The Fiat 500e is an electric version of the iconic 500 city car, available in Australian dealerships since early 2020. It joins the Mini Cooper Electric as one of the smallest electric vehicles available. The La Prima 500e variants come with a 42 kWh battery pack, offering up to 311 km of WLTP driving range. Overseas markets have access to more affordable 500e variants with a smaller 24 kWh battery and a convertible version but these are not available here.

The 500e interior is well-equipped with a 7 inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25 inch central touchscreen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The front seats are roomy enough for only two people on board, but the seating position is higher than expected. The front seats are manual adjusted with no height adjustment for the passenger, and feel a bit flat and unsupportive on longer drives.

The Fiat 500e feels like a zippy little car, easily getting up to highway speeds with power left to overtake when necessary. It feels most at home around the city, where its small size is an advantage and light steering makes for easy parking. The electric motor produces 87 kW of power, with up to 96 kW flowing to the motor via a nice display of real-time energy consumption on the central touchscreen.

The Fiat 500e has three driving modes: Normal, Range, and Sherpa. The one-pedal driving implementation needs some tuning, especially at low speeds and driving on slopes. The 500e’s maximum charge rates are 85 kW DC and 11 kW AC via a 3-phase wallbox or 7 kW AC with single phase.

In conclusion, the Fiat 500e will only appeal to a niche audience due to its cute looks and zippy driving experience.

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