America’s cheapest new EV is smaller than a ping-pong table and has a top speed of 19mph.

When looking for an affordable electric car these days, there are always tradeoffs. How much are you willing to sacrifice, leg room and storage space, and how many things, in search of a magical tree that won’t break the bank?

The Fiat Topolino is the ultimate representation of those tradeoffs. For the affordable price of $13,995, you get a top speed of 19 mph, an all-electric range of 46 miles, and a wheelbase that’s longer than one and a half mattresses. In fact, the Topolino is less of a car and more of a micromobility vehicle.

Fiat is not trying to hide this. In its announcement this week of the Topolino’s arrival in the US, the Stellantis-owned carmaker refers to the compact EV as part of a “fast-growing segment.” (It also sarcastically calls the Topolino “a little slice of la dolce vita,” but it’s not here or there.) The 5.4kWh battery can be recharged in about five hours when plugged into a 2.3 kW AC charger.

Indeed, the Topolino has more in common with an electric quadricycle or golf cart than a Tesla Model Y.

Of course, Topolino isn’t for everyone. Like the redesigned Citroën Ami, it is designed for short urban trips, as it is not recommended for highway driving. And if 19mph is too slow for you, Low Speed​​​​Vehicle conversion kits will be available later this summer to increase Topolino’s top speed to an eye-watering 25mph. Shut up, baby. Or in the case of versions without a real door, sit behind a woven rope.

Fiat is leaning toward the golf cart, noting that many owners take their golf carts beyond the course. For them, this reflects a strong desire for smaller, smaller, lighter vehicles – and not limited to things like the electric bike.

Which isn’t to say there’s been a rush for Fiat dealerships to snap up one of these. Small cars did not sell well in the US. Fiat made a promising start, selling more than 43,000 vehicles in 2012, its first year in the US, according to CNBC. The sales have disappeared, and the brand will only sell 1,300 units in 2025. Fiat 500e, the company’s two-wheel drive electric car, $0 down and $0 monthly mortgages in Colorado a few years ago. Wanting this type of car is not what I would consider reliable.

But the buzz surrounding Japanese kei cars, for example, has some trying to control whether the small cars are just waiting in the US. Even President Donald Trump could not hide his interest, announce them being “too cute” and wish to see them built in the US. A week after the comments, Fiat announced that Topolino will reach the world. (The automaker denied there was a link to Trump’s comments.)

Topolino certainly has its trade-offs, but its beauty can help gain a dedicated audience. I could see this working well in a resort or amusement park. Don’t try to take it Every solid turns very quickly.