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

Originally published as Electric Fiat Abarth 500e review