Fiat 500 review - a fun and affordable EV city car

Verdict – is the Fiat 500 a good car?

The electric Fiat 500 showed a lot of promise when it launched, but the game has moved on significantly in the few short years it’s been on sale. Now a number of rival EVs boast a longer range, better build quality, more practicality and better performance for the money. The Fiat 500 can’t even rely on retro charm alone anymore, because rivals like the Renault 5 appeal in that sense too.

Fiat 500 models, specs and alternatives

The Fiat 500 city car has long leaned on its retro charm to win over buyers, but in 2019, Fiat decided to launch an all-new version with an electric powertrain, catapulting it into the new decade with a fresh recipe. Unfortunately, it seemed as though the latest 500 arrived too early to the party, and the old mild-hybrid model carried on holding the torch for combustion alongside the 500e EV when sales didn’t take off quite as well as expected.

Top 10 best small electric cars 2025

A few years on and prices have dropped a little to make the 500e more appealing, although there’s still talk of introducing a petrol version to the latest model’s line-up.

Trim levels include the range-topping La Prima, while the entry-level Red trim costs from around £25,000. While it may seem a lot for a Fiat 500, it makes it very competitively priced against rivals like the MINI Cooper, Peugeot E-208 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric.

Two versions of the electric 500 are offered: the entry-level version has a smaller battery and  94bhp. Available as a hatchback or with a retractable fabric roof, the 500 is also the UK's first electric convertible with four seats, but the soft top now increases the list price by a whopping £6,000.

We tested the Fiat 500 in a twin test with the Renault 5 – another retro-inspired EV – and while we were impressed with the Fiat 500 EV when it first launched, it can’t keep up with the more modern 5, which feels better to drive, boasts a longer range for the money, is more practical and feels more sophisticated than the Fiat.

Like other electric cars, if you can stomach the relatively high price for a city car – or more likely find an affordable finance deal – the running costs start to pay dividends immediately. Company car drivers will face small bills and recharging the battery at home costs less than you’d pay for petrol. The range-topping 500's 42kWh battery also gives it a range of up to 199 miles – nine miles further than that of the entry-level MINI Cooper, but behind the Cooper SE’s 250-mile range. If you stick to urban journeys in the Fiat though, the brand claims it can manage a range of up to 285 miles on a charge.

30

With 117bhp and instant pulling power, top versions of the 500 feel effortlessly quick around town, getting up to speed in next to no time. It also has a sharp turning circle and its suspension can cope with most potholes, making it an ideal urban runaround. Its range and up to 85kW fast charging should also make occasional longer trips relatively straightforward.

The less expensive 500 gets a 23.9kWh battery and its official range is 118 miles, increasing to around 150 miles if you stay at city speeds. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 9.5 seconds – half-a-second slower than the more expensive version.

Fiat has been careful to preserve the 500's unmistakable design, despite the car growing in every direction. Most impressively, the addition of a large battery pack hasn't made the cute Fiat look too tall – it's gained only 26mm in height. Meanwhile, features such as split LED headlights lend a modern look. The 500 no longer needs a front grille thanks to its electric powertrain, and this is also reminiscent of early 500s, which had the engine mounted in the rear.

Clean lines extend to the interior, where there's now less clutter and a wider fascia. The infotainment system is far more powerful, thanks to the arrival of U Connect 5, with a digital instrument display and high-definition 10.25-inch touchscreen. Occupants will enjoy more space and there's a better driving position, but the boot remains compact at 185 litres.

30

Safety also takes a leap forward, thanks to new sensors that offer the latest autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping and blind-spot monitoring functionality to help avoid collisions. The electric Fiat 500 has been awarded a four-star Euro NCAP rating, which is a reasonable score for a car of this size; in the same group of tests, the Renault ZOE got rescored to zero stars. Top-spec La Prima versions of the 500 add a 360-degree view and blind-spot monitoring.

If the Fiat 500e is the car for you, check out our sister-title Auto Express' Find a Car service for the latest deals