2013 FIAT 500e Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

by the zzdcar Experts

　　

What’s new

　　The 500e is an all-new model for 2013.

　　

zzdcar says

　　The all-electric version of Fiat's 500 hatchback is well suited to city dwellers and presents a charismatic, high-style alternative to many of today's electric cars.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

2013 FIAT 500e EV Insights

Trim:500e Battery Electric

　　Battery Electric 2dr Hatchback (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $31,800 MSRP

　　

Estimated Range Based on Age

　　Not available

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors | OpenStreetMap

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　Exceeded original 8 year warranty.Warranty remaining value is based on the vehicle year, and on driving 14,000 miles per year. Confirm exact warranty coverage for each vehicle with the dealers and the manufacturer before purchasing.

　　

Charging at Home

　　No charging time information available

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$4,000

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$4,000

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer.

　　For the vehicle to qualify: Price cannot exceed $25,000. Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased. Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted. Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.

　　For individuals to qualify: Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status. Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle. Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle. Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.

　　To learn more, visit OpenStreetMap

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$62/mo

　　500e

　　vs

　　$161/mo

　　Car Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　

Vehicle overview

　　The current Fiat 500 has steadily amassed an adoring fan base that appreciates its nostalgic styling and city-friendly packaging. New for 2013, the all-electric Fiat 500e (yes, the "e" stands for electric) is an effort to add a few eco-minded drivers to the fold of Cinquecento devotees. They'll all be Californians, too, as Fiat plans to sell the 500e only in the Golden State initially.

　　Owning an electric car presents obvious challenges: EVs typically cost much more than their gasoline-powered counterparts, and you can't drive them as many miles before you have to recharge. Buying a pint-size Fiat 500 comes with its own challenges, the biggest of which is limited room for rear-seat passengers and cargo.

　　Neither set of problems is overcome on the all-electric version of the 500. In fact, with the battery pack and other related components gobbling up a fair chunk of what little backseat and cargo space the 500 offers to begin with, the 2013 Fiat 500e is effectively rendered a two-seater. On the other hand, the 500e boasts an EPA-estimated range of 87 miles, an above-average number for an EV. Further, Fiat says its EV hatchback can fully charge in less than four hours from a 240-volt outlet, also a good figure for this class. What's more, the 500e looks as sporty and chic as any other Fiat 500 and it basically drives like one, too.

　　Like other EVs, the 2013 Fiat 500e looks expensive at first glance, but once you add up the various federal, state and local government incentives (plus manufacturer rebates that Fiat plans to offer), the automaker insists it won't cost you much more than a comparably equipped gas-powered 500. Early adopters will also have access to a compelling lease program. Plus, there's Fiat's 500e Pass program, which grants 500e owners free access to rental cars for up to 12 days annually. That way, you're covered when you require a larger vehicle or want to take a road trip.

　　Overall, the charming and stylish Fiat 500e represents an attractive proposition for city dwellers wanting to make the switch to electric-powered transportation. However, if you live anywhere besides California, you'll have to look to the more widely available OpenStreetMap, OpenStreetMap or OpenStreetMap instead.

　　

Performance & mpg

　　The 2013 Fiat 500e has an 83-kilowatt electric motor capable of 111 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. It's powered by a 24kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The Fiat's transmission is a single-speed unit operated via push-buttons on the dashboard.

　　The 500e should be able to make it about 87 miles on a charge according to the EPA, which compares favorably with the Fit EV (82 miles), electric Focus (76 miles) and Leaf (75 miles). The EPA gives the Fiat 500e an energy consumption estimate of 29 kWh per 100 miles rating (the lower the kWh number, the better here), which is on par with the Honda and Nissan. That translates to MPGe figures of 122 mpg city/108 mpg highway and 116 MPGe combined, which are good numbers for this class but slightly behind those of the Fit EV.

　　Fiat says the 500e can fully recharge in less than four hours on a 240-volt outlet. That's as quick as a Leaf (with a 6.6kW charger), but a bit longer than the Fit EV. If you have to plug into a 120-volt circuit, though, estimated charging time goes up to "less than 24 hours."

　　Even though it's heavier than the base gasoline 500, the 2013 500e should accelerate to 60 mph in about 9 seconds, according to Fiat. That would make it about as quick as the Fit EV.

　　

Safety

　　The 2013 Fiat 500e comes standard with antilock brakes (four-wheel discs), stability and traction control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag and active front head restraints. Rear parking sensors are also standard.

　　

Driving

　　Thanks to the instantaneous torque of the 111-hp electric motor, the 500e feels quick from a stop and pulls briskly to highway speeds. Once you're on the highway, though, the rate of acceleration drops off considerably as you approach the car's top speed of 85 mph. The various aerodynamic enhancements not only reduce drag, but they also contribute to a quiet cabin. Even the regenerative brakes feel very natural, which is a nice surprise because EVs often have odd braking characteristics.

　　With most of its mechanical weight set low in the chassis, the 500e has a respectable 53/47 front-to-rear weight distribution, and it goes around turns with much the same eagerness as the gas-powered 500. The only major dynamic shortcoming is the overly light steering, which offers little feedback. It won't be a big deal to most consumers, but more demanding drivers might find the 2013 Fiat 500e a bit less fun than the standard car.

　　

Interior

　　The Fiat 500e comes generously trimmed with perforated leatherette upholstery with a nifty retro-inspired contrasting gradient pattern. Orange accents abound, whether you choose the white or black primary color scheme, and a coordinated, matte-finished body-color dashboard panel is standard. All 500e models ordered with the white interior theme also wear white-accented front and rear fascias and a white rear spoiler.

　　Drivers face a unique 7-inch, circular instrument cluster displaying power output, driving range, energy use, the battery pack's state of charge, speed, gear selection, mobile phone connection status and more.

　　Not surprisingly, the battery and associated electrical components eat into cabin space, which is already at a premium. Rear legroom shrinks 4 inches compared with the standard 500, while total cargo space (with the rear seats folded) is down to 26.3 cubic feet from 30.2 cubes. While the 500e is technically a four-passenger car, it is truly comfortable for only two.

　　

2013 FIAT 500e models

　　The subcompact 500e is available as a two-door hatchback and offered in a single, well-equipped trim level. It shares most of its exterior components with the standard, gasoline-powered 500, but wears unique front and rear fascias, wider side sills, smooth underbody components, a rear spoiler and distinct 15-inch wheels, all tuned specifically for aerodynamics.

　　Standard features include heated mirrors, solar-tinted glass, keyless entry, automatic climate control, full power accessories, cruise control, manually adjustable heated front seats with driver-side height adjustment, leatherette/cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped tilt-adjustable steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and 50/50 split-folding rear seats. The standard electronics array includes rear parking sensors; a handheld TomTom navigation system with a 4.3-inch touchscreen that attaches to the 500e's dash (it can scan nearby charging stations and determine availability in real time); and a 276-watt, six-speaker Alpine audio system with a CD player, satellite radio, a USB/iPod port and an auxiliary audio jack.

　　A sunroof is optional, as is the e-Sport appearance package, which provides darkened exterior lamp bezels, orange exterior trim pieces and orange-accented wheels for a more customized look.

　　

2013 500e Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$31,800
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,000
Engine Type	Electric
Cost to Drive	$62/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	7.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles
EV Battery Warranty	8 years / 100,000 miles