The Fiat 500 Went Electric-Only, and Rivals Caught Up Fast

The review is clear on the fundamentals: this is a genuinely likeable, well-resolved small electric car — just one that's now competing against a field of rivals offering more for less.

Illustration for editorial purposes

A Familiar Face, Nothing Underneath Carried Over

Few shapes on the road are as instantly recognisable as this one, which makes it easy to assume the electric version is just an updated version of the classic car. It isn't — every component underneath is new, sharing nothing with the model it visually references.

Specs at a Glance

Body style	Electric city car (hatch or convertible)
Battery options	24kWh or 42kWh
Charging	Up to 85kW on the 42kWh battery
Price range (new)	From around £25,035
Body dimensions	61mm longer, 56mm wider, 29mm taller than the previous petrol 500

Full Review Summary

Top Gear

Top Gear rated the styling as a genuine success, avoiding parodic cuteness while still clearly referencing the original shape, and found it particularly effective in brighter colour options now that Fiat has moved away from more muted paint choices. They measured the larger 42kWh battery's charging at up to 85kW, giving roughly 100 miles of range in just over 15 minutes on a suitably fast charger, though noted most UK rapid chargers only offer 50kW in practice. Their clearest criticism was pricing: at over £25,000, it sits close to or above cheaper rivals like the Dacia Spring, Citroën ë-C3, Renault 5, and even the roomier MG4, several of which offer more range for less money.

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Trims & Engines at a Glance

Fiat reintroduced a petrol option for 2026 — the 500 Hybrid — alongside the 500e, so the range is no longer electric-only as it briefly was.

Derivative	Engine	Power	Transmission	Body	0–62mph
500e (24kWh) Action	Single electric motor, FWD	94bhp	Single-speed automatic	Hatchback	9.5s
500e (42kWh) Icon / La Prima	Single electric motor, FWD	118bhp	Single-speed automatic	Hatchback, Convertible	9.0s
500 Hybrid Icon / La Prima / Torino	1.0L 3-cyl mild-hybrid petrol, FWD	65bhp	6-speed manual	Hatchback, Convertible	16.2s

Trim walk runs Action → Icon → La Prima on the electric car, with a Torino launch edition added on the Hybrid. A wide range of colours is offered on both. Check Fiat's UK configurator for current pricing.

Strengths

Genuinely distinctive, well-resolved styling
Fast charging available on the larger battery
Easy, familiar driving characteristics for a first-time EV buyer
Wide range of personalisation options

Weak points

Pricing sits above several cheaper, longer-range rivals
Smaller battery's range is modest even by city car standards
Most UK public chargers won't unlock the fastest charging speed

Who It Actually Suits

Buyers drawn specifically to the styling and brand character who don't mind paying a premium over rivals offering more range for less. Worth cross-shopping the Renault 5, MG4 and Citroën ë-C3 directly on price and range before committing.