The first generation of the Fiat 500C we have not driven enough, the second generation has been listed, and it is still a completely pure electric model. Does it change our preconceived notions? We tested it and compared it to smart forfour and small electric vehicles like Renault's Twingo and Zoe.
How loud the noise in the forest was, something we had never heard before, or never before. Now, these sounds are no longer ignored, the chirping of birds, the breaking of branches and the rustling of the wind in the treetops. All the sounds that were once drowned out by the sound of the engine can now be heard, and the wind whispers sweet whispers in your ear: You look so good today, you drive the car in a dignified and elegant way, and Italy is now more than just the name of a country. Our hearts crave lightness, and that can be obtained through the electric small convertible Fiat.
When it comes to electric vehicles, many people immediately think of the mileage and charging time, as well as the charging wall box and energy recovery. First of all, however, we should realize that cars are not good or bad, there is no distinction between morality or immorality, but only the feeling of boredom and pleasure. Perhaps such a perception is more helpful in resolving the conflict between internal combustion engine enthusiasts and electric vehicle enthusiasts. Nothing is more important to a car than the joy it brings. Whatever way it drives itself, it can make us intoxicated.
To get an idea of Fiat's other capabilities, we arranged for it to compete with three particularly popular and inexpensive electric vehicles. Smart sent Forfour, Renault sent Twingo and Zoe. Now unplug and go!
Fiat: Happy C
Since its launch in 2009, the 500C has been one of the rare cars with super high looks, so that it doesn't have to use strength to convince others. Even if it has flaws that can't be hidden, such as bad seating, bumpy suspension, and weird handling (these are just three of the worst examples), then immediately there will be a "but" to soften its imperfections. As an everyday car, it is clumsy; and as a fascinating presence, it is irreplaceable. After the old Land Rover was out of print, it was probably the only car that didn't have to make a makeover. Now, a new generation of products has emerged, and suddenly it has become quite outstanding. What the hell is going on?
Today, Fiat has put the car on a new chassis, and although the size has only changed slightly, it is enough to give it a lot of space. The trip of drivers and colleagues is no longer crowded, but they are comfortable in their seats, which is much better. The fact that electric platforms no longer need to shift gears also enriches the perception of the width of the interior.
The interior of the 500 today is decorated with the same quality as its slightly modern exterior. Fiat has also reorganized its interface. Many functions can be done via the central touchscreen, but some important functions, such as driving and air conditioning control, have been transferred to separate buttons. This change makes sense because, even in bright sunlight, touch screens and gauge displays are difficult to read. Therefore, we recommend that drivers have a good sense of speed, adults in the back seat have a strong sense of closeness, and all passengers have the desire to squeeze into the summer cloakroom. Finally, the size of the luggage compartment has not changed slightly, but its space utilization is a little larger than before, and the charging equipment occupies less space.
The 42 kWh lithium-ion battery is full of energy to power the 87 kW permanent magnet motor under the hood. The 500 is the only car that can charge not only with up to 22 kilowatts of ALTERNA as standard, but also with up to 85 kilowatts of DC power via CCS. In addition to the advantages of charging time, it is also suitable for long journeys. The gentle driving style can greatly increase the range (191 km at an average of 21.4 kWh/100 km in the test; 271 km in the economy mode test). In addition, the "long endurance" mode weakens the power and increases energy recovery, which one can even use to slow down. However, the final remaining speed must be braked normally, which is not easy because the pedals are poorly controllable and react too late.
This is particularly annoying in the city, so we have to escape from here. The electric motor drove to the outskirts with unwavering determination. Of all four vehicles, the Fiat accelerated the most violently and drove the fastest. We tried twice, then switched back to "long endurance" mode and pressed the button that folded the roof. The roof was first rolled up to the C-pillar, and after the second push of the button, it was folded onto the rear window panel, completely blocking the rear view.
However, life and scenery are ahead. Even on highways, a rich driver assistance system enables automatic adaptation to cruise and lane keeping functions, and the breeze gently passes through the cockpit. Dealing with bumps was once one of the Fiat 500's most distressing weaknesses, but now its suspension comfort has been greatly improved.
In addition, the Fiat 500 is sloppy in handling, understeering, less precise and less feedback. So we have to explain why the 500 gets a lot of points in the "handling/driving pleasure" rating. Because the pleasure that this expensive and well-equipped Fiat offers is not in the operation process, but in the opening of the roof. The Electric 500 is a much better car than the fuel version of the 500 that is still in production. It has more highlights. listen! Sparrows are chirping on the roof.
雷诺:Twingo,go,go,go!
To fully understand the beauty of Twingo, you first need to understand that its design goal is to become the most flexible four-seat city car. Smart Forfour has the same pursuit. They are based on the same philosophy, but the technology is different. For city heroes Twingo and Forfour, though, electric motors are the best option.
Renault modified the synchronous motor developed for Zoe for the Twingo. It now has an output of 60 kilowatts and draws energy from a specially designed water-cooled lithium-ion battery. Its capacity of 21 kWh is sufficient to cover an average of 125 km in tests. With economy mode enabled or with three-stage energy recovery (from air to single pedal), the range can be increased to 165 km.
So, we'd better look further afield. The Twingo's advantages as an electric car are best demonstrated on excursions. It has a gentle driving performance, but is agile in front of traffic lights, can sprint in rush hour traffic, and can also glide quietly on narrow streets. This flexibility has nothing to do with handling, and the steering system, while smooth, lacks precision and feedback. Of course, due to the heavier battery and lower center of gravity, electric vehicles appear more stable and balanced to drive. But there is still a wonderful suspense, that is, whether the vehicle can successfully drive out of the corner before the ESP starts, after all, the trend of understeering in the corner is still quite obvious.
In fact, the best way to understand little Renault is to drive it as a lively car. That's exactly what makes it so good: drilling around, but preferably on a safe road. It is equipped with a lack of complete driver assistance systems, only surpassing Forfour's "equipment library". This also explains why the neatly equipped, well-hung Twingo is cheap. To be fair, we conclude that the Twingo is perfect as an electric car; but it certainly can't be considered a perfect car.
Renault: How far did Zoe run? Zoe ran well!
Zoe's perfection lies in its two advantages, both of which are probably the most important for many EV buyers. The first is a greater sense of space. While passengers sit almost on top of the car in rudimentary upholstered seats, unlike the other three cars, it can accommodate four adults and a lot more luggage. Secondly, its mileage advantage is further highlighted. With an air-cooled battery of 52 kWh, it can travel 400 kilometers in the economic mode test, almost 130 kilometers farther than Fiat. The test average of 287 km (20.2 kWh/100 km) was 50% more than the Fiat 500. On our 22 kW charging wall box, it charges 6 hours faster than Fiat's 10 kWh small battery. The CCS charging system (1100 euros) can charge 150 km in 36 minutes, allowing Zoe to complete medium distance travel.
Like all other manufacturers, Renault will offer a charging wall case as a home accessory: Twingo and Zoe for 1099 euros, smart for 895 euros, Fiat for 1199 euros (or 3523 euros, including installation fees).
Zoe also accelerates pattern transitions by reducing the complexity of operations. Inside the car, there is only economic mode and normal mode, with B stop to start energy recovery, and check the current mileage from the navigation system before departure. Yes, you could say that Zoe is particularly good at getting its owner into driving. It's just that it doesn't really move people.
There's a reason we often talk about electric vehicles being able to create excitement. It whistles quietly, accelerates with smooth, uninterrupted force, or delivers power in an optimized manner. Even Twingo and Forfour are special because of their electric approach, more dexterous and more enjoyable.
However, Zoe's driving feel, while sorry, must be said: nothing special. Still, don't get me wrong, it can still be cleverly accelerated to 140 km/h on the highway and doesn't consume a lot of electricity. However, apart from pure sanity, it has few sensual characteristics that can win your support.
Of course, if there is an inevitable curve, it will change direction. If there are bumps in the road, it will try to overcome them with an unstable suspension system. However, Zoe's understeer at the limit could lead to severe SPA intervention. Few people know this, as it's not as flexible as Twingo and Forfour in terms of handling. However, its advantage is its price, 35 890 euros: it is the winner of the value for money, not the winner of the fun.
Smart: Short and squeezed
Forfour kept his distance. No, we're not referring to its technology — it can adjust the safe distance from the vehicle in front of it through radar and delayed energy recovery at the front, we're referring to its overall ranking. Smart's ranking is far behind because of its concept.
It's essentially the same as Twingo, and the two share the platform and much of the technology base. Therefore, it is also characterized by the rear of the engine, the space of passengers and luggage is limited, the comfort of suspension is not strong, the handling ability is almost negligible, and it is constrained by the fast-reacting ESP. But smarts are also reaping huge benefits from electrification.
Compared to gasoline models, it is more confident to drive, more balanced, and even more agile in tight spaces, while retaining amazing maneuverability and agility. Although smart has decorated the Forfour to a more luxurious and higher standard, and the meter also provides more comprehensive information and efficiency tips, its applicability in daily life is not as good as Twingo's, because its endurance is poor.
With such a small capacity, the Extra 3.8 kWh of Renault Twingo's battery makes a big difference. For example, in tests, the smart could only run 94 kilometers at a full charge, while Twingo ran 1/3 more.
However, Forfour has considerable efficiency potential, with a range increase of 66% in the economic model test to 156 km and energy consumption of only 11.5 kWh per 100 km/ h. According to the German power structure, the corresponding CARBON dioxide emissions of smart electricity consumption are 46 g/km. This is equivalent to consuming only 2.0 liters of super gasoline per 100 kilometers, which is an energy consumption that even a light motorcycle can hardly match.
That alone wasn't enough to get smart on the podium. The almost completely surviving insulation of the driver assistance system and the overly simplistic standard configuration (22 kW on-board charger costs 990 euros, compared to only 4.6 kW as standard) are the reasons for its opposition. However, when you drive a smart around the forest, you will get pure happiness. And between all the treetops, there is an atmosphere of quiet and peace.