FIAT Builds the 500e Again and Adds a 500h, but Which is Better?
The FIAT 500e is back after production was paused in 2025, but this time around it attracts the EV Car Grant. The production pause was to retool the factory to make a mild hybrid petrol version of the 500e, and in a first for FIAT, they reversed engineered an EV platform to accommodate an internal combustion engine, gearbox, clutch, starter, exhaust etc.
For a while, FIAT ran two completely different versions of the 500. The 500e, launched back in 2020 and sat on bespoke EV architecture, but it was a completely different car to the petrol version that was sold alongside it, being slightly bigger, and a lot more posh inside, as well as being dynamically the better car to drive.
But FIAT ended production of its petrol 500 in 2024 in Tychy, Poland, after being on sale for 17 years without a new platform, or major refresh.
FIAT 500 Hybrid
After a short manufacturing hiatus of both versions - and some retooling of its Mirafiori Plant in Turin, Italy, where the 500e was made - FIAT can now offer customers the all-new petrol hybrid version of the electric car following a two year wait.
It also caused the 500e to pause production briefly for the factory retooling, but has now returned with a lower asking price thanks to the EV Car grant, plus the mild hybrid version is now built alongside it in Italy.
Fiat 500 [Mild] Hybrid
There are little visual clues between the 500 [mild] hybrid and the electric version. In fact, FIAT have even hidden the exhaust pipe from view at the back, with the Hybrid badge giving the only visual clue.
Drivetrain and Performance
The reason for referring to the Hybrid as a mild hybrid is because that’s exactly what it is. Rather than the hybrid drivetrain powering the wheels and covering short distances in electric mode only via a high voltage battery (often between 1 and 2 kWh), the technology that FIAT has developed uses a 1.0-litre three-cylinder non-turbo FireFly petrol engine paired with a 12-volt mild-hybrid system and a six-speed manual transmission.
This set-up produces 65 horse power and 92 Nm of torque, so it’s not going to rock anyone’s boat on the performance front. But I feel this “Hybrid” version needs a little explaining to understand why this is a mild hybrid and not a full Hybrid, as found in Toyota’s, for example.
How the FIAT 500 Hybrid System Works
The electric motor is connected via a belt designed specifically for recovering small amounts of energy during deceleration and braking, which it stores in a small 12-volt lithium-ion battery (0.13 kWh).
This stored energy is used to assist the engine during acceleration and to power the start-stop system.
It never drives the wheels on electricity alone, unlike a full hybrid which does, thanks to its significantly larger battery.
To summarise, the electric assistance that this set-up provides is perhaps so minimal that its imperceptible.
Both the electric and hybrid versions can be purchased as a hatchback or convertible. But here’s where the good news starts to fizzle out, because the petrol [mild] hybrid version is a bit of a tortoise on the move, with the hatchback managing to crawl to 60 mph from a standstill in 16.2 seconds, but the convertible is even slower at 17.3 seconds. Scrambled egg has been cooked faster!
Fuel economy is rated at 54.3 mpg, which given this is being sold as a Hybrid (rather than the mild hybrid that it is), this figure seems low when compared to the Toyota Aygo X full hybrid (referred to by Toyota as a Self-Charging Hybrid) which offers a more respectable 76 mpg for similar money.
Trims
Available in three trims for both the Hatchback, and Convertible – starting with ICON, Launch Edition and the posh LA PRIMA trim.
Fiat 500 Hybrid ICON: £18,995
Features such as Automatic Climate Control, 16" Alloy Wheels, Uconnect™ Infotainment Touchscreen 10,25'' with DAB Radio, Rear Parking Sensors and Front USB-A Port (Charging, Data Transfer & Screen Mirroring) are all standard.
Add £3,000 for the convertible.
Fiat 500 Hybrid Launch Edition: £18,995
Adds coloured trims such as door mirrors to present a more tidy appearance.
Fiat 500 Hybrid LA PRIMA: £20,995
The top-spec adds Full LED Headlights, chrome accents, Fixed glass roof (Hatchback) or a Fiat monogram fabric roof (Convertible), new premium seats, pearl dashboardand a10.25’’ touchscreen infotainment with navigation and a DAB radio.
Add £3,000 for the convertible.
Fiat 500e Electric
During its brief hiatus the Fiat 500e became eligible for the UK Government’s Band 1 Electric Car Grant, worth £3,750 with all variants qualifying for the grant. It means the entry level ICON 24 kwh now starts from £17,245 on the road, which is £1,750 cheaper than it’s [mild] hybrid sister car.
Drivetrain and Performance
The same two battery versions are offered as they were before, with the 24 kWh battery pack gaining a 95 hp motor that can deliver a 0-60 mph sprint in a very respectable 9.5 seconds. WLTP combined range is measured at 118 miles, which is not much in 2026, but plenty for whizzing about the local streets.
The 42 kWh battery also makes a return packing a 118 hp electric motor for a more perky 0-60 mph sprint in 9 seconds, with WLTP range increasing slightly to 202 miles.
Both versions offer a considerable improvement in performance over their hybrid sister car, which will improve the driving experience considerably, whilst offering customers the potential to lower their fuel cost if they can charge at home, thanks to some good time-of-use tariffs.
Trims
Two trims are offered with two battery options.
Fiat 500e ICON 24 kWh: £17,245
As standard, the 500e ICON comes with Automatic Air Conditioning, 16" Alloy Wheels, Uconnect™ Infotainment Touchscreen 10,25'' with DAB Radio, x1 Front USB-A Port (Charging, Data Transfer & Screen Mirroring) and one pedal driving. WLTP range is 118 miles.
Fiat 500e ICON 42 kWh: £20,245
Same as above with a 202 miles WLTP combined range.
Add £3,000 for the convertible.
Fiat 500e La Prima 42 kWh: £23,245
La Prima adds Rearview Parking Camera, Uconnect™ Infotainment Touchscreen 10,25'' with integrated Navigation system & DAB, 17" Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels and LED Headlamps, plus much more, but it’s only available with the larger 42 kWh battery pack providing 202 miles of range.
Add £3,000 for the convertible.
Impressions
Whilst it might be a welcome return for customers seeking a petrol version, the 500 Hybrid is compromised with performance and efficiency, and this might be as a result of reverse engineering a petrol engine into a dedicated EV platform.
Whilst performance is week, its fuel economy is poor when compared to full hybrid rivals, bearing in mind this is being marketed as a Hybrid and not the Mild Hybrid that it is. Fuel economy should be above 70 mpg for the size of car if it was a full hybrid, so mid-50’s is poor. In comparison, master hybrid maker, Toyota, and their Aygo X offers much better fuel economy and a sub-10 second 0-60 mph sprint for similar money. Only the looks is the outstanding feature from FIAT.
However, it is a welcome return for the 500e, and although there are no improvements with the batteries after six years on sale, range is still decent for such a small car. I would have expected to see an improvement in the batteries and range by now, so this little break in production has been a little disappointing when there’s no discernible difference, except for the lower price point.
But, with the application of the full EV Car Grant, the 500e remains the one to beat on performance and running costs when compared to its mild hybrid sister car, but price is now very close to being on parity with the hybrid car when accounting for the larger battery pack. The smaller battery pack has the hybrid beaten on price.
