Fiat 500e

Fiat 500e at a glance

An electric-only 500 from Mirafiori

The first Fiat 500e was a conversion of the 2007 Fiat 500, built in Toluca, Mexico, from 2012 to 2019 and sold only in some US states. Its successor took the opposite route. Fiat developed the new 500 as a battery-electric car on a new platform and built a dedicated line for it at Mirafiori in Turin. The 2019 plan for that line targeted 80,000 cars a year. The name and the round shape go back to the Nuova 500 of 1957, but no part is shared with it.

Production started on 18 February 2020. The premiere planned for the Geneva Motor Show was cancelled because of COVID-19, so Fiat revealed the car in Milan on 4 March 2020, and the Italian lockdown halted the line again on 13 March. Compared with the petrol 500 of 2007 the new body is 60 mm longer, 60 mm wider and 40 mm taller, with a 20 mm longer wheelbase.

The launch model was the La Prima cabriolet, limited to 500 cars per country and priced at EUR 37,900 in Italy in 2020 before incentives. The three-door hatchback followed in June 2020 and the 3+1 in October 2020. The 3+1 adds a small rear-hinged door on the passenger side and was built only with left-hand drive.

Batteries, power and range

Both Fiat motors deliver 220 Nm, and the smaller battery saves about 100 kg. Fiat Germany quotes WLTP consumption of 13.0-14.9 kWh/100 km for the 42 kWh car. In the US, where the 500e went on sale as a 2024 model, the EPA rated it at 149 miles (240 km) and 116 MPGe, or 18.1 kWh/100 km.

Abarth sells its own version under the Abarth brand. It was shown on 22 November 2022 and delivers 235 Nm.

Charging the small and large battery

The 24 kWh car charges at up to 50 kW DC and reaches 80% from 10% in about 30 minutes. The 42 kWh version accepts 85 kW and reaches 80% in about 35 minutes; Fiat Germany says five minutes add roughly 50 km. All versions take 11 kW on three-phase AC. The 190 km figure of the small battery suits town use, while the 320 km of the 42 kWh car leaves more margin for motorway trips.

Cabriolet, 3+1 and space

All three bodies use the same 3,632 mm length, 1,683 mm width and 2,322 mm wheelbase. The cabriolet seats four like the hatchback. ADAC measures 183 litres of boot space in the 500 Hybrid, which shares the body, and 440 litres with the rear seats folded. The 3+1 makes it easier to put a child seat or bags in the back on the kerb side.

Fiat called the 500e the first city car with Level 2 assisted driving. Depending on trim it offers autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, intelligent adaptive cruise control with lane centring, lane control and intelligent speed assistance.

Euro NCAP result

Euro NCAP tested a left-hand-drive 500e Icon in 2021 and gave it four stars. The scores were 76% for adult occupants, 80% for child occupants, 67% for vulnerable road users and 67% for safety assist. ANCAP published aligned scores, with 78% for adult occupants.

Sales, pauses and the 500 Hybrid

The 500e was Italy's best-selling electric car by August 2022, but demand later fell in Europe and in the US, where fewer than 500 were sold in 2024. Stellantis paused the Mirafiori line in 2024 because of weak demand. Its answer was to add a petrol engine to the electric car's body: the 500 Hybrid was unveiled in May 2025 and entered production at Mirafiori in November 2025.

The Hybrid uses a 1.0-litre three-cylinder FireFly petrol engine with 12-volt mild-hybrid support, 48 kW (65 PS) and a six-speed manual gearbox. ADAC lists 16.2 seconds for 0-100 km/h, 155 km/h and 5.2 l/100 km WLTP (117 g/km CO2). In Germany it starts at EUR 19,990 for the Pop from November 2025, with the Torino version at EUR 21,990 and the La Prima at EUR 24,990.

Prices in 2026

The Italian prices come from Fiat Italy's list (2026) and include VAT; Fiat offered extra promotional discounts on top. UK prices are on-the-road figures from November 2026, before the government Electric Car Grant, for which the 500e qualifies on orders from 15 July 2026. On the UK site the small and large batteries are rated at 118 and 199 miles WLTP.

500e against its rivals

The Renault 5 E-Tech is 3,922 mm long, 290 mm more than the Fiat, and offers 40 or 52 kWh batteries, so it suits buyers who need a five-door body and more range. Within Fiat, the Grande Panda gives more interior space on the Smart Car platform. The 500e remains the shorter car, which matters in historic centres and tight parking. The full range is in the Fiat catalogue.

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