Abarth

500e

The 500e is the first fully electrified model to come out of the Abarth stable. It may look similar to its sibling, the Fiat 500, but this powerful little gem oozes style and packs a mighty punch along the way.

Test Drive

Abarth 500e – First Drive (2023)

Abarth has just launched its first electric car and it packs quite a punch with awesome styling and handling to match.

The Abarth 500e replaces the outgoing petrol version and comes in two body styles – hatchback or convertible. Prices start from £34,195 for the 500e and £37,195 for the 500e Convertible, but both entry level cars can be upgraded to Turismo specification which adds £4k to the price-tag.

All models are powered by a 42.2kWh battery pack that delivers 152hp and 235Nm of torque, resulting in a 0-62mph time of 7.0 seconds and a maximum speed of 96mph. While there are faster EVs out there, few offer the same fun factor this Abarth does.

With a range of 150 miles between charges (204 in the city where extra regenerative braking comes into force), the Abarth 500e is the perfect package for anyone wanting an electric car without losing the driving excitement that is associated with the Abarth name.

We tested the high-end Abarth 500e Convertible Turismo costing £41,195 and it certainly looked the bees’ knees thanks to its quirky styling traits and Acid Green shade.

This two-door compact vehicle features the all-new electrified Scorpion emblem and there are eye-catching design cues at every turn. These include headlights that resemble human eyes complete with eye lids, neat tail lights, privacy glass, white front and rear bumper inserts, a black canvas roof, along with striking 18-inch alloys featuring the Scorpion logo on the wheel hubs.

Moving inside, the sporty theme is just as apparent with heated Alcantara sports seats housing the Abarth logo in the headrests, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, also featuring the logo and metal pedals where that Scorpion can be seen once again. And if you have a closer look at the door grips you will find a miniature Abarth with the words ‘Made in Torino’ embossed into the surface.

The main nerve centre is a 10.25-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system with integrated navigation and DAB radio. This offers access to the many on-board systems, including a pitch perfect JBL premium sound system and smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

There is a separate panel for all the climate control settings, a charging pad and a seven-inch driver display where all the vital data such as speed, battery charge levels and driving range can be viewed. Another feature on the Turismo models is the 360-degree parking sensors plus rear-view and drone-view camera. This is really practical when reversing with the roof lowered as the driver’s view is completely blocked. And speaking of the canvas roof, it can be lowered or raised in 10-15 seconds at speeds up to 60mph.

There are rear seats, but to be honest the leg-room is virtually non-existent. They are ideal to throw a coat or bag on though. The boot is also compact in its size with a 185-litre capacity. This is enough to accommodate a couple of overnight bags and the limit can be increased to 500 litres with the rear seats dropped flat.

In addition, there are a number of storage options throughout the car, such as a practical glovebox, central cubby with a cup holder and USB ports, door bins, a tray and seat back pockets.

So, the new Abarth 500e looks the business and is packed with tech, but how does it handle when put to the test? The answer is very well indeed.

Admittedly the performance stats are not the most exciting out there, but in all honesty, the car feels like it is going much faster when sprinting out the starting blocks. It is beautifully agile and grounded when fizzing along twisting country lanes and tight bends can be attacked with confidence.

Motorway miles can be eaten up with ease although the noise levels within the car do increase slightly. Then in bustling city centres, the Abarth 500e really benefits from its compact dimensions stretching just 3.6 metres in length. It’s agile and very easy to manoeuvre and all those parking aids are appreciated when squeezing into tiny spaces.

You can switch through three drive modes called Turismo, which is ideal around town with maximum regenerative braking and single-pedal driving. In this mode, the power output is reduced to 134hp with 220Nm of torque and, as a result, the 0-62mph dash takes a second longer.

But for a more exhilarating performance there are two other modes. These are called Scorpion Street and Scorpion Track with the latter removing all regenerative braking features. In addition, two steering set-ups alter automatically according to the drive mode.

An area that the engineers worked on for two years was the sound of the vehicle. Abarth cars have always featured a raspy engine note and, thanks to a sound generator, this latest electric car produces a very authentic noise. Unfortunately, this system cannot be activated or deactivated on the move, which can be a nuisance if you are driving along and want to reduce the volume to overtake a couple of horses, or you want to increase the noise levels to let pedestrians know you are there.

But that was my only gripe and we think Abarth will be addressing the issues as soon as possible. That aside, this car oozes charm and really puts the thrill back into driving.

It’s worth noting that the car is packed with safety features too to protect occupants and other road users alike. Systems include blind spot detection, lane keeping assist and intelligent speed assist, autonomous emergency braking, a driver drowsiness detector and much more besides.

When it comes to charging, the Abarth 500e’s battery is optimised for 85kW fast charging. This means it can be boosted from 0 to 80 per cent in 35 minutes or an extra 25 miles of range (the average daily commute) can be added in just five minutes. In addition, slower charging can also be conducted via 11kW and domestic AC 13-amp sockets which takes 4 hours 15 minutes and 15 hours 15 minutes respectively.

All in all, the Abarth 500e is a fabulous compact model that looks amazing and still delivers the goods on the driving dynamics front too. Next year marks Abarth’s 75^th anniversary and if this model is anything to go by, it’s exciting times ahead for the iconic Italian marque.