Test Drive the Fiat 500e: What's it Like to Drive Fiat's First BEV, Inheriting an Iconic Design?

The Joy of One-Pedal Driving

The 500e is available in three grades: the "POP" (made-to-order) at ¥4.5 million, the "ICON" at ¥4.85 million, and the convertible "OPEN" at ¥4.95 million. The model I tested was the OPEN, featuring a black canvas top and a Celestia Blue body. This light blue, three-layer pearl paint, which shifts in shade depending on the light, perfectly suits the OPEN grade and is highly visible in the city.

Test Drive the Fiat 500e: What's it Like to Drive Fiat's First BEV, Inheriting an Iconic Design? | FIAT

How does it drive, powered by a motor producing a maximum output of 87kW (118ps) and a peak torque of 220Nm driving the front wheels? The 500e's center console features an e-MODE dial to switch between three driving styles:

"Normal": A mode for comfortable and smooth driving, designed to emulate the feel of an internal combustion engine.

"Range": A mode enabling one-pedal driving, allowing the vehicle to come to a complete stop.

"Sherpa": Named after the renowned ethnic group of Himalayan mountaineers, signifying the ability to travel long distances reliably. This is an energy-saving mode that automatically turns off the air conditioning and seat heaters (though they can be reactivated) and limits the speed to 80 km/h or below.

These modes can be selected. Once I set my driving position, I found the footwell space to be narrow, making it a bit difficult to find a comfortable spot for my left foot. It barely fits with thin driving shoes.

Immediately selecting "Range" mode and starting to drive with one pedal, the car adeptly accelerates and decelerates its relatively light body of approximately 1.3 tons, making for an enjoyable experience. The previous model, with its sub-1-ton body and twin-cylinder engine making a "poro poro" sound, was also fun, but the new model's performance is significantly improved thanks to the motor's ample torque from low speeds. The new sensation of the car smoothly gaining speed on good roads, accompanied by quietness, brings an involuntary smile. The deceleration G-force when releasing the accelerator is quite strong; initially, I found myself stopping slightly before my intended point.

Once on the highway, I switched to "Normal" mode. It's quite relaxing as the car maintains a set speed even when I ease off the accelerator. I decided to try the newly equipped ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), and it successfully follows the car ahead and assists with steering through corners. This is a major improvement compared to the previous model, which only had cruise control for setting speed.

However, unlike the smooth, constant lane-centering of the latest Japanese and German cars, there's a slight, jerky movement that remains – perhaps a charming quirk. Pitching on road joints or bumps is also to be expected in such a small car with a short wheelbase, and it's part of the Cinquecento's character. I tested the "Sherpa" mode, and it reliably reduced speed to 80 km/h.

The WLTC mode rated driving range is officially 335km. Looking at the meter on this day, it showed 239km remaining at 94% charge, so it's best to assume the actual range is around 250km.

To acquire the 500e (Open), which is enjoyable both to look at and to drive, there are two leasing options: a subscription plan with a 5-year contract at ¥59,400 per month plus a ¥110,000 bonus payment 10 times a year, or a residual value guarantee plan for ¥1.54 million with monthly payments of ¥40,000 plus the same bonus payment structure. Since the engine model, priced at roughly half, will still be sold alongside it, this offers more choices for customers.

Spec

FIAT 500e | The Electric Cinquecento