Fiat 500e: Small Car, Big Personality, Zero Emissions

Starting at just $32,500, the Fiat 500e comes in three perfect little packages: inspired by Music with four JBL Virtual Venues music spaces, inspired by Beauty with a Rose Gold body color and embroidered eco-leather-trimmed seats, and the base Fiat 500e RED, which funds HIV and AIDS research and is still pretty darn awesome.

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With its bottom-heavy stance, sporty-looking 17-inch wheels, rear roof spoiler, and quirky oval accents in the headlights and logo, the Fiat 500e feels cute and petite. But don’t let that fool you. It’s cute less like a Pomeranian and more like a bunny rabbit, absolutely adorable but ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

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With 141 miles of range, you probably won’t be trekking across the country, but this little electric dynamo is ready to zip and zag through traffic with the energy of a caffeinated squirrel. It’s the kind of car that coaxes a smile out of you whether you’re thinking about it or not. You’ll make a tight turn, and the 15.75′ turning radius will ignite a chuckle, or you’ll nimbly zip around traffic, and the peppy acceleration will make you feel like you’re starring in your own Italian Job remake.

But the real joy comes from parking – squeeze into that spot downtown that everyone else passed by because it’s just a teensy bit too small and revel in the satisfaction that no tiny parking is out of bounds to you.

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Embracing cuteness, Fiat has hidden playful little Easter eggs throughout the 500e. Find a tiny Italian flag waving at you at the side of the hood or notice hints of its Torino birthplace, with the legendary skyline etched in tail lights, door handles, and even the charging pad.

With a smaller electric driving range, charging the Fiat 500e is easier and faster than some other EVs. I charged it at home on level 2, which takes about 5 hours, but it can fast charge to 80 percent in about 30 minutes at a public DC fast charge station. For drivers who don’t have or don’t want to install a level 2 charger at home, it’ll charge about 6 miles per hour plugged into a level 1 standard household outlet. That’s enough to recoup an average day’s drive.

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Driving the Fiat 500e is simple, comfortable, and straightforward. A 10.3-inch multimedia display rests within reach, and a 7-inch instrument cluster displays all the info you need. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto elevate the experience with all your favorite apps. I thought that I’d feel uncomfortable being in such a small vehicle on the road, but you don’t feel as tiny as you are.

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The only time I noticed the vehicle’s petiteness was when reaching above 65 mph. At that speed, the road noise can become a bit intrusive. Perhaps the higher trims are better sealed from the elements; on that note, the base trim lacks some of the fancier driver-assistance features that you’ll find in the Music and Beauty trims.

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The rear seats are a tight squeeze even for a small adult and are better suited for small passengers, such as a dog or a smallish kid, the type who are also a bit more agile to slide between the folded seat to get access. Ideally, the Fiat 500e is better for a single or couples who might use the rear seat for groceries and backpacks.

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Fun little easter eggs await your discovery. We found Fiat icons on the tail lights, phone cubby and door handles, though there are likely more. Finding them all is a fun game that fans love to play, and discovering an Easter egg is an accomplishment in itself!

While you can certainly find electric cars with greater range, storage, and faster charging, you will be hard-pressed to find something cuter or more delicious. If you need something that can zip around town, pop into any parking spot, and have enough space for a partner and children or dogs in the back, then look no further—your little Italian Fiat 500e is here.