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MIAMI – It's been a tricky time for Fiat followers. The model discontinued its 500 mannequin line after 2019, leaving solely the four-door crossover-sized 500X on sale, and whereas it deliberate to introduce a substitute for its 500e electrical metropolis automobile round that point, So a small epidemic interrupted the work. , Now, in 2024, the individuals of Turin are lastly prepared to provide People a style of the dolce vita provided by that new 500e. Was the wait price it? I went to Miami to search out out.
As you’d count on, the 2024 Fiat 500e is as soon as once more an all-electric metropolis automobile. In contrast to its predecessor (2013-2019), this 500e looks like extra of an entire EV bundle than a “compliance automobile” constructed to satisfy rules in states like California. The “New Fiat 500” has been on sale in Europe since 2020, so though it’s a new mannequin to america, it’s a well-established platform by now.
Just like the previous 500e, the 2024 500e has a front-wheel-drive format, with a everlasting magnet motor that delivers 117 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. That motor is paired with a 42-kilowatt-hour battery (of which about 38 is usable, in response to Fiat engineers) for an EPA-estimated vary of 149 miles (or 116 with summer season tires). It doesn't sound like a lot – and it isn't – however this isn’t a car designed for lengthy street journeys or super-commuters. Fiat claims a 0-60 time of 8.5 seconds and a high velocity of 94 mph, however I believe it could be extraordinarily tough to drive at that velocity.
Not that the 500e feels unstable round city (Fiat didn't embrace any freeway driving throughout my temporary stint with the automobile). It presents the sort of fast, exact steering and subcompact agility that made the unique 500e extra enjoyable to drive than essential. The steering is mild, however not overly so, and solely offers a really tight turning radius of 31.5 ft, which ends up in the “Oh wait, there's a parking spot! Take it!” It’s a lot simpler to drive than a bigger car.
Though the steering is excellent, the 500e's trip isn't as nice. It's not a brutal unladen full-size truck by any means, however calling it busy on damaged metropolis streets looks like a charitable method to put it. This isn’t an costly automobile with subtle suspension, and, once more, given its supposed use case, I wouldn't contemplate the trip an enormous level in comparison with this.
The largest leap ahead from the previous 500e to this new model is the addition of DC quick charging functionality. The 2024 mannequin makes use of a CCS (Mixed Charging System) plug for quick charging at as much as 85kW. This seems like a ingesting straw for electrons in comparison with the standard 150 or 350 kW firehose-like charging capabilities of most fashionable EVs, but it surely beats the Mini Cooper SE by 35 kW, and Fiat claims it's up by 10%. Will cost as much as 80%. In 35 minutes. Fiat can also be pushing Stage 2 charging by giving 500e consumers a selection between a free Stage 2 wall charger or $600 in charging credit score with Stellantis' accomplice Free2Move.
Total being a easy automobile, the 500e presents three drive modes. There may be Regular, Vary and Sherpa with questionable title. Regular is pretty self-explanatory, Vary mellows acceleration for higher effectivity, and Sherpa is like Vary mode Plus. This turns off the HVAC system and offers you a minimally reactive accelerator pedal and most regenerative braking. Or in Fiat's phrases, Sherpa mode “takes cost of the whole expedition and directs it to the vacation spot” by adjusting these aforementioned parameters. In contrast to EVs from different manufacturers (taking a look at you, Germans) the 500e presents one-pedal driving, excellent for inner-city commuting.
The 500e has a skateboard-style chassis with the battery pack situated underneath the ground of the passenger compartment. That is pretty commonplace stuff for nearly all built-for-purpose electrical autos and presents the good thing about a really low heart of gravity, which makes for a enjoyable, agile driving expertise. That's good, as a result of agility is all the pieces within the 500e.
The brand new 500e has advanced from its predecessor in nearly each path, however not by a lot. The distinction is usually felt internally and that's factor. Up entrance, the brand new 500e presents 39.3 inches of headroom (up 0.4 from the previous 500e), 41.8 inches of legroom (plus 1.1 inches), and 49.8 and 51.1 inches of hip and shoulder room (plus 2 inches and 1.7 inches, respectively). , This enhance is welcome, particularly for a really tall – 6 ft, 4 inches – particular person, though as a passenger, I’d have appreciated if its seat top adjustment was the identical as the motive force's seat. Rear seat legroom has additionally elevated by 2 inches, however that also doesn't make it the place you'd need for individuals you wish to spend prolonged intervals of time with. Estimated cargo quantity piccolo At solely 7.5 cubic ft, as much as half a dice.
The 500e's inside is considerably sadly primary with cheap-feeling supplies, but it surely's aesthetically pleasing and never a horrible place to be. The seats are agency and lack actual bolstering, however (in my base take a look at car) are lined in great-looking, embossed Fiat brand upholstery. There's loads of room to place all of your stuff, though in America it looks like a mistake to have just one cupholder for a car, irrespective of how small the automobile. The 500e additionally will get a wi-fi charging pad as commonplace.
From a technical standpoint, the 500e is equally primary. The bottom RED mannequin lacks options like adaptive cruise management or lively lane hold help, however nonetheless will get issues like computerized emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure alert. If you need extra driver help options, the one method to get them is to maneuver as much as the “Impressed By” trims. Infotainment is dealt with by Stellantis' sometimes glorious Uconnect 5 system, which features a bigger 10.25-inch touchscreen for the cabin, which I discover crisp and responsive to the touch inputs. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come commonplace with a totally serviceable stereo system; The “music-inspired” mannequin will get a seven-speaker JBL system, however we're not driving them.
One thing that Fiat is extraordinarily happy with however which gave the impression to be absent in our take a look at autos is the “Acoustic Car Warning System”, which performs a music over exterior audio system to warn pedestrians. The music, which you’ll be able to hearken to beneath, is named “The Sound of 500” and was written by Flavio Ibba-Marco Gualdi. It’s believed to provide rise to a extra distinctive white noise everytime you go above 12 mph or everytime you go beneath that velocity. Sadly, regardless of my greatest efforts, I used to be unable to set off it. Perhaps it was a pre-production subject, however both method, the bumper live performance should wait for an additional day.
One good factor concerning the 500e is that the 2024 is barely cheaper than the older mannequin regardless of being higher in nearly each measurable respect. This in itself isn’t low-cost, contemplating that Fiat considers itself a premium model in america. Nonetheless, with a sticker worth of $34,095 for the bottom (RED) model (together with a $1,595 vacation spot cost) and $37,595 for the “Impressed By” editions, it's not fully critical both. That is bolstered by the truth that the one choices accessible on the RED or “Impressed” trim ranges are tire selection (summer season or all-season) and which of the charging advantages talked about earlier you need. Sadly, as a result of the 500e is inbuilt Italy (particularly, Fiat's well-known Mirafiori manufacturing facility in Turin), it’s not eligible for federal EV tax credit.
Though it's not horrible, the value is greater than you'd pay for the a lot sooner Mini Cooper SE and its 181 hp. Nonetheless, you pay for that further efficiency differently, with an EPA-estimated vary of simply 114 miles. The Mini begins at $31,895, however the base spec is considerably barebones with 16-inch wheels and no Android Auto in comparison with Fiat's great-looking commonplace 17-inch items and wi-fi smartphone connectivity for each Apple and Android gadgets . The Mini additionally prices quick at solely 50kW, so if you happen to plan to make use of a public DC quick charger, plan to spend extra time ready for the Mini to cost (and the remainder ready for it to cost. Annoy everybody).
Fiat 500e impressed by music
Now, the reply to the nice query: Was the 2024 Fiat 500e definitely worth the four-year wait? Briefly, sure. Fiat claims that between the preliminary announcement in 2020 and now it took time to search out and repair bugs within the car and ensure it was as prepared as attainable for the US market. In driving it, I discovered that, whereas nonetheless slightly tough across the edges, it's a superb selection for drivers that match the 500e's slim supposed use case.
It's nimble, super-attractive (subjective, however essential), presents a pleasant cabin and sufficient vary and efficiency that it doesn't really feel like a nuisance in visitors or a burden in your life-style. Should you dwell in a densely populated city space like New York or Los Angeles, the small Fiat will make life simpler and extra nice, however if you happen to're in a location with massive distances between locations, this isn’t the automobile for you.
Given its extremely specialised function, I wouldn't name the refreshed 500e a house run or a shoo-in for large gross sales, however I loved my time with it and would suggest it to anybody searching for a bit of los angeles dolce vita. .