A tiny EV with some Italian flair is all well and good. Little Mediterranean cars have been Fiat’s bread and butter for over a century. But the American market Fiat 500e may not be as cool as it looks, at least when it comes to range. It sports a rather short range of just 149 miles fully charged, making it not only one of the smallest EVs on the market but also one of the shortest estimated ranges. Only the base model Nissan Leaf S matches it, also clocking in at 149 miles. The similarly compact Chevy Bolt destroys both of them as far as range is concerned; stored electrons allow the Chevy to travel upwards of 259 miles on a charge. It also costs much less at $26,500 without any sort of discount.
The 500e is undoubtedly cool as far as aesthetics are concerned and 149 miles is great for congested cities and the narrow streets of Europe. But when you’re doing anything more than the average commute, 149 miles will likely start feeling restrictive. But if Fiat’s classic Italian charm and fun personality win you over, you can get the 500e when it starts hitting dealerships early next year.
