The segment of electric vehicles in the auto market is getting crowded all around the world however in terms of sales they are still far behind the conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles. To the segment of the electric vehicles, Fiat added a new model named Fiat 500 e as a 2013 model year with a claim that this is a car with no compromise. The car is designed in a way that gives you everything that a conventional high tech car must have but without sticking their heads with the increasing prices of gasoline or diesel fuel. The look of the car is almost same to other models of the 500 lineup however, the height of the car is slightly increased in the comparison with a gas car.
Head Turning Exterior
The look of the 2013 Fiat 500 e is almost similar to the other models of 500 lineup however, it doesn’t mean that one can’t distinguish the electric car from that of gasoline versions. Fiat made certain notable changes to the exterior to help people to distinguish the car easily. The front fascia of the car is complemented with “Dot-Matrix” which is visible enough in black or white body color. Other features include distinctive wheels, redesign side sills, a longer rear spoiler and restyled side mirror caps.
Sexy and Sophisticated Interior
The interior of the 2013 Fiat 500 e is very sophisticated and stylish enough that features “Orange” accents on the dashboard, steering wheel and seats. Fiat offers a new interior scheme with a Steam / white interior with Orange and Black accents. The two door 2013 Fiat 500 e offers good room for four people however, the rear seat is perfect for very short passengers. A notable interior change is the increased legroom and headroom. The car has some technologically improved features such as the gauge cluster is replaced with a 7 inch TFT that delivers everything regarding the Drivetrain of the electric car, a battery gauge on the left side, Tom Tom based navigation system and supportive seats.
Power and Performance
The 2013 Fiat 500 e is an electric version of the traditional Fiat 500 that runs on electricity alone. The car employs an 83 kilo-Watt electric motor paired with 24 kilowatt lithium ion battery pack that generates 111 horsepower and 147 lb ft of torque. Fiat claimed that the 2013 Fiat 500 e will have a range of 87 miles which is the highest range offered by an electric car in the segment. The EPA estimated fuel economy of the 2013 Fiat 500 e is 122 MPGe city and 108 MPGe highway with a combined fuel economy of 116 MPGe.
Fiat offers a two level of chargers with different charging time. The 120 volt Level-1 charger will charge the battery in 24 hours whereas the 240 volt Level-2 charger will reduce the charging time to four hours. The electric motor is mated with a 1-speed automatic transmission and the car accelerate from 0-60 mph in 9.1 seconds at a top speed of 85 mph.
A fast Level-3 charger is not offered by the Fiat currently that will reduce the charging time to 30 minutes however it is expected that the future versions of the 2013 Fiat 500 e will get the option for the convenience of the owners.
Braking
Fiat paid lots of attention to the engineers of the 2013 Fiat 500 e paid great attention to the braking system of the car to replace the driving experience and feel of a conventional gasoline powered Fiat 500. The braking system also improves the recapturing of the energy and also increase the fuel efficiency.
Safety
Dual front, front side, front knee and full length side curtain airbags, brake assist, traction and stability control and tire pressure monitoring system are standard safety features of the 2013 Fiat 500 e.
Pricing and Availability
The 2013 Fiat 500 e comes at a starting base price of $32,500 exclusive all kinds of taxes and incentives and the car will go on sale in summer 2013 only in California.
Market Competitors
The 2013 Fiat 500 e has to compete against Nissan Leaf, Toyota RAV4 EV, Ford Focus EV, Smart ForTwo electric drive and Honda Fit EV.
Pros
- Improved headroom and legroom
- Impressive mileage
- Addition of high tech features
Cons
- Offered only in California
- Pricy in the comparison with rivals
The Verdict
The 2013 Fiat 500 e is a blend of high mileage, impressive fuel efficiency and low charging time that can offer a tough time to its rivals and has potential to attract buyers.