Abarth 600e Review (2024)

Introduction

Abarth has existed since the late 1940s, producing some iconic cars. But it’s best known for tuning up other manufacturers' vehicles, turning modest family cars into hot hatchbacks, and enjoying a long-standing partnership with fellow Italian brand Fiat.

The most recent example is its version of the Fiat 500, which converted the popular, cutesy city car into a muscley, fun racer.

Now, it's gone back to Fiat again to tune up one of its 600s.

If you're unfamiliar with the Fiat 600, it's essentially an elongated version of the 500, with five doors instead of three. It is also a touch wider and higher, as it's technically classed as a crossover SUV.

The Fiat 600 is also available in an all-electric form, known as the 600e, and Abarth has chosen to pimp up this battery-powered model.

This means that one of Abarth’s iconic features – its exhaust note – is absent from this new car.

It has done the same with the all-electric Fiat 500e – but the lack of a combustion engine hasn’t seemed to suppress the public’s enthusiasm for it.

But since the 600 is bigger, it's aimed at those who want something like a 500 while adding some more space and practicality.

And bigger means heavier, which could ruin the handling and straight-line performance - sacrificing two of the key reasons to lease an Abarth version of such a car in the first place.

Mind you, the Abarth 600e shares much of its underpinnings with the Veloce performance version of Alfa Romeo’s new small electric SUV, the Junior. That is a good sign indeed.

So, how does it stack up? We have taken one for a test drive around a track – and on road in Italy - to see what it’s all about.

At A Glance

While the similarities with the Fiat 600e are obvious and understandable, Abarth has made its version look far more athletic.

The eyelid headlights are carried over from the Fiat but somehow look more pronounced on the Abarth.

The rounded lower grille, which makes the Fiat look like it's smiling, is replaced on the Abarth with a more vertical, squared-off dark mesh, adding character, sportiness, and aggression.

Not much has changed around the sides, although the dark grey cladding, including the wheel arches, is now all black. The front grille mesh also finds its way to the back of the Abarth, sitting just beneath the tailgate, a notable departure from the plainer bodywork of the Fiat 600.

It certainly looks more menacing than the standard Fiat, so it stands out more. Mind you, Abarth’s fluorescent paint jobs – like ’Acid green’ and purple, are enough to see the brand’s cars from a hundred miles away.

Key Features

The Abarth is available in two trims.

The entry-level, known as the Turismo in Italy or just the 600e here, gets 20-inch alloys, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a seven-inch digital instrument cluster. It also features LED lights, an Alcantara sports steering wheel, and fabric seats.

The Scorpionissima edition boasts satellite navigation, a six-way powered driver’s seat, aluminium pedals, Abarth decals, a kickplate, velour floor mats, ambient lighting, glossy black body kit, heated Alcantara front seats and power folding mirrors.

You also get a wireless phone charger, a hands-free powered tailgate, and a rear-view camera.

The electric motor produces two different power outputs - the 600e standard version has 240PS, and the Scorpionissima has 280PS.

Range & Batteries

Both versions of the Abarth 600e come with a 54kWh battery.

That is good enough for an all-electric range of up to 207 miles, although Abarth points out that this figure is only feasible if you use its recommended ‘eco’ tyres.

You won’t achieve this in practice in the UK, especially if you drive the 600e as Abarth intends it to be driven.

Additionally, the achieved range depends on several factors, including ambient conditions, the quality of the road surface, and the temperature.

If you’re achieving around 150 miles or above, we’d say that’s about normal.

Performance & Drive

We have tested both the 240PS 600e and the 280PS Scorpionissima versions.

First, you won't get the advertised power unless you’re in Scorpion Track mode, one of three driving modes offered on the Abarth 600e.

Using Turismo mode in either car reduces the power output by approximately 35 per cent to save on battery consumption, while Scorpion Street mode limits it by approximately 20 per cent.

Put it in Scorpion Track mode, though, and the standard car deals with zero to 62mph in 6.2 seconds, while the higher-powered Scorpionissima version shaves a further 0.3 seconds off that.

While the acceleration is undoubtedly brisk, the power delivery is noticeably smoother and more linear than in the Abarth 500e, which feels more like a great blob of horsepower smacks you right in the face.

The smaller sibling pushes you back in your seat when you press the throttle pedal, but that said, the 600e is still fiercer than many other electric cars, and it’s certainly no slouch, even if it does feel slightly more sensible than the 500e.

Admittedly, those who want to hammer the power down on the exit of a corner might feel shortchanged, as the 600e can take a while to respond to your accelerator inputs. But that’s a minor gripe and shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.

After testing both the 240 and 280PS versions, it’s difficult to recommend the higher-powered Scorpionissima. It offers little in the way of additional performance to justify the extra investment, although admittedly, the equipment list is far more generous, which might be enough to win you over.

But the reality is that, in terms of poke, we're hard-pressed to tell the difference between them - and we think most will agree it’s barely detectable.

The Scorpionissima comes with a synthetic engine note, which is one of the better attempts we’ve heard. You won't get that on the standard version, so Abarth loyalists who can't cope with the sound of silence may wish to keep that in mind.

The power-restrictive Turismo mode might be unattractive for a performance car, but it will be easier to live with if you use it daily. It offers even smoother power delivery and very light steering, which is useful for city backstreets and stop-start traffic.

The Scorpion Street mode offers a decent halfway house between this and the ferocity of the Scorpion Track mode, which also provides enhanced steering and throttle response.

Around faster bends, the 600e is a joy to drive. A Torsen limited-slip differential really helps with cornering at speed, directing power to whichever wheel needs it most.

The steering weights up well in the corners, too, providing a decent level of feedback through the wheel. This results in an engaging driving experience that gives you the confidence to place the Italian car, knowing it'll point exactly where you want it.

If the road is twisty, left-right-left actions are no problem around snaking corners, and the chassis responds with aplomb. However, things can get a little unpredictable when you approach its limits, as the steering weight can become inconsistent as the car’s electronics fight to maintain control.

If you keep it within its limits, though, you'll be duly rewarded with a car that's sprightly, reasonably nimble, and highly entertaining to drive.

There is more body roll-around bends than the 500e, which is to be expected, but it's reasonably well-controlled thanks to a stiffened suspension setup that prioritises agility over comfort.

Given it weighs 1.6 tonnes, the bulk doesn't phase it.

The lack of absorption means it’s on the firm side, though, so those with a knackered back might want to look elsewhere.

That said, it's only uncomfortable if you're tackling inferior road surfaces, and it’s not incapable of dealing with potholes and pockmarked roads.

The brakes are quite fierce, too, plus there’s quite a bit of road and wind noise.

Charging

The Abarth 600e charges at a maximum rate of 100kW.

That isn't the fastest on the market, but it's good enough for a 0-80 per cent top-up in just 27 minutes.

11kW home charging is supported, which can increase the batteries from empty to full in five and a quarter hours.

Charging off a standard household plug will take just over 16 hours to perform a 0-100 per cent charge.

The figures are the same for both the Turismo and Scorpionissima.

Running Costs & Emissions

There are no fuel economy figures to worry about or carbon dioxide emissions to consider.

Not only is the 600e rare, given that it's a performance car that is guilt-free in terms of environmental damage, but it'll also save you plenty of money versus refilling a petrol or diesel model.

We can't see many executives wanting something like this. Still, financially, at least, the Abarth makes sense as a company car, as electric vehicles attract the lowest rates for Benefit-in-Kind tax.

You will pay no road tax for now, although, as you may have heard, that will change from April 2025.

Abarth's reliability has generally been quite good, but we're in a different era now, given this is an electric car, so the 600e is something of an unknown.

Interior & Technology

Naturally, there are plenty of similarities between the Fiat and Abarth 600e cabins, but Abarth has managed to create a very different feel inside.

Whereas the Fiat goes for the cutesy, family-friendly appearance, the Abarth looks far more aggressive and sportier.

The steering wheel is much thicker and bolder than the Fiat’s, with a centre line stripe at the top, a flat bottom, and a piano black Abarth logo in the centre. Thumb indentations below the nine and three o'clock spokes add to the appeal.

There is bright-coloured stitching, too, while the seats, which have been replaced in the Abarth, have very pronounced, almost vertical sides to hold you in place around fast bends.

Alcantara surfaces in the Scorpionissima also add an air of quality, and the interior feels solidly screwed together, although there are plenty of cheaper materials dotted about the place.

The 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, perched on the dashboard like a tablet, is in the middle of the dashboard. The system has a sharp, modern graphical interface with impressive responsiveness. The menu layout is intuitive and straightforward enough.

It complements the digital instrument display, offering a reasonable degree of personalisation in choosing the information you want displayed.

Thankfully, physical controls for the air conditioning have been retained rather than buried into the touchscreen - a trait becoming increasingly common in the infotainment era. This means changing the temperature on the move is easy instead of leaving you jabbing away at the screen.

Overall, it's a lovely interior that provides some welcome styling adjustments over the standard Fiat model it's based on.

Practicality & Boot Space

Finding a comfy driving position is relatively easy, with loads of adjustability in the seats and steering wheel - and six-way power adjustment in the top-of-the-range version.

Visibility is decent out of the front, helped by a higher-than-expected driving position due to the batteries being beneath the floor, raising the seats up. The front pillars are unobtrusively thin, too.

It is alright out of the back as well, although the pillars are about twice as thick, so they restrict over-the-shoulder visibility. That said, the squared-off rear window maximises your view.

The Scorpionissima gets front, rear and side parking sensors, plus a rear-view camera, but the standard 600e version gets none of these.

The front seats also offer a sufficient amount of legroom, and you won't be short on headroom either.

Unfortunately, it's a different story in the back if you're tall, with the rear seats lacking legroom. Shorter passengers will be okay, but still a little hemmed in. The cabin is surprisingly broad, so three adults in the back are just about doable, albeit only for a short trip.

You will also find various storage compartments dotted around the interior.

Boot space measures 360 litres, which is okay, although several hot hatch foes can boast more.

The Abarth's rear seats fold in a 60:40 divide rather than the slightly more versatile 40:20:40 configuration. But that's hardly untypical for this class - and doing so expands the available space to 1,200 litres.

There is no height-adjustable boot floor to remove the loading lip, though.

Safety

Abarth doesn’t get its cars crash tested by Euro NCAP, although given its recent models have all been based on Fiats, it is free to use Fiat’s ratings.

When tested in 2021, the 500e scored a four-star rating, with 76 per cent for adults, 80 per cent for children, and 67 per cent for safety assists.

We hope the 600e follows suit, as the two Fiats before that - the Panda and Punto - scored zero-star ratings. However, that was around seven years ago, and we hope times have changed since then.

Auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and an electronic parking brake are included as standard.

The Scorpionissima version features lane centring and traffic jam assist, a rear-view camera, urban blind spot monitoring, front, rear, and side parking sensors, and traffic sign information.

Options

Although a full range of optional extras has yet to be unveiled, we expect it to follow similar lines to the smaller 500e.

Numerous body colours will be offered, including the rather striking Hypnotic Purple on the Scorpionissima version, while white, orange and black are the alternatives on the Turismo trim.

Charging wall boxes and cables, stripes and decals, key covers, a key bracelet, illuminated door sills, a cupholder organiser, and various smaller accessories are likely to be offered, too.

Rival Cars

There are a small number of direct electric rivals to the Abarth 600e.

The new Mini Aceman will compete for handling, even though it doesn’t offer up the same levels of insanity as the Abarth.

The Cupra Born VZ, the MG 4 XPower, Smart #1, and the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX offer sporting competitiveness.

You might also want to consider the new Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, which, as we said earlier, is closely related to the 600e.

Verdict & Next Steps

Overall, the Abarth 600e is a tempting lease.

It is certainly a step up in practicality from the smaller 500e, but plenty of its competitors can still do better, offering bigger boot capacity and more spacious cabins, especially with regard to the rear seats.

None of its rivals offer the same in-your-face showiness, though – and its ostentatious personality, especially in the fluorescent colours of our test cars – will undoubtedly have its unique appeal.

The purple is tempting just for its rareness, mind.

The cabin looks nice, but some of the materials feel a little cheap, too, although the infotainment system is very nice to use.

And, of course, it’s great to drive.

The Scorpionissima model isn't worth it just for the extra clout, given the difference is barely noticeable. Still, it does add a lot of additional equipment.

It is also very exclusive, as the top-of-the-range edition is limited to 1949 units (matching Abarth’s year of birth). Once they're gone, expect some changes to the available trim levels, which might be worth waiting for.

Either way, if you’re after something that’s full of energy, excitement and typical Italian enthusiasm, the Abarth 600e has more than got you covered.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Abarth 600e.

**Correct as of 25/11/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 24 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or N/A (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.