So how much is Fiat's latest EV technology going to cost you? Well, as you'd expect, a fair bit more than you'd pay for the continuing mild hybrid petrol combustion 500 model, which at the time of our test in late Summer 2021 retailed from around £13,500 in hatchback form. From launch, a hatchback New 500 EV was pitched from just over £20,000 after deduction of the usual £2,500 government Plug-in car Grant - but that only gets you the base 'Action'-specced variant featuring a smaller 24kWh battery with a lesser 115 mile driving range - a derivative only offered in hatchback form and one that few customers for this car will want.
The 42kWh battery model we tried with its 186 to 199 mile range is the version you'll probably be looking at - and that costs quite a bit more again. The spec level nearly everyone chooses with this car is 'Icon' trim, a variant which comes with grant-deducted figures of around £26,000 for the hatchback version - or just under £29,000 if you want this Fiat as a Convertible, with a fabric-folding sunroof-style top. If you can afford more, the brand also offers an even better-equipped 'La Prima' variant - costing £2,000 extra in either case.
Across the 42kWh model range, you get the brand's latest 'U connect 5' 10.25-inch centre-dash infotainment screen, which is fully connected and based on the Android operating system. It includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone-mirroring. The 'La Prima'-spec model comes with a panoramic glass roof, full-LED headlights, 17-inch diamond-cut wheels and chrome-plated side panel inserts. It will be offered with three exclusive paint shades. Inside, there's eco-leather upholstery for the dashboard and the seats.
Safety kit includes big car-style features like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree parking assist system. As an option, Fiat is offering an intelligent adaptive cruise control system, which combines automatic lane keeping and a feature that will keep you a predefined distance from the vehicle ahead.
