REVIEW | Abarth 600e - The Hot Hatch is Alive and Kicking
When it comes to cars, I admit to having a bit of a weakness…I absolutely adore small, quick cars.
Whenever I have the fortune to have something like a 3.0-litre luxury cruiser plonked onto my drive, I generally spend the week pootling around, enjoying the sonorous sound and marvelling at how relaxed and quiet the car is.
However, when I get a small, quick car, the inner hooligan suddenly emerges, and I can’t wait to extract every ounce of performance which is legally available.
The big worry over the past few years was that the arrival of electric cars would see a tendency for sensible motoring, eking out every possible mile while keeping a careful watch on the ever-diminishing battery life. Fun would be in short supply once you’d got bored of the initial take-off from standstill.
But I have news. If you want proof that there is hot hatch life amongst the wave of electric vehicles, go and try this car.
Abarth 600e background
The Abarth 600e. It’s an absolute electric hoot. Yes, the ride is extremely uncompromising and will loosen your fillings, and the predicted battery range is optimistic, but it’s still a grin-a-minute car.
The 600e is big brother to the only other Abarth, the 500e, and a sister model to the Fiat 600e - although it gets additions to the interior and exterior trim. You also get new colours, including this dazzling Acid Green (Hypnotic Purple is also available on the top of the range model), and you get more power…lots of it. In fact, this is the most powerful Abarth….ever.
Choices & Performance
There are two versions available, Turismo and the hot Scorpionissima, which is the one I had. Thank goodness, because if you enjoy your driving experience, this is the one to go for. The Turismo manages with 235bhp while the Scorpionissima ups the ante to 276bhp. What that means in terms of performance is the 0-60mph time drops from 6.2 seconds to 5.85. In other words, it’s quick. The speed also piles on nicely in a steady flow.
Charging, Range & Extras
The electric charging rates are okay, with a 20-80% charge on a rapid charger taking around 27 minutes. A typical wallbox will give you a full boost from 0-100% in 5 hours and 45 minutes, while the range is estimated to be around 210 miles. Use the power or travel at a constant high motorway speed, and that figure will plummet.
Oh, and if you like the sound of an engine, the Scorpionissima model gets a sound generator to mimic the sound of the old, petrol 500s. Handy to play with, but in the end, I didn’t bother, unless wanting to give a passenger a giggle.
It’s also interesting to note that on the Abarth website, they provide a list of the additional kit, and the suppliers’ names. So you get Michelin performance tyres, Sabelt racing seats, Alcon advanced brakes, and a JTEKT limited slip differential to help with traction.
Driving modes
Both models offer three driving modes: Turismo, Scorpion Street and Scorpion Track. Each one gives you more power and adds weight to the steering. If you do a lot of city driving, you’ll find that the Turismo setting gives you the best compromise, but in all other circumstances, the Scorpion Track is the best because it makes the car come alive. If you have a winding country lane for your journey home, you’re in for a treat.
Driving Experience
The ride is firm. It all depends on what you’re used to. If you’re switching into the 600e from another hot hatch, you’re probably used to wincing whenever you hit a pothole, but if you are moving up from a family runabout, you need to go for a test drive first. The problem is that the Abarth is an electric car with a heavy battery. You can tell. The suspension has its work cut out.
It's also front-wheel drive only. Factor in a load of power and you’ll find that the steering tugs slightly if you travel quickly on a twisty road.
Exterior & Interior Styling
The styling, inside and out, is quite distinctive. The exterior’s glossy black bodykit, rear spoiler and seriously good-looking alloys, make the car stand out, as do the two available colours on the Scorpionissima. The Turismo gets Antidote White, Shock Orange and Venom Black as well as Acid Green. What happened to colours just being beige, red and silver?
The interior is smart too, although it does take a lot of styling cues from the Fiat 600e on which the car is based. Praise for the heated sports seats. They look good, and they’re both supportive and comfy. The driver gets a 7-inch digital instrument cluster while the Scorpionissima version adds loads of goodies, including a central 10.3-inch infotainment screen which both looks smart and works well. It’s a lot more logical than some other cars I’ve tried. Ambient lighting is also included as standard on the hot 600e, as are front, side and rear parking sensors, rear view camera, powered tailgate, wireless charging and a host of safety kit.
Abarth 600e Price
In terms of prices, the Turismo Abarth 600e is a competitive £36,985 (May ’25), but I’d spend the extra three grand and go for the hot Scorpionissima. It’s worth the extra outlay, not only in terms of kit, but for the additional power.
Any downsides?
Yes, only 1949 of these limited launch edition Scorpionissima models will be on sale. After that, the Turismo version will be on its own. Pity, because the more powerful version is the better car. Overall, though, the Abarth 600e is a likeable car. It’s fun to drive (if you can live with the firm ride), well equipped and decent value when compared to the competition. Bearing in mind that this Abarth is based on the Fiat 600e, it means it’s also a versatile SUV which can double up for sensible family life.
Until you unleash the horses. Lovers of small, quick cars can breathe easily.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Abarth