turned the 500e into an America-sized family vehicle; the best-selling vehicle in the US is the Ford F-Series, so it’s no shocker that vehicles like this will be a tough sell. The three-door layout accommodates seating for four people, but whoever squeezes into the back seat won’t want to be there for long. Rear seat legroom is just 29.45 inches, an improvement of nearly two inches over the previous generation, but it’s still over an inch less than the outgoing Mini Cooper Electric. Headroom is at least decent for all four occupants due to the car’s tall stature.

Fiat says the additional 2.2 inches in width makes the 500e roomier for passengers, but we still had to share an armrest with a fellow journalist who was our driving partner.

Trunk space grows by half a cube to 7.5 cubic feet, modestly improving the practicality. Fiat doesn’t quote total storage, but the car’s diminutive size makes it a cinch to drop the back seats without stretching. As a minor complaint, the 500e only comes with two cupholders, whereas the outgoing model had four. As Americans, we love having room for multiple drinks.

Powertrain: Not Excessive

To power a tiny car like the 500e, you don’t need a massive battery or numerous electric motors. A single motor at the front kicks out 117 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, a slight increase of six hp and 15 lb-ft over the outgoing generation. An 8.5-second 0-60 time and 94 mph top speed won’t get the 500e onto the front page of any motoring magazines, but a 3.1-second 0-30 mph sprint makes the 500e an effective city car for shooting in and out of traffic.

In a world filled with 100- or even 200-kWh batteries, the Fiat 500e bucks the trend with a 42-kwh pack. That’s a sizable increase over the old 500e’s 25 kWh battery, which only enabled an 84-mile driving range. The new 500e nearly doubles the range of its predecessor, with up to 149 miles on a full charge. That matches the Nissan Leaf S and improved on the 2024 Cooper SE Hardtop, but it still ranks lower than the Hyundai Kona. Fiat clearly intends the 500e to be used for daily commuting, not highway road trips.

The 500e can replenish its battery at peak speeds of up to 85 kW. There are many EVs available that can charge more quickly, but remember the battery is small – you don’t need a fire hose to fill up a water bottle. Fiat says the car can charge from 0-80% in 35 minutes. Most automakers quote 10-80% charge times, because they are quicker, but Fiat did not have a quote on-hand for this scenario.

On a Level 2 home charger, the 500e can accept up to 11 kW, going from 0-100% in just six hours. Because the battery is so reasonably sized, you can even charge the 500e on a Level 1 outlet in around 37 hours. It may not go that far on a charge, but the 500e’s smaller battery enables quick recharging that should satisfy the average work commute, even for apartment dwellers.

Driving Impressions: City Sprinter

Fiat chose Miami as the location for our first drive of the 500e in North America, which is an ideal spot to see how the car zips in and out of tight costal roads. Off the line, the 500e feels spry with no difficulties getting out in front of slower-moving traffic. That peppiness dies off significantly around 40 mph, but a brief stint on Florida’s I95 proved the 500e is not a hindrance at highway speeds.

We thought the short wheelbase and 17-inch wheels might make for a bumpy ride, but the 500e is surprisingly compliant. You still feel road imperfections, but the car doesn’t crash and bounce over potholes and dips in the road. Ben fatto, Fiat for making a comfortable city car. Miami’s beach roads aren’t what we’d call well-paved, so it gave us ample opportunity to feel what the Fiat will be like in most American cities: We approve.

Just like the previous 500, the new 500e is a joy to toss around. Its tiny stature means no gap in traffic or parking spot is too small. Fiat includes three driving modes: Normal, Range, and Sherpa. Range mode enables one-pedal driving with heavier brake regeneration, while Sherpa acts as a maximum efficiency mode with reduced power and a limited 50 mph top speed. It also shuts down the climate control system.

In our brief time driving around Miami, we didn’t notice any major differences between Normal and Range modes, aside from the one-pedal driving. We would have tested Sherpa mode, but didn’t want to brave the Florida heat without A/C.

Pricing & Verdict: A Reasonable Second Car

The 2024 Fiat 500e (RED) Edition starts at $32,500, not including a $1,595 destination fee, and since there aren’t any options to tack on, the total cost comes to $34,095. The Inspired By trims up the price to $36,000. Fiat can claim to have one of the most affordable EVs on the market, but there are larger, more practical options available in a similar price range. The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric costs only $175 more, and it delivers 48 more miles of range and 16 additional horses. The 2024 Tesla Model 3 is significantly more expensive by a gap of $6,490, but its larger size and 272-mile range may make that price difference worth it for many buyers.

Fiat has not released any lease deals yet, but we suspect they will be attractive with the $7,500 federal tax credit factored in. That will effectively pull the price down to $26,500 territory that was previously occupied by the now-dead Chevrolet Bolt EV. Buyers who already have a gas-powered vehicle to pick up their kids and take road trips may find utility in a small EV with an equally minuscule lease payment as a cheap vehicle they can drive to work and back. We aren’t saying the Fiat 500e will have a wide audience in the US, but for a certain buyer, it might be the right tool for the job.