Electric Abarth 600e Delivers Budget-Friendly Enjoyment - Saddled with a Single Drawback
Rewritten Piece:
Electrifying the Classic: Abarth 600e Reimagined
I wasn't anticipating falling in love with the Abarth 600e quite like I did. The Abarth 500e was a blast, but mainly because of its quirky appearance and hilarious exhaust sounds. The 600e, however, is a different story. It shares its roots with a Fiat of the same number, but Abarth has really stepped up their game to bring the 600e in line with their brand's performance-oriented ethos. As a result, it's one of the liveliest electric hatchbacks on the market at the moment.
Blending Tradition with Moderne: Abarth 600e
Ever since 1949, Abarth has been a household name for taking ordinary small cars and injecting a dose of performance. These days, many automakers have their secret labs where they tinker with their ordinary cars, transforming them into something extraordinary, but always maintaining street-legal capabilities. With the Abarth 600e, the starting point is the Fiat 600e, a car I found enjoyable when I tested it last year. The Fiat 600e, however, is a practical, family-focused hatchback – not exactly a driver's car.
So, Abarth stepped in and made a number of modifications, including increasing the horsepower and torque over the Fiat version and enhancing the suspension and braking systems to provide improved handling. The result is a major leap forward from the Fiat 600e's 154hp, with either 240 or 280hp on offer, depending on the version you choose (the Scorpionissima, named after Abarth's iconic logo, maxes out at 280hp)[4].
One of the most notable modifications is the JTEKT Torsen mechanical limited slip differential, which significantly improves traction during cornering. EVs can accelerate quickly, so big brakes are essential, and Abarth has provided powerful 380mm Alcon-derived disc brakes and calipers for precisely that reason[5]. In terms of appearance, the Abarth 600e retains some resemblance to the Fiat 600e, but with more angular features and a choice of vibrant colors like Acid Green, Orange, White, Black, or the exclusive Hypnotic Purple (available only on the Scorpionissima). The general aesthetic is decidedly more aggressive, though it's difficult to completely obscure the friendliness of the 600e's round headlights.
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Fun and Games with the Abarth 600e
Despite boasting less speed than some other electric vehicles, the Abarth 600e excels where it truly matters – on the road. The chassis setup allows you to throw this car into corners with abandon, feeling incredibly solid and nimble. It performs admirably on twisty British A-roads and is incredibly forgiving if you overdo it on a corner here and there. Simply turn in, drop the hammer after the apex, and let the Abarth 600e's capable limited slip differential pull you through.
To really drive the point home, Abarth invited journalists for a track day at a go-karting circuit. The Abarth 600e was in its element there, able to make dizzying changes of direction thanks to its ability to pull 1G laterally. I managed to have a great time, despite being a mere mortal compared to the skilled drivers demonstrating the car's capabilities[6]. The big brakes worked superbly, pulling the car up quickly after each corner.
You can customize the Abarth 600e's performance via three drive modes - Turismo, Scorpion Street, and Scorpion Track. Turismo prioritizes range and efficiency, offering just 148hp or 198hp, respectively, for the base and Scorpionissima models, with 300Nm of torque. The Scorpion Street mode increases those figures significantly, while the Scorpion Track setting provides maximum power. The drive modes also adjust various settings, including throttle response, stability control, and steering[5].
While the Abarth 600e is undoubtedly fun to drive, it still offers practicality for everyday use. The rear seats are roomy enough for adults, and the trunk provides a generous 360 liters of storage with the rear seats up. Fold them down, and that grows to 1,231 liters – more than enough for your daily errands, weekend getaways, or even light DIY projects. Unfortunately, the stiffer suspension means that the ride might be a bit firm on British roads, but that's a small price to pay for the handling benefits.
The Abarth 600e: Almost Perfect, But Not Quite
The Abarth 600e's pricing is reasonable, with the base model starting at £36,975 (about $48,000) and the Scorpionissima landing at £39,875 (approximately $51,500)[7]. This falls below the UK's expensive vehicle tax threshold, so you won't incur any additional costs[7]. When compared with equivalent internal combustion engines, such as the 2025 Mk8 Golf GTI, it's a fair price for an electric hot hatch. The Abarth 600e's price is similar to that of the MG4 XPOWER, another electric hot hatch, but the latter is less nimble due to its speedier straight-line performance[4].
However, the Abarth 600e does have one downside – its range. With a 54kWh battery, combined with a large amount of power, the driving distance is relatively short. The WLTP rating is 207 miles, which is less than the Fiat 600e's 250 miles, and you'll likely achieve even less real-world range with aggressive driving styles. Like many EVs, fast DC charging maxes out at 100kW, so replenishing the battery from 10% to 80% takes around 27 minutes, netting you about 160 miles of travel[2]. This means that you can realistically cover around 2 hours on a motorway between charging stops, making long-distance trips manageable but less than ideal.
Ultimately, the Abarth 600e isn't perfect. A true hot hatch should be versatile, offering a blend of fun on the track and practicality for daily life. In the case of the Abarth 600e, it strikes a great balance, albeit with a range that leaves a bit to be desired. Despite that, it remains one of the best electric hot hatches to date, coming close but not quite achieving the status of a perfect all-around EV driving machine.
Enrichment Data: Efficiency and RangeThe Abarth 600e's driving range can vary depending on factors such as driving style, weather, road conditions, and battery usage. The official WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure) efficiency rating for the 600e is approximately 207 miles (333 kilometers) on a single charge, using a 54kWh battery[1][2][3]. However, real-world efficiency may differ significantly, especially when aggressive driving or long motorway cruises are involved[2][3].
In terms of charging times, the Abarth 600e can be charged from 10% to 80% in about 27 minutes using a 100kW DC fast charging station, providing around 160 miles (257 kilometers) of range[3]. With a 7.4kW home charging unit, a full charge takes around 8 hours[2].
- The Abarth 600e shares its roots with the Fiat 600e, but Abarth has modified it to be more in line with their performance-oriented ethos, turning it into one of the liveliest electric hatchbacks on the market.
- The MG4 XPOWER and the Abarth 600e are both electric hot hatches, but the Abarth 600e offers more nimble handling due to its focus on agility and cornering capabilities.
- The Abarth 600e has a driving range of approximately 207 miles (333 kilometers) according to the WLTP efficiency rating, but real-world driving conditions might result in less range, especially with aggressive driving styles.
