Test Car Specifications
Model: 2025 Abarth 600e Scorpionissima
Price: £39,885 as tested
Engine: 207kW electric motor
Battery: 51kWh lithium-ion
Transmission: single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Power: 280hp
Torque: 345Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 199 miles
0-62mph: 5.9 seconds
Top speed: 124mph
Boot space: 360 litres
Styling
As with the smaller 500e, the Abarth 600e takes the basic 600e body and beefs it up a bit. A sporty body kit, the Abarth lettering on the front and a boxy rear spoiler all feature, along with big 20-inch alloy wheels with a green centre, Abarth scorpions on the wings and lots of black accents on the windows, doors and skirts. And the track is slightly wider than that of the standard 600e, ensuring the bulkiness of the bodykit. The result is something that looks much more aggressive than the standard car, and seems to attract plenty of attention. It isn't necessarily beautiful, but it's striking, sporty and seemingly quite desirable and intriguing.
Interior
As with the exterior, the Abarth 600e's interior is based on the same basic structure as that of the Fiat 600e. All of which means you get the same dashboard with a digital instrument display and touchscreen infotainment system, but it's supplemented by a sportier steering wheel, Abarth lettering and logos, and more bright green accents in the stitching and details. It's quite a dark cabin, really, but it's just as well built as the standard Fiat and it has some lovely materials.
In keeping with the sporty style, the Abarth gets some outrageous bucket seats, which look spectacular with their leather-and-microsuede upholstery, as well as their angular design. But they're quite hard and unforgiving, so while they keep you in place brilliantly, they don't exactly offer great comfort on long drives. About two hours is as long as you'll want to spend in them.
On the tech front, meanwhile, the Abarth has much the same software as the standard Fiat 600e, albeit with a reskinned display. The black-and-green theme continues, but the menus are much the same, so it's reasonably easy to navigate, although some menus take a little getting used to. Helpfully, you still get the same 'hotkey' buttons beneath the screen, making access to certain screens much easier.
Practicality
The 600e is designed to be the 500e's more practical brother, and it certainly delivers on that score. But that isn't exactly a high bar. Nevertheless, the boot space of 360 litres is on a par with that of the standard 600e, and it's roughly comparable with the MG4 and the Cupra Born. The cabin space, however, is still a bit tight. You can fit four adults in, but they won't necessarily be all that comfortable, particularly with those bucket seats. Yes, they have cutouts to accommodate the passenger's knees, but that in itself is a sign that rear legroom is far from generous.
Performance
As standard, the Abarth 600e comes with a 51kWh battery, but basic Turismo models use that to power a 240hp front-mounted motor, while the Scorpionissima tested here gets a 280hp motor on the front axle. Both are pretty brisk, with the Turismo getting from 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds, while the Scorpionissima takes 5.9 seconds to achieve the same feat. However, even the Scorpionissima doesn’t feel quite that quick from a standing start, although it is pretty brisk when it’s on the move, making it spectacular for overtaking.
Range is somewhat less spectacular, though, with an official range of 199.5 miles for the Scorpionissima, while the Turismo extends that to 207 miles. On the motorway – the only place where outright range really matters – we managed about 175 miles to a charge, which isn’t bad going, and we reckon those really into their hypermiling might manage something closer to the official range.
Thankfully, the comparatively small battery means the 600e will charge pretty quickly, especially with its 100kW maximum DC charge speed. That means the most powerful public charge points will fill it to 80 per cent in about half an hour, while a domestic home charging point will fill the battery completely overnight.
Ride & Handling
Abarths have generally always been about having fun in confined spaces. The petrol-powered 500-based models were never set up for motorway cruising, and though the 600e is more capable than its little brother in that regard, it's still built for sportiness, rather than subtlety. As a result, the car handles remarkably well. Despite the limited-slip differential, the motor will still make the wheel squirm under acceleration, but it's generally well sorted, and the sports suspension means body control is very good in corners. The steering isn't bad, either, although it isn't exactly bursting with feel.
The problem is that ride comfort has been sacrificed at the altar of handling. The 600e is stiff in the extreme, and you feel that even more keenly on the scarred surfaces of the British road network. Big wheels, bucket seats and a heavy battery do nothing for a car's comfort, and the Abarth 600e has all those things. It's quite noisy, too, with lots of tyre roar from underneath and a surprising amount of whine from the electric motor. All of which means it's hardly a relaxing thing to drive.
On a longer drive, you'll be glad of the relative lack of range, because charging stops give you a chance to get out and stretch your legs, but on a shorter drive that takes in the odd good road, the 600e will come into its own.
Value
Abarth 600e prices start at £36,985 for the basic Turismo, which comes with the 240hp electric motor, and gets climate control, rear parking sensors and keyless start as standard, along with automatic wipers and the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration technology. Meanwhile, the Scorpionissima model, with the more powerful motor, starts at £39,885 and gets satellite navigation, the engine sound generator and the Winter Pack, plus the more dramatic glossy black styling. It isn't bad value, given the Hypnotic Purple and Acid Green colour schemes are both included in the price, but it's only a little cheaper than the £42,305 Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce.
Verdict
The Abarth 600e fills its brief very well indeed. It's more useful and more spacious than the 500e, but it's almost as much fun to drive and it has the visual drama we expect from an Abarth. If you want to drive long distances in comfort, look elsewhere, but on an entertaining British B-road, the 600e will engage you like few other electric hatchbacks. The only catch is that the Junior Veloce does exactly the same job.
