My Favorite Features of the 2024 Fiat 500e
Author:
Brian Moody.
The Fiat 500e is adorable. It’s cute and fun in a way most modern cars are not. It looks different, too. It’s also small, like Chevy Spark or Mini Cooper small. And that makes the perfect recipe for an electric car. It’s small and nimble. The diminutive footprint means less weight than the average electric car. Yes, the size means a smaller battery pack, which translates to less range, but not every electric car has to get 300 miles from a charge. Plus, most people grossly overestimate how much range they need. Just like with gasoline-powered cars, a variety of sizes and capabilities is important. The Fiat 500e is probably the perfect example of what electric cars can and should be going forward. Small, fun runabouts that don’t try to be everything to everybody. With that in mind, here are my favorite Fiat 500e features.
Stylish Interior
I experienced the “Inspired by Beauty” trim. Are they overplaying the Italianness of this car? Yes, probably. However, the interior is a very nice place to spend time. The word “FIAT” embroidered into the seats has a designer handbag feel, and the dash is covered in a faux snakeskin-like material, or maybe it’s more like a woven wicker vibe. Either way, the texture makes the interior feel classy. The doors open with an electric push button. The two-tone steering wheel also gives the 500e an upscale touch. I like the unique start-up chime — the car plays “The Sound of 500,” written by Flavio Ibba and Marco Gualdi. The exclusive melody provides a taste of Italian culture during the first moments of every drive.
Easter Eggs Galore
So-called “Easter eggs” don’t have anything to do with Easter or eggs, but it is a new, cool thing for automakers to do. An automotive Easter egg is a little hidden feature, symbol, or graphic that’s like an inside joke for owners of that specific vehicle. For example, hidden in the FIAT’s handle you use to close the door, there’s a small, stamped impression of the words “Made in Torino” along with a silhouette of an original Fiat Cinquecento. “Made in Torino” also appears in a tiny script on one taillight, the skyline of Turin, Italy (the birthplace of the 500), appears in the dash as well as the left taillight, and a tiny replica of the Italian flag resides atop each front fender. These little hidden symbols or words give the owner a sense that they have something special. Cars and trucks built and sold under the Stelantis name (corporate parent of Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, and Ram) have many well-documented “Easter eggs.”
Price
The “Inspired by Beauty” version of the 500e, like the one pictured here, is $37,595. Yes, that’s Rose Gold, the solitary color scheme of this version. The Inspi(RED) base price is $32,500 before the unavoidable $1,595 destination fee. The Nissan Leaf is close to the 500e in terms of price and purpose, but the Fiat feels like more bang for the buck, assuming you don’t need a 4-door with an adult-sized back seat. What the Leaf lacks in style, it makes up for in usefulness. A base Leaf is a little less expensive than the 500e. Are all the Fiat’s Italian and premium-ish touches worth the trade-off? Probably.
Size
Generally, I don’t like small cars, but this one is endearing for two reasons. First, the interior is small but feels open and airy. I wouldn’t want to ride in the back seat; it’s mainly for kids. Still, for a small car, it does not feel claustrophobic. I think this is because it’s wide. Narrow cars feel more cramped, even if they are long. Also, parking is so easy. Any urban or suburban parking lot or garage is no problem in this car. Even parallel parking is so much easier because of the 500e’s size. Related:
2024 Fiat 500e: Choosing the Right Trim.
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