Fiat 500e vs Tesla Model 3: Specs Compared

Also searched as Tesla Model 3 vs Fiat 500e specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.

The Tesla Model 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 142 mpg combined versus 116 mpg for the Fiat 500e, a 26 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.

Across 4 measured categories, the Tesla Model 3 leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.

2015–2026

Fiat 500e

Minicompact Cars · 11 configurations

116mpg combined (best)
All Fiat 500e specs

2017–2026

Tesla Model 3

Midsize Cars · 42 configurations

142mpg combined (best)
All Tesla Model 3 specs

Head-to-head specifications

MetricFiat 500eTesla Model 3
Best combined MPG116 mpg142 mpg ✓
Best city MPG127 mpg150 mpg ✓
Best highway MPG108 mpg133 mpg ✓
Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year$650$550 ✓
Lowest CO2 outputNot availableNot available
Engines offeredNot availableNot available
TransmissionsAutomatic (A1)Automatic (A1)
DrivetrainsFront-Wheel DriveAll-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel typesElectricityElectricity
EPA classMinicompact CarsMidsize Cars
Years covered2015–20262017–2026
Configurations on record1142

Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.

Fiat 500e vs Tesla Model 3 dimensions and size

The Tesla Model 3 is 42.9 inches longer than the Fiat 500e on a wheelbase 22 inches longer, and 1,078.1 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.

Fiat 500e versus Tesla Model 3 exterior dimensions
DimensionFiat 500e (2026)Tesla Model 3 (2026)Difference
Length142.9 in185.8 in42.9 in
Width (excl. mirrors)74 in72.8 in1.2 in
Height66.1 in56.7 in9.4 in
Wheelbase91.3 in113.4 in22 in
Curb weight2,952 lbs4,030 lbs1,078 lbs

Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.

Fiat 500e vs Tesla Model 3: what the numbers mean

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Tesla Model 3 burns about $550 of fuel annually against $650 for the Fiat 500e. That $100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $500 over five years and $800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the Tesla Model 3 leads in both cycles — 150 mpg city and 133 mpg highway against 127 and 108 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Drivetrain and class: the Fiat 500e is offered with Front-Wheel Drive, the Tesla Model 3 with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Minicompact Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

500e vs Model 3: common questions

Which is better on gas, the Fiat 500e or the Tesla Model 3?

The Tesla Model 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 142 mpg combined versus 116 mpg for the Fiat 500e, a 26 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.

Which costs less to run per year?

By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Tesla Model 3 runs about $550 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $650 for the Fiat 500e — a difference of roughly $100 per year.

What engines do the 500e and Model 3 offer?

Fiat 500e: no engine data on record. Tesla Model 3: no engine data on record.

Are they in the same vehicle class?

The EPA classifies the Fiat 500e as Minicompact Cars and the Tesla Model 3 as Midsize Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.

More 500e comparisons

More Model 3 comparisons

Comparison id: fiat-500e-vs-tesla-model-3