2018 FIAT 500e Review

The 2018 Fiat 500e doesn’t stray far from the 500 formula that we like. The 500e features slightly different front and rear bumpers and bottom door sills, all for lower drag, and a handful of new badges. The interior is identical.

Those are all good things and help the 500e earn a point above average for its looks. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

The 500e stays true to the Fiat “cinquecento” formula of a small footprint and upright look. The boxy 500e retains its signature button headlights and small grille opening that are throwbacks to the post-war Italian cars.

Inside, the 500e mostly succeeds to keep the same fun spirit. The 500e’s low price means that interior material quality isn’t top-notch, but a body-colored dash helps keep the car visually interesting.

Performance is relative in the 2018 Fiat 500e.

Although the 500e is likely our favorite way to drive a 500—more than the base 500 and 500 Abarth—the all-electric 500e is hardly a sports car.

It benefits from its weight in the right place and a small wheelbase. We give it an average score of 5 for performance because its ride is less bouncy than the 500. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

The 500e is powered by a 111-horsepower electric motor with a single-speed transmission. Its takeoff is effortless and smooth, which is typical for electric cars. The top speed is limited to 88 mph, but we hardly suggest owners reach that for long periods—traveling at speeds that fast in electric cars significantly chews up battery range.

The 24-kwh battery powers the 500e for roughly 84 miles in combined driving, or more if its confined to urban-only duties.

The 500e adds more than 500 pounds to a base 500 in battery weight, which is down low and over the wheels. In that way, it’s more weight in the right places and it helps the 500e feel flatter and more fun to drive than the regular 500, which can feel top-heavy.

The 500e lacks the wonderful shouting exhaust note of the 500 Abarth, but it offers a better ride thanks to more give in the 15-inch tires with more sidewall and better damping.

The 2018 Fiat 500e doesn’t prioritize space or comfort more than efficiency.

The rear seats are remarkably cramped—even smaller than the base 500—and cargo space is predictably small. We take away points from both and give the 500e a 3 out of 10 for comfort. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

The 500e has a few key differences from the 500 in terms of comfort. Rear seat leg room shrinks in the 500e to 27.6 inches, which is roughly 4 inches less than the base 500. Cargo room similarly shrinks in the 500e to 7.0 cubic feet, down more than two cubes from the standard 500.

From there, the 500e keeps roughly the same quarters as the 500. The 500e skips the roofless version of the 500 Cabrio, so head room may be an issue for tall drivers in the 500e.

On the other hand, the 500e is by far the smoothest and quietest member of the whole 500 family, and more relaxing to travel in for any length of time.

Overall, we’ve found the seating position to be more upright in the 500e than other small cars, which is a boon to outward vision, but it creates an awkward ergonomic issue with the flat steering wheel that tilts but doesn’t telescope.

The 2018 Fiat 500e hasn’t been comprehensively crash-tested by any major safety rating organization. Considering its small numbers and limited availability, that’s not likely to change any time soon.

We’ll hold back our score for now, but we won’t hold our breath to change that any time soon. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

Although the 500e and 500 are closely related, the additional weight of the batteries (more than 500 pounds) means that the two aren’t directly comparable for safety.

The 500e is equipped with a standard complement of airbags, including front and side impact airbags; traction and stability control systems; and active head restraints.

Like the 500, the 500e skips active safety features such as forward collision warnings with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, or blind-spot monitors.

The 500e is equipped with a rearview camera.

The only thing shorter than the 2018 Fiat 500e’s wheelbase may be the time it takes to order one.

Fiat offers the all-electric 500e in breathtaking brevity for shoppers in California and Oregon. One spec, one option, pick a color.

The 500e is equipped as standard with 15-inch wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, Bluetooth connectivity, power features, air conditioning, and a 5.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment.

The base equipment is good enough for a point, but the lack of options takes it off the board again. The 500e gets a 5 out of 10 for features. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

Like last year, the 500e offers a lone option for interested buyers. The so-called E-Sport package adds flashier 15-inch wheels with orange accents, orange mirror caps, and black accents around the headlights for $495. Orange or white exterior paint is a $500 option too.

Other mainstream electric cars are more customizable.

Electrons alone power the 2018 Fiat 500e for roughly 84 miles, according to the EPA. That’s good enough to ace our fuel economy scale, even though its range is now significantly less than some of its competitors. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

The Fiat 500e’s range is limited by its overall size and, perhaps, the automaker’s attention. The 500e is equipped with a 24-kwh battery that can be recharged in four hours using a Level 2 charging station. Annoyingly, Fiat doesn’t offer DC fast charging in any form, underscoring its view of the 500e as only an urban runabout.

Fiat hasn’t increased the 500e’s battery size since the car was new in 2012 and other automakers have added longer-range electric vehicles since then.

The 2018 Nissan Leaf is rated up to 150 miles of electric range, the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV manages nearly 240 miles. Only the electric Smart Fortwo has a shorter range than the 500e. It’s rated for 57 miles.