The Tiny Fiat Topolino EV Is A Test For Small-Car Lovers

Fiat is bringing a tiny electric vehicle called the Topolino to the U.S., open for orders starting July 2026, priced at $13,995. That's cheap for a new EV, but the car comes with real limits. Range is only 46 miles per charge, and a full charge takes about five hours on a standard 2.3 kW home outlet. It weighs just over 1,000 pounds and tops out at 19 mph.

The bigger catch: it's not street legal yet. As sold, it's classified as a low-speed vehicle meant for neighborhoods, resort communities, and similar settings, not regular roads. Stellantis says owners will be able to add a conversion kit by late summer 2026 to raise the top speed to 25 mph and qualify as a low-speed vehicle allowed on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or under. Even then, it's not something you'd take on a highway or use as a primary car.

For a homeowner, this isn't a home-charging story in the usual sense — it plugs into a regular outlet rather than needing special equipment. Think of it more as a golf-cart alternative for short trips around a neighborhood or community than a replacement for a household car. If you live somewhere with private roads, a resort community, or low-speed streets, it might fit as a second vehicle for errands. For anyone needing a car for regular driving, the short range and speed limits rule it out.