Fiat's highly charged bambino doesn't come cheap

Good things come in small packages. And there are very few packages smaller than Fiat's 500.

The Italian auto-making giant that delivers legendary marques such as Ferrari and Maserati, is also the source of this little dynamo - the remarkable Fiat 500E.

Remarkable?

Well, as the world's first micro machine it has been part of the motoring landscape throughout Europe, as well as in far off places like Australia, for almost 70 years since its launch in 1957.

Yet after all that time it brings as much adoration, style and joy to the driving public as the day the first model rolled off the production line.

How things have changed with the former two-cylinder, rear-mounted engine "bambino" now lining up alongside hundreds of models joining the EV queue.

Yes, the 500 is going electric.

It goes without saying that the bathtub-sized, doe-eyed three-door is the cutest model to have added an electric option to its buyer appeal. It feels as if it should be running on those little AA nine-volt batteries.

Instead, it gets a 42 kilowatt-hours electric motor driving the front wheels with a modest 87kW and 220Nm. Which, as it turns out, is plenty of poke to make this fun car even more so.

At a quick glance it looks pretty much as the car has done since the middle of last century but the "500" embossed into the grille, LED headlights and big alloy wheels reveal its EV DNA.

The model was relaunched Down Under in 2007 when it became part of the Stellantis brand to emerge from the ruins of the global financial crisis.

That turned out to be quite a generous parting gift from those American marques to their new Italian rivals.

Tiny, stylish and incredibly cute, the 500 MKII has earned a cult following, particularly for its nostalgic appeal and because it is so well suited to the often-narrow European roads.

More than 70,000 electric-powered 500s were sold in Europe in 2023, so clearly the recipe has lost none of its appeal, even if its lost its engine.

Inside, the cockpit layout is the biggest change. Gone are the signature dash panels finished in the same exterior paint. The treatment of the grille and front end is also a major shift, with a very cool 500 emblem dominating the grille, and the reshaped headlights and other bonnet fixings to give it a very kitty-like 'face'.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the price. The tested La Prima is the only electric version offered Down Under and sports a hefty price tag of $52,500.

That raises the question of whether it's the world's most expensive micro-car (it probably is) or the cheapest European EV model on the market (it might be).

The second school of thought can be backed in part due to the fact it has picked up plenty of additional features and luxury items.

The cost puts it at least $20,000 more than some of its equally cute and cuddly rivals from China and Korea. But the Fiat brings plenty of sophistication, class and driving engagement.

As well as beautiful leather seats and classy interior finishes, there's even a push-button door opener. How cool! It's just a pity that the car's compact design necessitates such big, long doors to allow rear-seat access.

The test machine came with another push-button feature - the transmission, which seems an odd thought and was a bit cantankerous until it became familiar. Imagine the type of buttons found on radio or climate controls.

Dynamically, the 500E is easy to love.

Despite its minute size, it's absolutely no slouch with Fiat claiming it will reach 100km/h in nine seconds but, as is the case with any car of such tiny dimensions, it feels much more fleet-footed.

The 500 recharges quite quickly, going from about 40 per cent to full in less than two hours.

There's also a clever little display on the dash advising how much more time is required until full charge is achieved - something that's mere guesswork in higher-cost, higher-spec EVs.

Fiat claims a driving range of up to 311km when fully charged, which is at the lower end of the market.

The 500E is not without its flaws, and is an expensive vanity exercise whose flaws are likely to be happily overlooked by its target market.

Its green credentials marry up perfectly to the EV power source, which most likely will include 'teal' voters for whom the price will be no obstacle.

It will undoubtedly appeal to people looking for a fun, high-end city car that can drive all day without the need to plug it in until weekends.

Saving the planet has never been so much fun.

FIAT 500E LA PRIMA

* HOW BIG? Not quite claustrophobic, but snug. It's possible to squeeze in four adults, but two would be more comfortable. Great for parking.

* HOW FAST: The electric motor will swish it to the speed limit in a leisurely nine seconds, but it's zippy in traffic and surprisingly well at home on the open road.

* HOW THIRSTY? It will travel more than 300km before needing a recharge. Urbanites can expect a week of driving before plugging into a regular wall socket.

* HOW MUCH: Not cheap at $52,500.