Fiat 500E 24 kWh test: why the small battery is a good deal

Compared to other electric cars in the classification of real consumption, the Fiat 500 electric 118 hp is located in the middle of the peloton, tied with the Kia e-Soul and in front of the Opel Corsa and the Volkswagen Id.3 (17.2 kWh/100 km – 5.8 km/kWh), just to stay among the VE compacts.

Fiat 500 electric, the actual consumption test

Fast, refined and technological, the electric Fiat 500 is an icon of style. What about its consumption ?

February 18, 2022 at 1:30 p.m
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Fiat 500 electric is the best -selling electric car in Italy. It is also one of the best -selling in Europe. For this success, it deserves an in -depth examination of its actual consumption and autonomy.

On the classic Rome-Force route (by winter temperatures), the small Turin car records an average consumption of 15.9 kWh/100 km, which is equivalent to a mileage of 6.29 km/kWh and an expense of € 12.93 If you recharge from a domestic socket. Rather based on the network of HPC high power charging stations like ionity, The price of the same journey goes to € 45.22.

In the middle of the consumption classification

Compared to other electric cars in the classification of real consumption, the Fiat 500 electric 118 hp is located in the middle of the peloton, tied with the Kia e-Soul and in front of the Opel Corsa and the Volkswagen Id.3 (17.2 kWh/100 km – 5.8 km/kWh), just to stay among the VE compacts.

Better than the new Fiat 500 electric, we find the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range more tested during the same winter season (14.7 kWh/100 km – 6.8 km/kWh), the Nissan Leaf 40 kWh (13.1 kWh /100 km – 7.6 km/kWh), the Hyundai Kona Electric 64 kWh (12.0 kWh/100 km – 8.3 km/kWh) and the Renault Zoe Intense R135 Queen tested in summer and capable of reaching 11 , 0 kWh/100 km (9.0 km/kWh).

Quality, comfort, emblematic style and technology

The Fiat 500 electric tested is in icon + finish with some options such as three -layer metallic paint, 17 -inch alloy rims and Magic Eyes packs, style and comfort. Thus equipped, the 500 battery, which is brand new compared to the 500 petrol 500 and whose dimensions have increased slightly, is offered to around € 37,400.

Habitability is also a little improved, but the trunk and the space for rear passengers remain limited. The materials, the design and the finish of the outside and the interior are high, reflecting a style that is both iconic and technological. Connectivity, infotainment and driving aids are advanced and only the adaptive cruise control is difficult to use because it is forcibly linked to the speed limitations in force in force.

Comfort, handling and performance are good, just like rolling silence, ease of handling and driving pleasure.

200 km of autonomy on average

The 42 kWh battery has an effective useful capacity of 37.3 kWh and gives the Fiat 500 an average autonomy in real conditions of approximately 200 km. Autonomy is reduced to around 150 km on a highway and can reach a maximum of 250 km on an ideal course at a constant and reduced speed in economical mode.

Consumption and mileage also change considerably when driving at higher external temperatures, as is the case for all electric cars. The Ionity Raple DC HPC Recharge Test, which can reach a declared maximum power of 85 kW, has reached a 65 kW peak; sufficient, however, to reach 80 % battery load in just over 30 minutes.

Consumption and autonomy in various driving situations

• Urban : 16.9 kWh/100 km (5.9 km/kWh)
  220 km of autonomy
• Mixed urban and extra-urban: 17.4 kWh/100 km (5.7 km/kWh)
  212 km of autonomy
• Motorway : 23.3 kWh/100 km (4.2 km/kWh)
  156 km of autonomy
• Eco driving : 12.9 kWh/100 km (7.7 km/kWh)
  287 km of autonomy
• Maximum consumption : 50.0 kWh/100 km (1.0 km/kWh)
  74 km of autonomy

Technical sheet

Data

Model : Fiat 500 electric icon +
Starting price : € 32,900
Test date: 02/11/2022
Weather (departure/arrival): Sunny, 13 °/ sunny, 8 °
Fuel price: 0.2259 Euro/kWh (electricity)
Number of kilometers traveled: 898 km
Mileage at the start of the test: 4,361 km
Average speed during the test: 76 km/h
Tires: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 – 205/45 R17 88V M+S (Label UE: D, B, 72 DB)

Consumption

“Real” average: 15.90 kWh/100 km (6.29 km/kWh)
Board computer : 15.90 kWh/100 km
At the pump: – KWH/100 km
Find out how our actual consumption test is done.

Costs to use

“Real” expense: € 12.93 on a domestic outlet (€ 45.22 full Ionity rate)
Monthly expense: € 28.73 on a domestic outlet (€ 100.49 full Ionity rate) for 800 km
How many kilometers for 20 € ? 557 km if loading at home (159 km full price ionity)
How many kilometers with a full ? 235 km

Fiat 500E 24 kWh test: why the small battery is a good deal

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This model interests you ?
Fiat 500E 24 kWh test: why the small battery is a good deal

You are less than 100 km per day and you think of electric ? For daily trips, this 500 electric first price ensures with enthusiasm.

• Preserved approval and performance
• Vivacity and size in town
• Cost of use
• Reasonable recharge time

• Not made for the highway (90 km of autonomy)
• Perfectible braking
• Rear and riquiqui trunk seats
• No steering wheel adjustable in depth

Which can most can the least. But sometimes the least is enough when you have well evaluated your needs, especially mobility. For a car that is used above all to go to work, race and/or go get children at school, choosing a small battery electric is a sensible idea. At Fiat, the electric 500 is offered with two battery capacities. With the largest (37.3 kWh usable), the Italian does not appear at less than € 31,700 before bonus – which will drop from 6,000 to 5,000 € on July 1. But with the 23.8 kWh small, the price drops to € 26,200, or from € 119 per month for long -term rental under conditions. Given the price of fuel today that deserves reflection, even if it is necessary to assume the small radius of action of the Fiat. According to our measurements, its battery is empty after 175 km of town (243 km with the 37.3 kWh), 128 km of road (against 178 km) or only 90 km of motorway (instead of 150 km). Distances still shortened in winter – the batteries do not like the cold – but also in summer by generously using air conditioning. However, for a car dedicated to small daily trips it is enough from the moment you can recharge at home and/or at work. All with a Lilliputian use budget, this 500th with small battery being content with 16 kWh on average, or € 2.48, per 100 km. It is better than the 37.3 kWh variant (21.75 kWh per 100 km, costing € 3.37)… not to mention the € 11.90 required by a 500 Hybrid, with a SP E10 at € 1.95/ liter.

Less powerful, no less nice

In addition to its smaller battery, the electric 500 also composes with a less powerful electric motor, 95 hp instead of 118 hp. But, behind the wheel, the loss is minimal. First of all because the available torque is the same (220 nm). Then thanks to its significantly more reasonable weight of 1200 kg, when its big sister admits 1,365 kg. Acceleration losses (+ 0.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h) and recovery (+ 0.7 seconds from 80 to 120 km/h) are barely noticeable and This 500 remains this cheerful city car which starts quickly in the green light and safely exceeds on the road. This is a chip always as pleasant to live in, whose liveliness is appreciated as much in the city as on the road. Especially since the more reasonable weight makes it more balanced to the adhesion limits, Knowing that the anti -slip ESP does not hesitate to act vigorously so that this fiat with very short wheelbase (2,32 m) is not found in annoying posture. For the rest, this small battery variant remains an electric 500. That is to say that‘You have to get used to its strong steering assistance, its damping sometimes lacking in sweetness, and also in its braking. In normal mode, the latter lack of progressiveness and we do not benefit from any regenerative brake. To have it, you have to switch to a range or sherpa (which maximizes autonomy but deactivates beyond 80 km/h). There, nothing but lifting the foot of the accelerator is enough to decelerate frankly, until you stop the car. Except that it is difficult to avoid jerks that may indiscriminate your passengers.

Small battery = faster load

But that does not prevent the little fiat from being pleasant to live, Much more modern than its thermal sisters, displays a pleasant interior presentation and an acceptable driving position despite the absence of in -depth adjustment of the steering wheel. The rear seats are mainly aimed at children and the trunk is not very large (150 dm³). In exchange, its small size (3.63 m) and its good robbery diameter (9.7 m) appreciate in town. And When recharging, its small battery becomes an advantage, since on our 7.4 kWh socket, it only took us 3 h 30 minutes to return to 100%.