2024 Abarth 500e Review

For over a decade, internal combustion Abarth models have been immensely popular among Australian buyers. Even my best friend even happens to own a brand new Abarth 695, proudly using it as his daily driver, revelling in its Monza exhaust and Italian charm. He bought it because of this: the 2024 Abarth 500e, which signalled the brand’s departure from ICE models to an electrified lineup. He was scared that the brand would be lost forever and be no longer relevant with the switch from petrol to electricity. In many ways, we too were super skeptical of the new electrified Abarth 500e would perform. Could a pint-sized electric hatch be any fun and full of character much like its predecessor?

ICE Abarths are nothing short of exhilarating. While the seating position and firm ride are common complaints, these are easily overshadowed by the thrilling driving experience, responsive throttle and roaring exhaust note. They look stunning, sound incredible, and are an absolute joy to drive.

Building on the Fiat 500e, the Abarth 500e boasts enhanced power, precision-tuned running gear, and an unexpected auditory presence. Yes, you read that right, sound in an EV. Abarth’s engineers have meticulously developed Exhaust 2.0, a system that replicates the iconic engine sounds of the Abarth 595/695’s Record Monza exhaust, both inside and outside the vehicle.

But does it have what it takes to win over the passionate fans of Italian hot hatches? Let’s find out.

How much does the 2024 Abarth 500e cost to buy?

2024 Abarth 500e pricing:

2024 Abarth 500e Turismo: $58,900

2024 Abarth 500e Scorpionissima: $60,500 (tested here)

2024 Abarth 500e standard equipment:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Full LED exterior lighting, including headlights, tailights and daytime running lights
• Automatic headlights with dusk and rain sensing
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Panoramic fixed glass roof
• Privacy glass
• Titanium grey mirror caps
• Heated exterior mirrors
• Alcantara and leather upholstery
• Leather and alcantara-wrapped steering wheel
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• Keyless entry and start
• Single-zone automatic climate control
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• Six-speaker JBL sound system
• Heated front seats
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• Metal pedals and sill plates
• 50:50 split-fold rear seats
• USB-A and USB-C outlets
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Wireless phone charger
• Mode 3 charging cable

Abarth 500e Scorpionissima adds:

• Abarth decals
• Digital certificate of authenticity

2024 Abarth 500e standard safety equipment

• Six airbags
• Auto emergency braking (AEB) incl. vulnerable road user detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Auto high beam
• Driver attention monitoring
• Intelligent speed limit assist
• Lane keeping assistance
• Adaptive lane guidance
• Parking sensors at the front, side and rear
• Reversing camera
• Traffic sign recognition
• Tyre pressure monitoring

The Abarth 500e isn’t currently rated by ANCAP, though the related Fiat 500e received a less-than-stellar four-star ANCAP rating based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2021.

2024 Abarth 500e colour range:

Five exclusive colours are available on the Abarth 500e: ‘Antidote White’, ‘Venom Black’, ‘Adrenaline Red’, ‘Acid Green’ and ‘Poison Blue’.

Scorpionissima models are available in the two hero colours: ‘Acid Green’ (with black decals) and ‘Poison Blue’ (with white decals).

Apart from the choice of colour, no further options are available.

In terms of competition, there aren’t many cars that could be cross-shopped with the Abarth 500e: the Cupra Born and MG 4 come to mind, but both of those are larger than the Abarth and likely better cars as well. But do they offer the same level of flair and character as the 500e? Not even close.

How powerful is the 2024 Abarth 500e?

The Abarth 500e features a single electric motor on the front axle, delivering 113kW of power and 235Nm of torque. Comparing the Abarth 500e with its ICE predecessors reveals that it aligns more with the base-level 123kW Abarth 595, than the 132kW Abarth 695 still on sale in Australia. Nevertheless, Abarth claims that the 500e is 50 per cent quicker from 20-40km/h compared to its 695, and that can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a respectable 7.0 seconds.

While the Abarth 500e’s outputs don’t look particularly good on paper, especially when compared to other performance EVs, it’s important to remember that the Abarth 500e is relatively lightweight, weighing in at just 1335kg (tare), making it pretty much the lightest EV on sale in Australia, and hundreds of kilos less than even the base MG 4.

The downside to being such a light EV is the fact that the Abarth 500e comes equipped with a rather tiny 42kWh battery, with just 37.3 kWh usable. The claimed driving range is just 253km based on European WLTP lab testing, but in real-world conditions, we were seeing a practical range of around 230km. Once you decide to not drive the car with less than 10% of charge, this gives the Abarth 500e a range of around than 200 km. In anyone’s language, that means a lot of range anxiety and a lot of plugging in.

Driving with enthusiasm left us with a real-world consumption of around 16kWh/100 km in mixed conditions around town, which is better than the 18.1kWh/100km claimed figure. At freeway speeds, expect around 190km of driving range. In terms of charging, the 500e can be DC fast charged at up to 85kW for a 10-80 per cent charge in as little as 25 minutes.

What is the 2024 Abarth 500e like to drive?

In a word – interesting. Jumping into the figure-hugging seats and hitting the start button makes the car unleash a muffled electric guitar riff. Quirky! With the Abarth Sound Generator on, a throaty burble emanates from the rear of the 500e, echoing the combustion-powered Abarth 595/695 with the Record Monza exhaust. A cool feature at first, you’ll be wanting to turn it off in no time which is sadly rather difficult to do through the instrument cluster’s sub-menus.

As you set off, the sound just keeps getting louder and louder, without any pauses for gearchanges as it only simulates revs, based on throttle inputs and speed. Reaching 50km/h, you’ll feel like you have left the car in first gear, such is the drone, which many will find tiresome. The Abarth 500e will even rev while stationary when flooring the throttle in Park or Neutral, harking back to its predecessors.

On the road, the Abarth 500e’s modest power figures, along with its wheel at each corner stance deliver a brisk little pocket rocket, which also happens to carve through corners with gusto.

The Abarth 500e pulls strongly from standstill, without the brutality of some other EVs so as not to scorch its front tyres, with acceleration slowing towards 100 km/h. There’s no way to say this, but in pretty much every real-world scenario, any ICE Abarth would be toast, though the 695 might still have edge at high speeds above, with a stronger pull. The brand’s 0-100km/h sprint claim of 7.0 seconds feels spot-on, and there’s no doubt this car is fast enough to satisfy motorheads.

There are also a bunch of drive modes available, which are toggled with a selector near the centre armrest. The default Turismo mode caps outputs at 100kW/220Nm and offers one-pedal driving abilities, while Scorpion Street unlocks a full 113kW/235Nm from the electric motor, while still allowing one-pedal driving. Scorpion Track offers Scorpion Street’s performance with no one-pedal driving. As a fan of one-pedal driving, I enjoyed using both Turismo and Scorpion Street.

With a 60mm wider track and a 24mm longer wheelbase compared to the old 695, the Abarth 500e feels planted and substantial on the road and goes around corners confidently with tonnes of grip. The car turns in sweetly, the Bridgestone Turanza tyres hang on tenaciously and if you don’t look at the body roll, the Abarth 500e feels like a go kart, delivers miles of driving smiles. The steering is responsive and heavily weighted, with tons of feel. The Abarth 500e would benefit from a little more traction on the front axle however, as it can sometimes struggle to put its power down through tighter corners.

This is car that is seriously fun, no matter the situation. Be it that wet twisty road through the national park, a set of lights or a tight roundabout, the Abarth 500e has loads of character and will leave keen drivers impressed. Thank the relatively low kerb weight for that, even if you will be forced to charge more often than expected. The electric Abarth rides beautifully and delivers a much smoother ride than its crashy predecessor with decent bump absorption at all speeds, rounding of sharper bumps nicely. It’s quiet at speed too, with hushed levels of road and wind noise.

What is the 2024 Abarth 500e like inside?

In typical Abarth fashion, the brand has taken the Fiat 500e’s stylish interior, given it lashings of suede, some sporty seats, a special steering wheel, along with a myriad of small, but welcome sporting touches, such as the distinctive Abarth Scorpion badges and vibrant Acid Green and Poison Blue accents throughout overall.

The interior loaded with up-to-date tech, and some seriously good-looking screens. Slipping into the front seat, the driver is met with 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster with Abarth-specific graphics and multiple layout options. Information is displayed clearly and succinctly with some colourful graphics.

At the centre of the dash is a 10.25-inch touchscreen powered by the Stellantis Uconnect 5 interface. The screen is responsive, easy to use and offers embedded navigation, DAB+ digital radio, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, which worked perfectly during or week with the car. The six-speaker JBL audio system delivers impressive sound too, with decent clarity, even if the bass is a little lacking.

While the Abarth 500e might look diminutive from the outside, its tardis-like interior is surprisingly spacious for front occupants. The front seats are superbly comfortable, even if they are set a little too high, and they’re upholstered in decent quality leather and Alcantara to match the steering wheel, dashboard, and doors. Welcome touches include headrests with the famed Abarth scorpion and Acid Green double stitching. Drivers of the 695 will be blown away by how much better proportioned this interior is and how much easier it is to find a solid driving position in the new Abarth 695.

There’s a tonne of storage in the Abarth too, from the wireless phone charger under the main screen featuring a Torino skyline graphic, to the deep centre console bin with a sliding lid, decent door pockets, and a couple of cupholders, those up front will have tons of space to put away their odds and ends.

Heading into the second row, things start to get tight. The back seat is only really suited for occasional use and for kids, making the Abarth 500e a 2+2 setup. Sure, adults will fit for short trips, but they will have to put up with no headroom or knee room. Two child seats will however fit neatly, thanks to ISOFIX anchor points and top tether points on both rear seats.

Things don’t get much better in the boot either, as its capacity comes in at a relatively tiny 185-litres with the rear seats up and 550L with them folded. We weren’t particularly amused by the lack of space for a charging cable in the boot – or a front boot – and on our test car, some of the boot plastics appeared to be loose.

Sadly, there’s also no spare wheel included, with just a tyre repair kit found under the boot floor.

What is the warranty and servicing like for the 2024 Abarth 500E?

The Abarth 500e is covered by a three-year, 150,00km new vehicle warranty, which doesn’t come close to even matching the average warranty offered on new cars these days. Rivals come with five-year warranties, and the MG4 even comes with a 10-year warranty from new. Luckily, the battery is covered for eight years or 160,000km; and there’s roadside assistance thrown in for three years too.

Servicing is on the expensive side for an EV, as Abarth is offering capped price servicing at $300 per visit for up to 10 years for each time the Abarth 500e needs to visit the dealership. Intervals are a rather short 12 months or 15,000 km, where an MG4 would only need to visit a dealership every 2 years, or 40,000 km.

Should I buy a 2024 Abarth 500e?

If you’ve love Abarths of past, then the 2024 Abarth 500e continues the Abarth legacy of offering fast, albeit flawed shoeboxes that can put a smile on the dial of any driver. The Abarth 500e is fast, fun to drive, super quirky and unlike any EV we’ve driven before. But sadly, it’s also flawed, with a steep price tag, not much driving range and a lack of firepower which will see rival EVs obliterate it in a drag race. Add in a lack of space inside, and a less than stellar after sales program by way of short warranty and expensive servicing, and things don’t look so good.

In many ways the Abarth 500e doesn’t make much sense, but hasn’t that been the case with most Abarths in the past? The Abarth 500e takes the essence of the Abarth brand, improves it on nearly every aspect and delivers an iconic hatch for the electric era, which will be guaranteed to turn heads. The 500e still has that Abarth feel, and builds on the 695’s flaws to make a compelling and more well-rounded vehicle. You can’t help but always smile looking at this car, and every drive feels special, almost as if you feel this car was never meant to have been made. Much like the Abarth 695 which charmed my friend, the Abarth 500e’s charms run deep in the most bonkers way. On paper it’s silly, behind the wheel it’s pure fun.