Car news! FIAT 500e Hatchback

FIAT 500e Hatchback

Full 2014 FIAT 500e Review

What's New for 2014

The 2014 Fiat 500e carries over unchanged.

Introduction

The prospect of avoiding gas stations can be an appealing one, especially if you live in a congested urban area. Just plug in your electric vehicle while you work or sleep and it'll be ready to drive the next time you are. The 2014 Fiat 500e hatchback satisfies this desire while offering all the style and personality of the regular, gasoline-powered Fiat 500.

Indeed, shoppers ready to embrace the inherent challenges of electric car ownership will likely find Fiat's EV quite enjoyable to drive. The 500e actually handles better than the gasoline-powered version, and its electric motor delivers immediate torque, which makes for noticeably quicker acceleration in any situation. What's more, the 2014 Fiat 500e can fully charge in four hours when plugged into a 240-volt outlet. Combine that with its above-average 87-mile rated range and it stacks up well against its all-electric rivals in the practicality department.

As much as we like driving the electric Fiat 500, the fact that it's only available to California residents is an obvious downside. And realistically, this two-door hatchback is only a two-passenger car. Yes, the 500e has four seats, but because of the intrusion of its battery pack, the rear seat isn't anywhere near as roomy or useful as the standard 500's backseat. And although the electric Fiat has cool, distinctive interior trim, it's still like the regular 500 in that there's an abundance of hard plastic, and the layout of the radio controls isn't exactly ergonomic.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The subcompact 500e is available as a two-door hatchback and is offered in a single, well-equipped trim level. It shares most of its exterior components with the standard, gasoline-powered 500, but wears unique front and rear fascias, wider side sills, smooth underbody components, a rear spoiler and distinct 15-inch alloy wheels, all tuned specifically for aerodynamics.

Standard features include heated mirrors, solar-tinted glass, keyless entry, automatic climate control, full power accessories, cruise control, manually adjustable heated front seats with driver-side height adjustment, vinyl (leatherette)/cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped tilt-adjustable steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and 50/50 split-folding rear seats. The standard electronics array includes rear parking sensors, Bluetooth phone connectivity, USB/iPod integration, an auxiliary audio jack, a six-speaker Alpine audio system with a CD player, satellite radio, and a handheld TomTom navigation system with a 4.3-inch touchscreen that attaches to the 500e's dash (it can scan nearby charging stations and determine availability in real time).

A sunroof is optional, as is the e-Sport appearance package, which provides darkened exterior lamp bezels, orange exterior trim pieces and orange-accented wheels for a more customized look.