The Smallest Electric Car You Can Buy Isn’t a Nissan or Mini
Searching for an electric car is not just about Tesla anymore. After all, not everyone can afford a performance-driven EV that costs over $40,000. Those looking for something smaller and cheaper could find what they need in a Nissan Leaf or a Mini Cooper SE, but they aren’t the smallest electric vehicles in the market. For the smallest EV possible, buyers can now look under the Stellantis umbrella.
Which Stellantis model is the smallest EV you can buy?
Although trucks and SUVs are still the most popular vehicles in the market, small cars are making a comeback. And with the surge of electric vehicles currently in the market and due out in the future, we wouldn’t be surprised if Americans start wanting small EVs. After all, the thought of plugging in a tiny electric car feels much akin to plugging in a fancy toaster, as many drivers see them as transportation devices.
That said, the smallest EV to hit the market in a while is the forthcoming 2024 Fiat 500e. That’s right, Stellantis is bringing back the cuteness with the Fiat 500 city car, which we haven’t seen since 2019. This time, it’s only offered as a 500e, meaning it’s a fully electric vehicle powered by a 117-hp motor juiced up by a 32.3-kWh battery pack. It’s also very small.
We don’t have the specific dimensions for the 2024 model, but it looks to be about the same size as the last iteration of the Fiat 500. In that case, the 500e could be 144 inches long and 64 inches wide, which is 10 inches shorter and narrower than the 2024 Mini Cooper SE. By comparison, the 2023 Nissan Leaf is much larger than the two, with its 176-inch length and 71-inch width.
How much range will the 2024 Fiat 500e get?
Stellantis hasn’t released too much information on the 2024 Fiat 500e yet. But the editors at Car and Driver speculate that the Fiat 500e should achieve around 150 miles per charge when it’s released in the U.S. Admittedly, that pales in comparison to the Nissan Leaf’s available 250-mile range, but it would be more than the 2024 Mini Cooper SE’s 114-mile range.
What else will the Fiat 500e have?
Aside from its city-friendly size, the 2024 Fiat 500e is slated to come with plenty of new features. Its interior has an upscale new look that features contemporary tech features. Some of those features include a large 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument panel, wireless Apple Carplay/Android Auto, and an onboard navigation system.
When will the Fiat 500e show up at dealerships?
There is no concrete data as to when we can expect to see the 2024 Fiat 500e show up in dealer showrooms. The editors at MotorTrend say that the production version of the 500e will be shown at the 2023 LA Auto Show later this year, so it’s safe to say that dealers should be getting them in the first part of 2024.
It’s worth noting, though, that Fiat doesn’t plan to sell a lot of 500e models on this side of the pond. Since it’s selling well in European countries, the Stellantis brand is bringing the car here not because they “have to” but because they “want to.” That said, the 500e won’t be available in every state in the U.S. So, those wanting the smallest EV may have to travel to get their hands on the 2024 500e.
