Abarth 500e Review: Why This Electric Hot Hatch Feels More Alive Than Most Gas Cars
30.01.2026 - 17:37:13
You know that moment when you floor a modern EV and it’s shockingly fast—but also weirdly emotionless? No drama, no buildup, no character. Just silent acceleration and a dashboard full of range anxiety. Efficient, yes. Exciting? Not really.
If you grew up loving hot hatches—noisy, twitchy, full of personality—most electric cars feel like they’ve been tuned for spreadsheets, not smiles. They’re brilliant appliances, but terrible partners in crime.
That’s the itch the Abarth 500e wants to scratch.
The Abarth 500e is Stellantis’s all?electric reboot of the cult-classic Abarth 500, and it doesn’t pretend to be a sensible eco-mobile. It’s an EV that openly admits it just wants to have fun. From its artificially rowdy sound generator to a chassis tuned for mischief, this is a small electric car that prioritizes grin-per-mile over miles-per-kWh.
Why this specific model?
The Abarth 500e isn’t just a Fiat 500e with a scorpion badge slapped on the hood. It’s a much more focused, much more chaotic little EV designed for people who think driving should be noisy, playful, and just a little bit ridiculous.
Under the skin, the Abarth 500e uses a front-mounted electric motor rated at around 113 kW (about 155 hp) and 235 Nm of torque, paired with a 42 kWh battery (gross) and front?wheel drive. That sounds modest in a spec sheet arms race—but in a car this tiny, it’s a riot. European tests quote roughly 0–100 km/h in about 7 seconds, but what matters more is how immediate it feels from 0–60 km/h in city traffic or blasting out of tight corners.
On the road, reviewers consistently highlight three big differences versus the standard Fiat 500e:
- Sharpened handling: Stiffer suspension, a wider track, and sportier calibration make it feel more planted, more eager to turn in, and less floaty than the regular 500e.
- More aggressive throttle response: The Abarth mapping serves up its punch more eagerly, giving it that old-school hot hatch rush at urban speeds.
- Character over calm: Everything from the driving modes to the steering feel is tuned for engagement, not serenity.
Then there’s the most controversial feature: the optional sound generator that pipes an Abarth-style exhaust note externally to mimic a combustion engine. It’s not subtle—and that’s the point. Owners and reviewers say it’s surprisingly convincing from outside, while inside it’s more of a playful soundtrack than an acoustic assault. If you hate fake sound, you can turn it off. If you love the theater of a hot hatch, you’ll probably leave it on longer than you admit.
Range-wise, this is not a long-haul EV—and it doesn’t pretend to be. Expect roughly around 250 km (WLTP) in mixed use for the hatchback version, a bit less if you’re hammering it or it’s cold out. This is intentionally a city, suburb, and back-road toy, not a cross-continental cruiser.
At a Glance: The Facts
| Feature | User Benefit |
|---|---|
| Front electric motor (~113 kW / 155 hp, 235 Nm) | Hot?hatch punch in a tiny body, making everyday city and back?road driving genuinely exciting. |
| 42 kWh battery (gross), WLTP range around 250 km (model dependent) | Enough everyday range for commuting, errands, and spirited evening drives without overpaying for a huge battery. |
| Fast charging (DC; typical spec around 85 kW class) | Quick top?ups on longer days out; a coffee stop can add a useful chunk of range. |
| Sport?tuned suspension and steering | More direct, agile feel than regular city EVs; inspires confidence on twisty roads. |
| Optional Abarth "sound generator" exhaust simulation | Adds drama and presence; lets you bring back some of the emotional kick of old petrol Abarths. |
| Scorpion Street, Scorpion Track, and Turismo driving modes | Switch between efficiency, everyday fun, and maximum attack depending on your mood and route. |
| Compact 3?door body with aggressive styling | Easy to park in dense cities while looking far more special than anonymous small EVs. |
What Users Are Saying
Browse Reddit threads and owners’ forums and you’ll find a pretty consistent theme: people did not buy the Abarth 500e with their head. They bought it with their heart.
What they love:
- Character in an EV world: Owners say it feels unique in a segment where many cars drive similarly. The steering, throttle, and sound package give it a distinct personality.
- Perfect for city fun: Many describe it as the ideal urban toy—easy to park, quick off the line, and genuinely entertaining at legal speeds.
- Design and interior vibe: Sport seats, contrast stitching, scorpion logos, and a generally more aggressive visual package make it feel special compared to a regular city EV.
What they complain about:
- Range is just OK: A common sentiment: “Plenty for daily life, but I wouldn’t road?trip it.” If you expect Tesla?like range, you’ll be disappointed.
- Firm ride: The sportier suspension that makes it fun on a twisty road can feel harsh over broken city streets. Some love it, some wish it was 10% softer.
- Price vs practicality: On forums, buyers admit you can get a roomier EV or more range for the money. This is a passion purchase, not a rational one.
Overall sentiment skews surprisingly positive. Even critics tend to say, “It’s not the car for everyone—but for the right driver, it’s perfect.”
Alternatives vs. Abarth 500e
The performance EV space is heating up, but most options are either bigger, heavier, or more sensible. That’s why the Abarth 500e sits in a weirdly small niche—and that’s a good thing.
- Fiat 500e: The obvious sibling. Quieter, softer, more comfort?oriented, usually slightly better on range. If you want cute and efficient, go Fiat. If you want attitude, go Abarth.
- Mini Cooper Electric (previous gen): Another charismatic small EV with sharp handling. The Mini feels a bit more grown?up inside and has its own cult vibe, but the Abarth turns the drama knob further, especially with the sound generator.
- MG4 XPower / similar compact EVs: More power, more space, and often better range per dollar. But they’re bigger hatchbacks, not tiny city toys, and they lack the Abarth’s mischievous, almost cartoonish charm.
- Hyundai Kona Electric / Peugeot e-208 / others: Excellent all?rounders with better practicality, but they’re tuned to be calm and efficient. If your priority is fun over function, the Abarth 500e is more emotionally engaging.
In other words, there are smarter buys—but very few more fun ones in this size and price band.
It’s also worth noting the corporate backdrop: Abarth sits under Stellantis N.V., the massive automotive group behind brands like Fiat, Peugeot, Jeep, and more, listed under ISIN: NL00150001Q9. That scale gives the 500e a solid tech and service ecosystem that tiny niche brands sometimes lack.
Final Verdict
If you want a rational EV, you already know what to buy. It will be quiet, efficient, spacious, inoffensive—and utterly forgettable.
The Abarth 500e is the opposite of that. It’s an electric car for people who still care about how a car feels. It trades long?range serenity for short?range intensity. It’s small, loud (when you want it to be), occasionally impractical, and hilariously fun in the right environment.
You have to be honest with yourself: Do you mostly do city and suburban driving, with the occasional spirited escape? Are you okay treating long trips as the exception, not the rule? Are you willing to choose personality over spreadsheet value?
If the answer is yes, the Abarth 500e might be the most entertaining way to go electric right now. It’s not here to save the world in one charge. It’s here to make your commute, your grocery run, and that late?night detour down your favorite back road feel like driving again—not just transportation.
In a landscape of silent, sensible EVs, the Abarth 500e is gloriously, unapologetically silly—and that’s exactly why it matters.
