The electric Fiat 500 is not related to the regular petrol 500 that’s been on our streets since 2007. For starters it is 60mm longer and the same measurement in extra width
Dacia is looking likely to bring its Spring electric car to the UK. I applied thumbscrews to a Dacia spokesman at the recent launch of the Jogger seven-seater – and although he manfully didn’t crack under torture, his body language suggested it.
I hope it does because with Dacia’s fantastic value pricing structure it’ll be very affordable.
Most European countries have far more generous EV grants than us, but even so the Spring could cost under £15,000.
I mention it because this week we’re testing the Fiat 500, which in the specification we’re driving, is currently the cheapest electric car you can buy in the UK.
It’s fitted with a 24kWh hour battery. If you’ve got your head around this EV malarkey you’ll know a 24kWh battery doesn’t give you a huge range. The official figure for the car is 115 miles. Fine if you use it for city driving and local journeys, but tremendous patience and a lot of spare time is required if you want to cross the country in it.
Best mention the price. With the PICG deducted, our Action trim level 500 with no options costs £22,335. The next most affordable EVs are MG’s ZS crossover and MG5 estate, and Renault’s Zoe. All of those are around 27 grand but do have significantly longer ranges. You can also buy a Fiat 500 with a 42kWh battery that will give a range of just under 200 miles but that car is similar money to the Zoe and MG models.
The electric Fiat 500 is not related to the regular petrol 500 that’s been on our streets since 2007 (we owned two of them, first a hatchback and second a convertible). For starters it is 60mm longer and the same measurement in extra width.
It’s still a diddy car, though. A bit more spacious in the back than the petrol models but still better suited to kids than adults.
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The new Fiat 500 is a superb all-electric city car, and one that should be at the top of your shortlist if you’re in the market for a stylish and immensely capable small EV. The 500 retains all of its familiar Italian flair, and is now even more appealing with updated on-board tech along with a practical real-world range that leaves close rivals lagging behind.
Verdict
Throw in the government’s plug-in car grant incentive and the new 500 offers tremendous value for money. It’s among the best small electric cars currently on sale, and one we can wholeheartedly recommend.
About the new Fiat 500
At first glance, you might think not much has changed with the new Fiat 500 compared to the previous model. Well, you’d only be half right, because although the famous Nuova 500 profile is still easily recognisable, the latest third-generation car has switched to all-electric power.
The new 500 is slightly longer, wider and taller than the previous model, which remains on sale in petrol/mild-hybrid form, and has been developed using an all-new platform, so there are no compromises on valuable interior space which is an issue that can sometimes occur with modified combustion-engined models.
There are arguably only two rivals that are in direct competition with the all-electric 500: the classy MINI Electric will tempt some, while the retro Honda e really stands out from the crowd with its funky styling. Other options that buyers might consider include the PSA Group’s Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa-e, although both perhaps lack the necessary kerb appeal to seal the deal, while the extra practicality of the Renault Zoe is still a compelling choice – even after eight years on sale.
Power for the 500 comes from either a 117bhp or a 94bhp motor, with the former using a 42kWh battery which Fiat calls ‘Long Range’ and the latter a 24kWh ‘City Range’ version. With a claimed maximum of 115 miles from a single charge, the City Range option is suitably named, and you probably won’t be relishing many longer journeys in the cheapest 500. But, upgrading to the bigger battery means you’ll benefit from up to 199 miles (WLTP rated) before you need to stop at a charging point.
Fiat 500 2021 (Image: fiat.co.uk)
Fiat offers three core equipment levels for the 500: Action, Passion and top-spec Icon, while a limited La Prima edition is also available. The entry Action specification is paired with the 94bhp motor, with all other trims are coupled with the 117bhp Long Range set-up.
Prices for the 500 start from around £20,500 and rise to over £27,000, after deducting the government plug-in car grant. There are Convertible versions to consider as well, although these command a premium of around £2,500 to £3,000.
Engines, performance and drive
The Fiat 500 was always a good city car, but it’s been made even better by the adoption of electric power. Key to this improvement is how well Fiat has engineered the 500 to make it such an effortless and uncomplicated car to drive – particularly at slower speeds. One-pedal driving is possible if you choose the right drive mode, helping to take some of the strain of navigating through busy urban streets, while the 500’s drivetrain is reassuringly smooth and quiet on the move.
Refinement is decent for such a small car, although we’d avoid the bigger 17-inch alloy wheels as they create too much fidgeting over the lumps and bumps of typical UK tarmac. The 500 has the ability to take on motorway driving without feeling overly strained, while the only real niggle is the light steering at speed and a slight deadzone through the centre which increases the inputs having to be made.
Fiat has made the on-board tech a real highlight, with the 500 being the first car in its class to feature Level 2 autonomous driving. This means the car is able to adjust acceleration and braking, while also ensuring it remains within the designated lane, although the driver has to be ready to resume control at any time.
Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed
The entry 94bhp 500 version achieves 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds, with a top speed of 84mph. It’s probably worth remembering that this is the ‘City Range’ option, so you probably won’t spend too much time exploring the top end of the speedo dial. Instead, it’s good to know that, with a healthy 220Nm of torque and the typical instant drive associated with all-electric cars, the base 500 is more than capable of keeping up with traffic in and around town.
Moving up to the 117bhp car brings a half-second advantage to 62mph and a 93mph maximum.
Range, charging and running costs
Fiat offers the 93bhp Action version as an entry point to the 500 range, although it comes with a smaller 24kWh ‘City Range’ battery and offers a claimed 115-mile range. You’re probably looking at nearer 100 miles in real world conditions, so you’ll have to work out if it suits your lifestyle, or whether you’d rather stump up an extra £3,500 for the more practical 117bhp mid-range Passion version with a 42kWh ‘Long Range’ set-up and up to 199 miles from a single charge.
During our own test with a Long Range car we saw an estimated 168-mile range from a full charge with the Normal driving mode engaged, however this figure climbed a little when switching to the more efficient Range mode and rose to over 180 miles using the Sherpa setting, which reduces the maximum available power and limits top speed to 50mph.
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The electric supermini segment is getting increasingly competitive, so where does the new Fiat 500 fit in?
Verdict
Since the first generation of the ‘Nuova 500’ was launched in 2007, Fiat’s 500 city car has been a massive success for the Italian brand. The switch to pure-electric power for the third generation model shows that the 500 can move with the times and with plenty of range on offer, it’s up there with the best in its class.
The new Fiat 500 is a huge car for the Turin car maker. Not in physical terms of course – at barely 3.6 metres long it’s still one of the smallest new cars on the road – but it does represent a commitment from Fiat towards electrification. The fact the new third generation model will be EV-only means this little city car is under more pressure than ever to succeed.
It’s not as if the pure-electric Fiat 500 has the segment to itself either. Other retro-styled electric superminis include the recently facelifted MINI Electric and striking Honda e, and this is before you get to the Renault Zoe, Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa-e.
We’ve tested the Fiat 500 electric in convertible guise already in left-hand drive form, but the hatchback version will make more sense in Britain, especially given that it costs between £2,650 to £3,000 less than the fabric-topped model.
In top-spec ‘Icon’ trim, the 500 electric hatchback looks like a winner on paper. With the larger 42kWh battery, you can achieve a WLTP-rated 199 miles on a single charge and thanks to 85kW charging capability, this 500 electric can recharge from 0 to 80 per cent in 35 minutes.
Fiat 500 2021 (Imgae: fiat.co.uk)
The increase in battery size (plus an impressive bump in equipment levels) over the 24kWh £20,495 ‘Action’ base model helps push the price of the range-topping Icon model to £25,495 after the government’s plug-in grant. There’s also a mid-range ‘Passion’ model that starts from £23,995 – which uses the larger battery but does without some of the tech found in the Icon. When you compare against the Honda e’s £28,215 starting price, the Fiat offers great value for money.
Step inside and you’ll find a redesigned cabin with nods to its Turin plant in the centre console and door cards. There’s a bit too much hard black plastic, but other than that it feels light and airy. At least it does up front – the back seats are very cramped. The boot is small too, though the 185 litre volume is still greater than a Honda e. There’s still plenty of physical buttons – including ones which open the door, strangely. The extra room up front over the old model also translates into an lofty driving position with impressive visibility.
On the move the new 500’s light steering and small wheelbase make for an excellent city car. As you’d expect from an electric car, there’s instantaneous torque available too – and with 220Nm, there’s plenty of it. Fairly aggressive brake-regeneration means one-pedal driving is an option in ‘Range’ mode, although flip it into ‘Normal’ and the 500 coasts a bit further – probably the most familiar option for recent converts to pure-electric driving.
With the extra weight of the battery and sitting on optional 17-inch wheels, the ride is slightly busy at low speeds with potholes and bumps sometimes upsetting the otherwise decent refinement. At motorway speeds the ride does settle down further, giving the 500 an ability to soak up longer journeys. Only the light steering remains a slight annoyance at speed with a small deadzone in the centre and inputs having to be made more often than we’d like.
Even with the extra range the larger 42kWh battery offers, charging rates are decent. Find an 85kw charger and the 500 will be able to charge for 0-80 per cent in 35 minutes. The 24kWh battery has a maximum charge rate of 50kWh but it still manages to fill 0-80 per cent in 30 minutes.
Despite being a small city car there’s an abundance of technology. Top-spec Icon models get a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and hands-free entry. Even the mid-range Passion models get a rear view parking camera, lane assist, blind spot warning and adaptive cruise control. Base-spec Action models make-do with a 7-inch infotainment screen but they’re still compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also the £27,495 launch edition ‘La Prima’ which receives all the options the Icon model has, plus numerous safety features, 17-inch wheels and a wireless phone charging pad.
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