Fiat may just have one for you here…but we'll talk abut that in a moment.
Fiats in America go way back to the early VW Beetle days….and VW won that battle…growing to be the dominant player in the entry-level import market for decades.
But Fiat kept fighting back…and their 500 is proof. Fiat brought their latest 500 back to America 13 years ago…with a gas engine, of course, and they've tweaked it every few years since then.
Bob Jackson
Today's 500 is proof of that "tweaking…it's "e" -only…no gas or hybrid engine available.
If "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was still in production, I'd be surprised if Larry David wasn't driving a 500e. Quirky guy / quirky car.
But quirky in a good way. You're going to either love it or hate it. Cute face…mini-sized…and fun in its own way.
Bob Jackson
This is a city car. And as a city car, it's really a standout…for two. Perky performance, perfectly parkable, and fairly plush for something so small. But as you'd imagine, it's tight back there in the rear seat. Best for small kids…or just fold 'em down and use the luggage space.
Being electric, even the 500e's 117 HP packs more than adequate punch for around-town driving. In fact, I gave more than one high-end driver the 'ol green-light surprise….blowing right past him from a stop. And the suspension, as most Italian cars are known for…is poised and supple. Potholes? No problem.
Bob Jackson
And although it's small, Fiat's 500e still packs some of the expected "Big Boy" pieces. Standard equipment includes 17" alloys, quilted heated imitation leather seating, voice command, six-speaker sound, traffic sign recognition, drowsy driver alert and the usual land departure warnings and USB ports.
A negative for some is the 500e's roughly 140 mile range…although due to its modest battery size, I could fully recharge at night with standard household current. And if you're in a bigger hurry, fast charging can get you 40 miles of range in 5 minutes.
Bob Jackson
So back to that possible deal on your 500e? Fiat has temporarily suspended production, so in spite of our test 500e's $34,000 window sticker, dealers here in the US may be very generous with their deals on remaining '24's. No promises, just my speculation.
Bob Jackson
