Electric Fiat Abarth 500e review

Depending on which side you fall, this car could be the most perfect EV ever or nothing more than a tortured toy.

The expensive and tiny electric Abarth 500e brings new levels of disagreement between our two critics. Can their marriage survive?

2024 Fiat Abarth 500e.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

JULES: Bellissima! I don’t care what you think. This is the perfect city EV.

IAIN: The prosecco bubbles must’ve gone to your head.

JULES: Nope. It’s tiny, gorgeous, colourful and sporty. This Abarth 500e is tingling my European heritage.

IAIN: In a decade of our twin reviews, we’ve never disagreed so much on a car. It looks like a fun toy, but its price, specs and usefulness make zero sense.

JULES: So now you’re into sensible cars? Isn’t that your elderly BMW leaking on our driveway, just like your former money-pit classics?

IAIN: Joy bringers and rock-solid investments. Anyway, Abarth asks over $60k for this underpowered EV with dismal 253km range and torturing cabin space, then adds one of the worst new car warranties in Australia.

JULES: It’s Italian. You buy with your heart, not your head.

IAIN: How about the petrol Abarth? Same looks, almost half the price, more powerful and faster. A Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Kona, Volvo EX30 or Cupra Born are much better $60k EVs.

MORE: New EV battery tech changes everything

2024 Fiat Abarth 500e.

THE LIVING SPACE

JULES: It reminds me of fun, tiny hot hatches inside. I love the racy Alcantara for the steering wheel, seats and dash.

IAIN: Any sportiness is compromised by the too-high seating position. Seats won’t lower enough. It’s like being in an SUV.

JULES: Exactly how we girls like it. And how can you moan about the spec? There’s panoramic glass roof, heated seats, JBL audio, digital driver display, wireless charging and massive 10.25-inch touchscreen.

IAIN: Agreed they’re good, but expected for $60,000. Cheaper-feeling are buttons rather than handles to get out – I worry about their longevity – while door plastics are massive thin slabs. My elbow wore away on the hard arm rest.

JULES: All clever weight saving, you’ll find.

IAIN: The key’s also horribly plasticky, and storage is terrible. My coffee cup won’t fit.

JULES: You’re too Aussie. It’s made for espressos and piccolos.

MORE:Aussies over 50 need driving lessons

2023 Abarth 500e

THE COMMUTE

IAIN: It’s an EV but does a decent impression of a fruity petrol sports car thanks to some audio fakery. It sounds great from outside, but muffled inside.

JULES: Put your foot down more. It sounds raw and fun, just like the drive experience.

IAIN: About that. It’s not exactly fast, is it?

JULES: Yes. It’s electric so is responsive and zippy. Track mode works best.

IAIN: Seven seconds to hit 100km/h. It’d struggle against a Toyota Camry Hybrid.

JULES: Look, even when going slow it feels quick due to its tiny size. And the suede-like steering wheel feels incredible during sharp turns.

IAIN: In ‘Turismo’ mode I like how it comes to a complete stop using regeneration. No brakes needed as power is sent to the battery while slowing.

JULES: It’s such a good city car.

IAIN: But a highway nightmare. The fake engine sound feels like it’s permanently stuck in third gear, and – criminally – you can’t turn this noise off unless you’re stationary.

THE SHOPPING

JULES: Talk about stress-free parking. It fits in the tiniest of spaces, and looks divine along designer shopping strips.

IAIN: The boot just about takes a shoebox, so don’t buy much. And while the rear camera’s wide-angle, its quality’s poor.

SUNDAY RUN

JULES: It’s a go kart in corners, so head for the hills!

IAIN: Woah there. Ensure hills are on your doorstep, because range is a too-low 253km. And 85kW charge speed means it’s not rapid refilling its 42kWh battery.

JULES: Oh, come on. You said it was a hoot on twisty roads.

IAIN: I’ll concede that. It’s playful and super light for an EV, and I could even get its cute little rear to move around when lifting off mid corner.

JULES: So much fun how it skips across the road in a fast bend.

IAIN: That’s not a good thing.

MORE: Why EV haters will be forced to eat their words

2024 Fiat Abarth 500e.

THE FAMILY

JULES: Kids weren’t happy. No rear space, no air vents, not comfortable.

IAIN: Par for the Fiat/Abarth 500 course. At least there are handy safety bits like blind spot monitor and auto braking, but no crash rating rules it out as a family car.

JULES: At least fuel bills are cheap.

IAIN: If you’ve got home solar. We returned 16.8kWh/100km energy use, which is quite thirsty for a small EV.

JULES: It’s a second car anyway. Only for short distance city use. We could have a boring diesel SUV for other trips.

THE VERDICT

IAIN: A pass from me. Too expensive, slow, compromised and misses the purity of a proper ‘hot’ Fiat 500. Get the petrol Abarth 695 with manual gearbox for real thrills and less money.

JULES: A brilliant car when in its element. Keep it in the city and every journey is fun-filled. The cute good looks, the racy cabin materials... it makes you feel special.

ABARTH 500E SCORPIONISSIMA VITALS

PRICE About $64,500 drive-away

WARRANTY AND SERVICING 3 years/150,000 km warranty, about $1500 for 5 years

MOTOR Front electric, 114kW/235Nm

SAFETY 6 airbags, auto emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, rear camera, front and rear sensors

RANGE 253km

SPARE Repair kit

BOOT 185L