Sergio may have grumbled that the company would lose money on every Fiat 500e it sells, but pint-sized plug-in nonetheless just returned some impressive figures after EPA testing. The 500e attained a 108 MPGe highway rating, which Fiat is claiming is "industry-best." In addition to the high MPGe ratings, the 500e also received a range rating of 87 miles by the EPA, which is being touted as "best-in-class among high-volume manufacturers." Presumably Tesla does not yet belong to the "high-volume" club with its 200+ mile Model S sedan.

Size and performance-wise, the 500e is probably closest to the just-announced Chevrolet Spark EV. The Mitsubishi i is similar in size, but nowhere close in terms of objective performance. The Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus Electric are both substantially larger and heavier. Therefore, any specific references to "best-in-class" performance is a tricky proposition.

Like the Spark EV, the 500e has more power than its gasoline-powered sibling, although in the case of the Fiat, the difference is only 10 hp, compared to the 50-hp difference between the gas-powered Spark and the Spark EV.

Official MPGe and range figures for the Spark EV have not yet been released, but the Nissan Leaf has an EPA rating of 106 MPGe city and 92 highway, and the Ford Focus Electric earned a rating of 110 MPGe city and 99 MPGe highway. The 500e got a city rating of 122 MPGe city and 108 MPGe Highway.

Source: Chrysler

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