Review: Fiat 500e hatchback Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion designer, died, aged 91, on September 4, 2025.

Fittingly, a few days later, the specially designed Giorgio Armani collector’s edition of the Fiat 500e hatchback was delivered to us for evaluation.

In true Italian style, the design cues are subtle and understated, and you have to look carefully to see the GA logo on the wheels and seats. Ditto Giorgio Armani’s signature on the dashboard, the interior of the doors and the rear window.

Even the exterior colours on offer are muted: Dark Green and Ceramic Greige.

Other differences to the ‘regular’ 500e are a more stylish wooden-effect dashboard insert, a premium JBL audio and different musical tones, including a melodic chime from Fellini's film Amarcord for the pedestrian warning system.

In all other respects, there is very little to distinguish it from other editions of the 500e.

Anyone who has ever driven one will be under no illusion that this is a city car. It seats four in theory, but two in practice.

Adults struggle to get into the rear seats, never mind getting comfortable, and even children will find it a tight squeeze.

The heated front seats are supportive enough and can be adjusted four ways for the best fit.

If you’ve driven any of the 500s before, the layout of the cabin will be familiar.

The 10.25in touchscreen for the infotainment and integrated navigation system is simple enough to use, but, like many others, I found it far easier to just connect my iPhone and use the apps I’m familiar with.

Physical buttons for the climate control are welcome, and something that confused me the first time I got in, little round buttons on the doors to open them - a nice, though quirky touch.

Living with the 500e is easy. Steering is light, and parking is a doddle, particularly with the rearview camera and 360-degree parking sensors.

There are plenty of handy spaces to stash bits and pieces around the cabin, but the boot is small. You’ll need to drop the rear seats if you want to transport anything other than a couple of bags of shopping.

Electric cars are, by their nature, quick off the mark, delivering instant power. This little 500 can do the 0-62mph dash in nine seconds, going on to a top speed of 93mph. Even at motorway speeds, it feels surprisingly refined and quiet.

Matching up official with actual range is always a minefield in electric cars. The 42kWh battery is reckoned to be good for around 192 miles, but we got more like 145 miles, which may be enough if you have access to charging points on your regular journeys.

If you put the 500 into Range, one-pedal driving mode, regenerative braking kicks in. It’s a bit fierce, so we tended to keep it in Normal for most of the time.

The third option is Sherpa. It limits the top speed to 50mph, turns off the air conditioning and stereo, and increases regenerative braking. Climate control can be reactivated if needed.

Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani

Price: £34,025 (as tested)

Battery capacity: 42kwh

Power: 116bhp

Torque: 162lb/ft

Transmission: Automatic

Top speed: 93mph

0-62mph: 9 seconds

CO 2 emissions:0

EV range: 192 WLTP