Compare the2024 Volvo C40 RechargeVS 2024 Fiat 500e

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

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The C40 Recharge’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 500e doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volvo C40 Recharge are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Fiat 500e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The C40 Recharge has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The 500e doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The C40 Recharge has standard Post-impact braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 500e doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The C40 Recharge has standard CTA Auto Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 500e doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The C40 Recharge has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The 500e doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The C40 Recharge Plus/Ultimate has a standard 360° Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 500e only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the C40 Recharge and the 500e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Volvo C40 Recharge weighs 1818 pounds more than the Fiat 500e. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the C40 Recharge its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 131 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 500e has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

The C40 Recharge’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the 500e’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the C40 Recharge for 4 years and 40,000 miles. Volvo will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Fiat doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 500e.

Engine

The C40 Recharge’s standard electric motor produces 130 more horsepower (248 vs. 118) and 148 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 162) than the 500e’s electric motor. The C40 Recharge’s optional electric motors produces 284 more horsepower (402 vs. 118) and 332 lbs.-ft. more torque (494 vs. 162) than the 500e’s electric motor.

Fuel Economy and Range

The C40 Recharge can travel longer on a full charge than the 500e on a full charge:

			Miles
C40 Recharge
	FWD	Electric Motor	297 miles
	AWD	Electric Motors	257 miles
500e
	FWD	Electric Motor	149 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the C40 Recharge’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 500e:

	C40 Recharge	500e
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	11.06 inches
Rear Rotors	13.4 inches	7.99” drums

The Volvo C40 Recharge has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the 500e. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the C40 Recharge has larger tires than the 500e (235/45R20 vs. 205/45R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the C40 Recharge Core has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the 500e. The C40 Recharge offers optional 20-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Volvo C40 Recharge has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Fiat 500e has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The C40 Recharge has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The 500e doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the C40 Recharge’s wheelbase is 15 inches longer than on the 500e (106.4 inches vs. 91.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the C40 Recharge is 5 inches wider in the front and 5.4 inches wider in the rear than on the 500e.

Passenger Space

The C40 Recharge has standard seating for 5 passengers; the 500e can only carry 4.

The C40 Recharge has .1 inches more front headroom, 4.9 inches more front hip room, 5.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 6.6 inches more rear legroom, 9.4 inches more rear hip room and 8.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500e.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the C40 Recharge’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The 500e doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the C40 Recharge’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The 500e doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The C40 Recharge has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The 500e has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the C40 Recharge, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The 500e doesn’t offer a memory system.

The C40 Recharge’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Fiat does not offer a locking feature on the 500e’s standard power windows.

The C40 Recharge’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The 500e’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the C40 Recharge to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 500e doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The C40 Recharge offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The 500e doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the C40 Recharge offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The 500e doesn’t offer cornering lights. The C40 Recharge also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The C40 Recharge has standard heated front and optional heated rear seats extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the 500e.

On extremely cold winter days, the C40 Recharge’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The 500e doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The C40 Recharge has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500e doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the C40 Recharge has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500e doesn’t offer rear vents.