After a long hiatus, Fiat returns with an all-new 500e for the 2024 model year. The Italian brand has high hopes for this efficient hot hatch, which represents its sole 2024 model year offering in the United States.

What’s New for the 2024 Fiat 500e

The Fiat 500e is the Stellantis family’s first effort at a fully battery electric vehicle for North America, and it comes at a time when the brand’s been all but forgotten. The previous Fiat 500e was discontinued after the 2019 model year. It’s wider and longer than the discontinued gas-only version of the Fiat 500, meaning it offers improvements in passenger and cargo space, yet Fiat claims the 2024 500e is the lightest vehicle in the segment.

Design

The 2024 Fiat 500e features the 500’s familiar profile, slightly upsized. Not only does the larger greenhouse yield a bigger cabin, it offers better views of the road and surrounding traffic, though the two-door design yields a tight squeeze for entry. LED lighting comes standard, front and rear, with new designs, and electronically latching flush door handles contribute to the sleek and modern look, as well as the aerodynamic shape that helps maximize efficiency. The Fiat 500e comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels with a diamond-cut design. The first models on sale will be a limited RED edition to benefit the Global Fund for global health, while upcoming versions, Inspired By Beauty and Inspired By Music, will feature exclusive Rose Gold and Piano Black color schemes, respectively.

Powertrain

The Fiat 500e features a 42-kWh battery and electric motor, for a combined 117 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The estimated range is 149 miles and can be replenished on a Level 2 charger in six hours, or from zero to 85% on a DC fast charger about 35 minutes. The 500e features a standard 11-kW onboard charger. The 500e comes with the choice of a Level 2 wall charger or charging credits.

Interior

The 2024 Fiat 500e is a snug fit for four passengers and offers scant cargo capacity at just 8.3 cubic feet. Its design is sporty, with lots of Italian-inspired elements, and each version will get unique details suited to the car’s theme. The RED version, for example, features a red dashboard.

Technology

The 2024 500e features Stellantis’ Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which is one of the more user-friendly systems available. It’s housed in a 10.3-inch touchscreen, and there’s also a digital 7.0-inch driver-information display. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and device charging are all wireless, and dual-phone connectivity comes standard. The Music edition features a JBL audio system.

Safety

The 2024 Fiat 500e includes automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist. The Inspired By Beauty and Inspired By Music editions will feature a Level 2 driver-assistance system, the first in its segment and Fiat’s first in North America. This system works on select roads to assist the driver with a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Fiat 500e has not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as of this writing.

Pricing

Fiat is selling the 2024 500e with a “product drop” strategy, like the launch of a new limited-edition sneaker. So far, three “drops” have been announced. As of this writing, the Fiat (500e)RED is expected to be available in early 2024, with an MSRP of $32,500, not including a $1,595 destination fee. The Inspired By Beauty and Inspired By Music models will be available later in 2024, both with an MSRP of $36,000. It’s worth noting that the later, higher-priced editions do include more advanced driver-assistance technology.