Emotion Over Logic? The Dilemma of the 2024 Fiat 500e
You’ve got to truly love the 2024 Fiat 500e to want to drive this little car. The styling is pure Fiat, which appeals to some drivers, but once you get past the styling, you’ve got to wonder if you’re looking with emotion or logic.
The price could put the 2024 Fiat 500e out of range
This small Fiat EV starts at $34,000 and has very few options. This is close to what you should expect to pay for this car. Although that might sound like more than you want to pay, it’s not overpriced for an EV, but for its driving range. The Fiat 500e uses a 42-kWh battery pack that gives it 149 miles of driving range. This makes it a decent city car, but it is s an emotional and illogical choice.
This little Fiat doesn’t qualify for the federal EV tax credit
Regulations and restrictions have gotten stricter in 2024, and many EVs no longer qualify for the federal EV tax credit. The Fiat 500e is one of those models that doesn’t receive this incentive. That means comparing the MSRP of a qualifying vehicle with the Fiat could quickly bring a more expensive vehicle within range of this Fiat. Here are a few examples:
2024 Tesla Model 3 Highland
This Tesla Model 3 has an MSRP of $40,630, but once you apply the federal EV tax credit, the price is $33,130. The Tesla Model 3 is roomier and more powerful than the Fiat. Depending on the trim and powertrain setup chosen, the Model 3’s driving range is between 272 and 358 miles.
2024 Volkswagen ID.4
It’s easy to find a roomier electric vehicle that costs less than the Fiat 500e. The base price for the Volkswagen ID.4 is $40,290, but once the tax credit is applied, that cost comes down to $32,790. This small VW SUV has a minimum driving range of 282 miles. This gives you more than 100 miles over the Fiat.
2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV
One of the newest EVs in the market is the Chevrolet Equinox EV. This little SUV brings the potential of Super Cruise, a large 17.7-inch infotainment screen, and a price that beat the Fiat by several thousand dollars. Before the federal EV tax credit, the Equinox EV cost $36,390. This means it should come in around $28,890 after this credit. The Equinox EV also boasts a range of 250 miles or more, depending on the trim.
2024 Hyundai Kona Electric
Although the Hyundai Kona Electric doesn’t qualify for the federal EV tax credit, the starting price is $34,010, putting it in range with the Fiat 500e. This subcompact electric SUV returns at least 197 miles of driving range. The Long Range models reaching 260 miles on a single charge. The Kona is larger than the 500e, putting it in a class ahead of the Fiat.
The 2024 Fiat 500e is a small electric car that could be a good city car, but it’s more of an emotional choice than a logical decision.
Sources: Green Car Reports, MotorTrend
