Stylish electric city car with lots of retro charm
Some versions will cover up to 199-miles on a single charge
Easy to drive and packed with useful tech
Expensive to buy new
The cheapest model has a range of 118-miles
Things can get quote noisy on the motorway
If you are in the market for an electric car with a retro twist then the new Fiat 500 could be the perfect car for you. Stylish, easy to drive and capable of covering up to 199-miles on a single charge, the new 500 has lots to offer. It is also available as a soft-top, which means the Fiat 500 is one of only a handful of electric convertibles on sale in the UK (along with the Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio).
The 2021 Fiat 500 electric gets a choice of two battery packs - 24kWh or 42kWh - which will give you up to 118 or 199-miles, with the latter putting the Fiat ahead of the Honda e, MINI Electric and Skoda Citigo-e iV when it comes to maximum range.
Prices start at £20,495 for the 24kWh Fiat 500 and £23,995 for the 42kWh model. Both prices include the £2500 Government grant. The 42kWh version comes equipped with an 85kW fast-charge system that can add 30 miles from just five minutes charge. Fiat also says you can fast charge the battery to 80% in just 30 minutes.
The 2021 Fiat 500 is built on a completely new mechanical platform, which provides more interior space due to the car being 56mm wider and 61mm longer than the old 500. You also get some smart features, which include LED daytime running lights that are built into the bonnet of the car and electric door handles that sit completely flush with the bodywork. As a result, the new 500 wouldn't look amiss on a Back to the Future movie set.
The Fiat 500 is available in three trim levels - Action, Passion and Icon. Top-spec models get a fancy 10-inch touchscreen navigation system and a button-free ‘pebble’ keyfob that automatically unlocks the doors you are close to the car, locking them again when you tap the door handle. The seats are also made from recycled materials - including 10% sea plastics - so you can be super smug when preaching to your friends about your green motoring credentials.
Fiat also offers the 500 in a limited edition La Prima trim - which translates to ‘The First’. This has every conceivable luxury you can think of, with electric leather seats, panoramic sunroof roof, wireless mobile charge pad, LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels and a comprehensive array of useful tech, which includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning and a rear parking camera with a 360-degree view. Prices for the 500 La Prima start at a bank account draining £27,495.
Ah, this is where things get a little confusing. Yes, the new third-generation Fiat 500 is electric only and there will not be a petrol version. But Fiat also says it will continue selling the second-generation 500 as a petrol hybrid for an undisclosed period of time. Confused? Us too.
We should also point out that the £20,495 starting price for the new Fiat 500 is for the 24kWh model in Action trim only, which isn't very well-equipped as standard or capable of travelling 199-miles. If you want more miles and things like touchscreen infotainment, DAB radio and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto then you'll need to fork out for the more expensive 42kWh model in Passion trim.
Of course, this isn’t the end of the petrol or diesel Fiat 500 - there are still loads for sale, which means there are plenty of fossil-fuelled 500 city cars to go around, should you not want to make the shift to electric just yet.
The Fiat 500 feels much more spacious than before and the positioning of the battery pack, under the car floor, gives you an elevated seating position that provides a clear view of the road. The new 500 sits on a wheelbase that’s 22mm longer, too. And Fiat has put this extra space to good use with more shoulder and legroom for those in the front. Things are a little snug in the rear, but two adults will just about fit.
The steering is very light and this means the 500 Electric is easy to guide around narrow city streets. You get three driving modes - Normal, Range and Sherpa - which makes it easy to manage the battery charge and energy usage. If the battery starts to get low then you activate the ‘Sherpa’ mode to find the nearest charger or manage the car’s resources until you get home.
The electric motor is mounted in the front and available with 93 or 118PS, both versions will whirr from 0-62mph in 9.0 seconds. Our test car was fitted with the 188PS unit and it provides smooth and rewarding acceleration around town, hitting 31mph from a standstill in 3.1 seconds.
When you get out of the city the Fiat 500 Electric feels less impressive. The electric motor emits a high pitched whirring sound above 50mph and there is also a lot of noise as outside air flows over the body of the car. The light and lifeless steering also make it difficult to make any meaningful connection with the handling, which means the 500 Electric feels short on thrills when compared to its rivals from Honda, MINI and Skoda.
Model tested: Fiat 500 Electric Icon
Battery capacity: 42kWh
Gearbox: Automatic
Power/torque: 118PS/220Nm
Electric consumption: 3.1 miles/kWh
CO2 emissions: Zero
Range: 199 miles
Price from: £20,495
As tested: £28,595
The Fiat 500 Electric can cover up to 199 miles when fitted with the 42kWh battery. The cheapest versions of the Fiat 500 Electric fitted with the 24kWh battery will cover up to 118 miles.
The battery in the Fiat 500 Electric is under warranty for eight years or 62,000 miles (whichever comes first).
Prices for the Fiat 500 Electric start at £20,495 for 24kWh Action version and £23,995 for the 42kWh model in Passion trim. These prices are after the Plug-in Car Grant deduction of £2500.