Abarth 600e Review 2026: Prices, specs and verdict

What is the Abarth 600e?

Always fancied an Abarth but found its existing city car-sized models too small? You’re in luck, because the new Abarth 600e is the biggest and most practical car the brand has ever sold here.

That isn’t much to brag about from a maker known for its long and illustrious history making compact sports and racing cars. Even as its association with Fiat grew, Abarth’s focus stayed on small models like the Grande Punto and Abarth 595 (the latter becoming its bread and butter until recently).

So, what about the 600e? is that the first Abarth SUV? Well, to call it even a small SUV is a stretch, given that it’s a good deal shorter than a VW Golf and only 10mm taller than the Alpine A290 electric hot hatchback.

Abarth no longer fits its cars with turbo petrol engines and rorty exhausts. Its range is 100% electric today, with the 600e lining up above the smaller Abarth 500e.

With some serious performance and chassis upgrades, along with some racy styling editions that certainly catch the eye, is the Abarth 600e the real deal? Or is it all mouth and no trousers? Our in-depth review finds out.

Verdict: is the Abarth 600e a good car?

We reckon the Abarth 600e is among the best small hot electric cars on sale right now. While an Alpine A290 is more comfortable and a bit nicer inside, the Abarth is quite a bit sharper, faster and more exciting when you’re in the mood. The limited range and so-so practicality means that, alongside it’s shouty looks, it won’t be to all tastes however.

Pricing, specs & rivals

Prices for the Abarth 600e start at £36,985 for the standard version (as of November 2025), including a £1,500 discount from the UK Government’s Electric Car Grant.

That base price is slightly above the most expensive version of the Alpine A290 but lines up closely with the cheapest MINI John Cooper Works Aceman.

The standard 600e comes with a decent kit tally including 20in diamond cut alloys, a limited-slip differential, an Alcantara steering wheel, climate control, rain sensing wipers, LED headlamps and rear parking sensors.

We can certainly see the appeal of the Scorpionissima version, however. For a modest extra £3,000 this adds more power, a raft of design upgrades inside and out, heated Sabelt sports seats, sat-nav, adaptive cruise control, a wireless phone charging pad, an electric tailgate, a rear-view camera and upgraded safety tech.

Crucially, Abarth lowered the price of the 600e Scorpionissima at launch to ensure it avoids the ‘Luxury Car Tax’ supplement payable for cars with a list price over £40,000.

Rivals

There are a few performance-oriented electric small SUVs, but not loads. Two of the Abarth’s key rivals are closely related Stellantis models with the same bits underneath: the Vauxhall Mokka GSE and the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce.

Other alternatives include the MINI Aceman in hotter John Cooper Works form, the Smart #1 Brabus and the less sporty (but still fast) Volvo EX30. The Alpine A290 is more of a hot hatch but similar in size, while cars like the Skoda Elroq vRS and Cupra Tavascan are larger and considerably more expensive.

Abarth 600e: Interior comfort, quality & technology

The Abarth 600e is no shrinking violet from the outside, with its lurid colours, chunky wheels, huge spoiler and scorpion badging. The interior on the standard version, however, is a bit more reserved.

It does benefit from the lovely Alcantara steering wheel with its lime green centreline, along with some racy upholstery and integrated headrests. But otherwise it’s a little too similar inside to the Fiat on which it’s based.

The Scorpionissimo ups the ante, however, mainly thanks to a pair of outrageous-looking Sabelt sports seats up front. They hug you in place much more snugly, too, though broader adults might find them a bit tight. You also get more Abarth badging and Alcantara trim, along with aluminium pedals, making it our choice.

Those niceties help disguise some of the cheaper elements of the 600e’s cabin – namely some hard and scratchy plastics on the dash and lower areas. The Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce does feel more premium inside.

The Abarth is still a nice place to sit, though, with plenty of adjustment in the seat letting you sit high up or lower down than in some rivals as you prefer. Visibility is good all-round, too.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

Every Abarth 600e gets a 10.3in touchscreen infotainment system mounted high up within the driver’s line of sight, alongside a 7in digital instrument cluster.

All versions get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, but only Scorpionissimo adds built-in sat-nav. This isn’t a huge issue, though, as many people use Google Maps or Waze through their phone.

The touchscreen itself is bright and clear, with a few nice physical shortcut buttons below the screen to quickly access certain functions. Some of the menus aren’t that intuitive to use, however, and an Alpine A290 has a much more responsive screen along with proper Google integration.

The instrument display is somewhat basic but easy to read and gives you all the essential info, while top-spec versions have a wireless phone charging pad too. There are front and rear USB-C connections, while the standard six-speaker audio system delivers acceptable sound for this class of car.

How practical is the Abarth 600e?

The Abarth 600e is certainly practical by the brand’s standards, though that isn’t exactly an achievement.

The 600e’s dimensions of 4,187mm in length, 1,779mm in width and 1,557mm in height make it comfortably the largest car Abarth has ever made, and a touch larger than a MINI Aceman.  

There’s no shortage of space up front, with enough headroom and leg space for all but the very largest adults to get comfortable, along with plenty of cabin width to avoid banging elbows. Just bear in mind that the Sabelt sports seats aren’t that accommodating for wider adults.

In the rear the 600e is more spacious than the 500e (again, that’s no surprise) and a bit roomier than an Alpine A290, while being on a par with the Aceman.

That doesn’t mean it’s as spacious as a full-size SUV, though, as even average-sized adults will find their knees brushing the front seatbacks – six-footers will struggle to get comfortable. At least headroom isn’t really an issue for anyone.

Storage and boot space

Oddments storage in the 600e is pretty good. Although neither the door bins nor the glovebox are  particularly large, you do get a deep storage area at the bottom of the dashboard (with a removable Alcantara cover in top trims) along with a pair of cupholders, a phone storage tray and an under-armrest cubby.

Things aren’t so rosy in the back, though, because oddly there are no door bins whatsoever. That, alongside the lack of any centre armrest or cupholders – you don’t even get pockets in the front seatbacks – means your kids might have some grumbles on long road trips. The seatbacks at least fold in a 60/40 split.

The 360-litre boot is a good size, too, being a good chunk larger in terms of capacity than the boot in an Alpine A290 or MINI Aceman. There’s enough space for a typical weekly shop along with a square opening and an adjustable boot floor – though the 600e’s Alfa Romeo cousin has even more space.

Performance & drive: What is the Abarth 600e like on the road?

We’re used to electric cars offering quick acceleration, and while the Abarth 600e isn’t Tesla-fast, it’s certainly quick by small hot hatch standards.

Opting for the standard model gets you a 240hp electric motor powering the front wheels, with a limited-slip differential. Abarth quotes a 0-62mph time in 6.2 seconds – a bit faster than the most powerful Alpine A290 and the MINI JCW Aceman.

The Scorpionissimo ramps it up a notch further with 280hp, again put through the front wheels, dropping the 0-62mph time officially to 5.9 seconds. We quite easily beat that in testing using the car’s on-board telemetry, however.

While the 428hp Smart #1 Brabus is far faster still, we’re not sure you really need (or even want) any more performance on UK roads. With that front differential letting you put the power down smoothly, the 600e’s level of shove is enough to be entertaining without making you passengers feel sick. And it’s even more engaging with the Sound Generator fitted (more on that in the noise section).

Power, 0-62mph times

• Abarth 600e: 240hp/6.2 secs
• Abarth 600e Scorpionissimo: 280hp/5.9 secs

Ride and handling

While some fast electric cars (we’re looking at you, Smart #1 Brabus) are straight-line demons yet don’t deliver much in the way of engaging handling, the Abarth 600e is a whole lot of fun.

The fact that it’s front wheel drive isn’t really an issue, partly because there’s the right amount of power for the chassis, but mainly because the standard limited-slip differential keeps you on your chosen line tightly out of a bend.

There is some torque steer (where the steering wheel tugs left and right in your hand) on poor surfaces, but it isn’t excessive and adds to the excitement. Grip levels are otherwise strong, and we believe Abarth when it says the 600e can generate up to 1G of cornering force in the bends.

Along with excellent body control and a playful feel at the limit, the Abarth’s highlight is it’s steering. It’s much more nicely weighted for keen driving than an Alpine A290’s, with plenty of precision, which combine with that Alcantara rim to make it a very enjoyable car to steer.

But what about the ride? The old Abarth 595 was punishing on poor roads, bouncing and jarring occupants harshly. And sure enough the 600e’s ride is firmer and less cossetting than its Alpine rival. But hydraulic bump stops keep it from feeling too harsh, so while you will notice jagged surfaces you won’t wince too much. Overall, it’s less jarring than the Aceman, too.

Noise and refinement

The Abarth 600e is decently refined at speed for a small, sporty car. Sure, the ride is firm, but it doesn’t thump too loudly over bumps, while upgraded tyres make the Abarth generate even less road noise than its Fiat counterpart despite bigger wheels. Wind noise is noticeable at 70mph, but not too intrusive.

Opting for the Scorpionissimo model brings Abarth’s Sound Generator – an external speaker mounted under the rear bumper that, when turned on, pumps out a burbly exhaust note reminiscent of the petrol-powered Abarths of yesteryear. It’s better than the same system on the 500e because it’s a bit more realistic, but it’s definitely an acquired taste.

Euro NCAP: is the Abarth 600e a safe car?

Neither the Abarth 600e or the Fiat 600e on which it’s based have been tested by Euro NCAP at the time of writing, so it’s difficult to draw any conclusions on either car’s performance in a crash.

The related (but slightly smaller) Jeep Avenger received a disappointing three-star rating, but with poor safety assist tech being the main issue there we’d hope Abarth has made some improvements.

The standard 600e gets the usual level of tech you’d expect of a new car including lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, driver attention monitoring and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection.

Opting for the Scorpionissimo upgrades that further with blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control with lane centering and traffic jam assist – almost worth the upgrade on its own.  

Charging, range and running costs

Both versions of the Abarth 600e use a 51kWh usable lithium-ion battery pack that’s shared with loads of Stellantis electric cars. It’s also similar in size to the Alpine A290 and MINI JCW Aceman.

The Abarth claims the lowest official WLTP combined range of the three, however, at 207 miles on a charge. And even that comes with the caveat of needing optional low rolling resistance tyres to achieve it – with the standard performance-focused tyres fitted, the 600e can’t even crack 200 miles on official tests.

That range figure might be a deal breaker for people hoping the Abarth 600e could serve as their sole family car. But for those who can charge overnight at home and don’t often do more than 150 miles in a day, it needn’t be too offputting.

For reference, the Mokka GSE promises 209 miles of range in the same tests, while the Junior Veloce is about the same too.

Range on a charge (WLTP figures)

• Abarth 600e (all versions): 207 miles (with eco tyres fitted)

Like its Stellantis cousins, the Abarth 600e has a peak DC rapid charging rate of 100kW – sufficient for a perfectly decent 10-80% charge time of under half an hour (if you can get the full rate out of the charger, that is).

Most rivals offer comparable speeds, save the Smart #1 and Volvo EX30 which can top up quicker despite their larger batteries.

Every 600e also comes with an 11kW on-board charger to let you make the most of three-phase destination chargers, allowing a full charge in a little over five hours.

Charging speeds

(Figures from EV Database)

• 7kW charging: 8hrs 15 mins
• 11kW charging: 5hrs 30 mins
• 50kW rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 56 mins
• 150kW+ rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 28 mins

How much does the Abarth 600e cost to insure?

Insurance groups for the Abarth 600e sit a few places higher than some rival hot hatchbacks (both in electric and petrol form), so expect to pay a little more to insure it.

The standard variant sits in insurance group 35 – 6 groups higher than the most powerful Alpine A290 but about on a par with the Cupra Tavascan. The Scorpionissima sits just one group higher. Interestingly, the related Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce is a couple of groups lower across the board.