Fiat 500 Electric87kW 42kWh 3dr Auto
2024
25 miles
Electric
£19,499
MK427GB
As you can probably tell by the name, the Fiat 500 Electric – also known, confusingly, as the Fiat 500e or simply the 500 – is the eco-friendly version of Fiat’s hugely popular city car. It mixes retro-inspired but very modern styling with all-electric power and is aimed at drivers looking for a city car that’s both stylish and environmentally friendly.
The electric version of the Fiat 500 has been on sale since 2020. Although Fiat also sells a non-electric city car called the 500, this is a completely different car. The 500 Electric is available as a hatchback city car or as a convertible called the 500C Electric, featuring a retractable fabric roof. It’s a rival for other electric city cars like the Honda E and the Smart EQ Fortwo, as well as other hatchbacks like the MINI Electric, the Renault Zoe, and the Peugeot e-208.
While it may share a name with its non-electric counterpart, the Fiat 500 Electric is a big step on from the car that’s been popular on UK roads for more than a decade. As well as boasting a choice of all-electric drivetrains, this latest reimagining of the 1960s classic Fiat 500 is larger than its predecessor with more space inside, more features as standard and is available in a choice of trims.
You can choose the base 24kWh version with a 118-mile range, which is great for around-town driving, or a version with a larger 42kWh battery, which will manage up to 199 miles on a single charge and can charge at up to 85kW. It’s stylish and easy to drive, and it’s good value for money against its rivals, too.
All versions come with LED headlights, alloy wheels and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen that features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the interior quality is a big improvement over the 500 that went before it.
To drive, the 500 Electric feels nippy to accelerate around town, although less so on faster roads, and its light steering makes it a doddle to park in tight spots. Parking sensors are included to make it even easier. Driving enjoyment is in short supply – it’s not as engaging and fun as a Mini Electric, but then that’s not really the point of the Fiat.
It’s a great little car for nipping around town, and if you have small children they’ll fit in the back to do the school run. Sure, it’s not a proper family car – there’s only so much you can fit into a small city car – but there’s a reasonable amount of storage spaces inside the car and the 185-litre boot is larger than the Honda E. If you’ve got charging facilities at work it could also make a great commuter car, too.
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If you only ever drive around town then the entry-level Fiat 500 Electric with its 24kWh battery may suffice. But be warned – it has a small range of just 115 miles per charge according to official figures, and its 93PS electric motor feels lethargic at speeds above 30mph.
So, if you want to go further afield from time to time, we’d recommend the more powerful model, which has a 42kWh battery and an official range of up to 199 miles, as well as a more powerful 118PS motor. It’ll charge faster, too, at up to 85kW.
Fiat is very keen on mixing up the trims available on the Fiat 500 Electric, so as well as the basic trims there are various special edition models that you’ll spot on the used market. Myriad options were also available, so there’s a huge amount of choice. The entry-level Action trim is fairly basic, hatchback only and doesn’t come with the more powerful motor and battery, so if you want more high-tech features, extra zip and/or a retractable roof, go for the Passion model or above.
Fiat has changed its trim levels around over the years, and also offers various option packs across the 500 Electric range. However, the basic trims are as follows:
The Fiat 500 Electric’s exterior dimensions are:
The Fiat 500 Electric’s boot size is:
As an electric car, the Fiat 500 Electric attracts zero Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) for now; however, this will change in 2025. From April, it’ll attract the regular flat rate of tax, which at the time of writing is £190.
Insurance for the Fiat 500 Electric starts from group 15 of 50 and rises to group 18, depending on trim. That should mean pretty reasonable insurance costs. You’ll pay a bit more on the convertible 500C, however, which sits in groups 20 and 21.
Read our full Fiat 500 Electric review