Efficiency & Charging
5/10
Performance & Driving Dynamics
7.5/10
Interior & Technology
7/10
Practicality & Usability
5/10
Value & Running Costs
6/10
Overall
6/10
Overview
The Abarth 500e takes everything people love about the iconic Italian sports brand and gives it an electric jolt, building on the Fiat 500 Electric to create a fun little hot hatch. You can pick it up in a classic three-door style or as a fabric-roofed convertible. It's not exactly a practical choice, but that's the point—it's about lively handling and a bold, in-your-face personality that fits right in on busy city streets and twisty back roads.
Design
On the outside, the Abarth ditches the softer curves of the regular electric 500 for a much more aggressive look. There's a chunkier front bumper, sculpted side skirts, a new rear diffuser, and the option to bolt on striking 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels. Chrome's replaced with titanium grey, and the classic scorpion badge now has a lightning bolt crackling through it to shout about its electric heart. Up front, you get split LED headlights with little nods to the past, and the transparent indicator pods add some retro flavor.
Interior
Inside, the Abarth 500e feels like a step up from the standard Fiat's cabin. Everything leans toward the driver. The basic model keeps things simple with a matte grey dashboard, while the higher-end Turismo trim comes with soft Alcantara, sporty aluminum pedals, and heated sports seats with bold, contrast stitching. The bucket front seats are low and supportive, so you don't slide around much, and the chunky three-spoke steering wheel frames a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. In the center, there's a wide 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can leave the cables at home.
Performance & Powertrains
Under the skin, you get a punchy 152 hp electric motor and a 42 kWh battery driving the front wheels. That's enough to send this 1,410 kg hatch from a standstill to 62 mph in 7 seconds, maxing out at 96 mph. Range is decent but not groundbreaking—about 157 miles on a full charge, stretching up to 208 miles in stop-and-go city driving. There are three modes: Turismo dials things back a bit for smoother driving, Scorpion Street pushes performance and ramps up regenerative braking, and Scorpion Track goes all out with minimal energy recovery. When you need a recharge, the 500e can handle up to 85 kW fast charging, getting from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes. There's also a sound generator outside that tries to mimic the growl of an Abarth petrol engine, just for fun.
Practicality
Don't expect space to be this car's strong suit, though. Most of the cabin is focused on the folks up front. The back seats work for short trips or little kids, but getting in is a squeeze, especially in the convertible, where the boot is already tiny. With the rear seats up, the trunk offers only 185 liters of room, but if you fold the seats down, you can make do with up to 550 liters.
Buying
Pricing starts at £27,995 for the base model. If you want the range-topping Turismo with extras like 18-inch diamond-cut alloys, plush heated Alcantara seats, a 360-degree parking camera, blind-spot detection, and wireless phone charging, you'll have to pay more—and going for the convertible adds about £3,000 on top. Honestly, the entry-level model offers the best bang for your buck, according to EV Hub. Still, you've got some real contenders in this segment, like the Renault Twingo E-Tech, Alpine A290, and Cupra Raval VZ, that are also worth a look.