EV Comparison Test Video: FIAT 500e vs. Volkswagen e-Golf

It’s one thing to review an electric car, make some evaluations and judgments and put out a review for everyone to see. It’s another thing entirely to own and live with an electric car. Autobytel’s Joni Gray bought a Nissan Leaf about three years ago, when it was one of the only options for an affordable, fully electric passenger car. The number of electric cars on the road continues to grow, though, so potential buyers actually have to do some comparison shopping. Two of the latest to market are the FIAT 500e and the Volkswagen e-Golf, and Joni, as the resident electric car expert, took both for a spin. These cars are both fully electric, zero emission compact hatchbacks with relatively low (for the category) entry prices. The 2015 FIAT 500e boasts a range of 87 miles and is rated for an average of 122 MPGe. It’s got 111 horsepower thanks to a 83 kW electric motor and 24 kW lithium-ion battery. The 2015 VW e-Golf is based on the seventh generation Golf platform, which is all new for this model year. The e-Golf offers an 83-mile range and an average of 116 MPGe. The drivetrain, comprised of an 85 kW electric motor and 24.2 kW liquid-cooled battery, yields 115 horsepower, and the e-Golf offers several driving modes.