Fiat's 500e is just about perfect for city citizens

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- So, let's say you live in a big West Coast city ... maybe one with a bunch of famous bridges and a zig-zag street that they always show on televised sports events.

Wouldn't you want a small electric car that you can zip into barely there parking spaces, whip around gridlock and recharge fully on a nightly basis?

You have all of that in the recently tested 2024 Fiat 500e, which the automaker touts as the perfect vehicle for the dedicated city dweller.

And yes, I agree with all of that.

If you're not doing a crazy Sacramento-to-San Francisco commute every day and you're happy in your $3,500-a-month studio apartment in the big town, the Fiat 500e fits you with hand-in-glove perfection.

And it's a head turner, a shapely subcompact riding on 17-inch cast-aluminum, glossy black wheels.  Mine was the RED Edition, with a sparkling crimson paint job.

The electric power plant equates to a horsepower equivalent of 117, which is plenty to scoot the little car around with authority.  The tight wheelbase makes U-turns and turning radius challenges a snap.

Interior comfort from the cockpit is fine, and given the interior features and spot-on technology, the tester's price of $34,095 was just about right, by my reckoning.

For all its urban charms, I found the tested 500e to be a smooth operator on the freeways.  With the right planning, taking this electric out on a short road trip would certainly be a pleasure.

But make no mistake, this 500e is a child of the city, and I'm certain the targeted audience also will be pleased with its Euro charms.