I love the drive appeal of the Abarth 600e but it has one huge drawback

Introduction

What to do if you like the look of the Abarth 500e but need more space? Well, having just spent time behind the wheel of the larger Abarth 600e Scorpionissima, I’d say it’ll more than do the trick. This is a larger car, but no less fun than the super compact Abarth 500e, packs a 54kWh battery and delivers 280 horsepower, while also boasting all of the cosmetic appeal that comes with anything from the Abarth portfolio.

However, despite the fizzy drive appeal, it lets itself down rather badly by possessing a battery that whilst more than adequate for shorter hops and fun forays into the sticks, is simply too small to provide enough sustenance on longer runs. Hooning around backroads is undeniably good fun, with a taught suspension setup, eager acceleration and ground-hugging handling providing plenty of thrills. But boy, I’d love more range.

The Abarth 600e certainly doesn’t fare well under continued pressure from a lead foot and, even in the fun segments of a journey, eyes are never far from the range indicator. Aside from that though, there is plenty on offer from the 600e including wonderfully grippy seats on the inside along with suitably lairy paint and graphics on the outside. This is a car that seeks attention and generally gets it, especially at the lights when spotted by other hot hatch EV owners.

The styling

I’ve got to hand it to Stellantis for making a real effort with the Abarth 600e. A cursory glance is all it takes to see the step up from a standard issue Fiat 600e, which is much less interesting. On the outside, there are loud paint schemes to choose from, topped with bold decals and the eye-catchingly distinction Abarth logo and badging.

This car also has some really fetching 20in alloys, shod with performance Michelin rubber, which loom large in the arches thus giving the 600e a very imposing presence. The effect is made even more fetching with lots of black trim touches, especially around those filled-to-the-brim arches. Front and rear ends also benefit from black trim flourishes, with bold lower bumper sections contrasting nicely with the moody light clusters and, at the back, a chunky spoiler that sits over the rear screen. Thankfully, this doesn’t encroach on the view out of the back either.

Inside, there are some aspects that reminded me of the bog-standard Fiat 600e, but there were also some noble attempts to jazz things up. The left side of the dashboard boasts bold Abarth graphics while the use of juicy yellowy-green animations throughout the instrument layout helps underline the potent potential of the Abarth heritage. Things are let down a touch by a healthy quota of scratchy plastics but, equally, the mood is lifted by the neat Alcantara flecked steering wheel, which was a dream to grab hold of and the figure-hugging seats, which were similarly brilliant.

The drive

I loved driving the Abarth 500e, so it was great to get behind the wheel of a close relation. There’s a lot going for this car in the drive department too, thanks to its dedicated Perfo e-CMP platform. This, combined with a 280-horsepower electric motor in the more potent Scorpionissima variant (as opposed to the 240 horsepower Turismo) and a mechanical limited-slip differential means this is a real drivers car. The trade-off is always going to be just how quickly it’s possible to get through battery power. However, it’s fun while it lasts.

Now, I own a sports car which has low profile tyres and a hard ride, and the Abarth 600e was definitely akin to that in the suspension and handling department. That limited slip-diff though, was a real boon and, combined with the low-slung stance and that meaty Michelin rubber, I found the Abarth 600e to be brilliant fun on bumpy B roads where its hot hatch potential could be fully realised. The press button drive selectors are still a bit of a curio, like they are in the other Fiat/Abarth cars, but they work well enough.

Meanwhile, the trio of drive modes gave the Abarth a real touch of pizazz with something for every driving scenario, including a Scorpion Track option. Each time a successive mode is selected the car’s performance is tweaked and fine-tuned, so suit the scenario. There was a definite air of excitement once each mode was engaged, although I really noticed just how much the battery life took a hit with each increasingly enthusiastic driving options.

However, the Abarth 600e was less entertaining when I did a reasonably lengthy jaunt on the motorway. It rumbled along nicely enough, but without any enticing corners to tackle, the overall driving experience becomes a little humdrum. And, in fact, on cruddy road surfaces, that harder ride quality made longer treks a bit of a chore, compounded by tyre noise. Then there’s the range again, which even at a cautious range-saving sixty left me with no option but to stop for a charge on my return journeys home. Home charging was the saving grace for me with this car. Otherwise, I think that aspect might get on my nerves.

The technology

If you’ve got kids, or you’re just a big kid yourself, the synthetic engine noise works to much better effect than the relentless drone of the speaker box in the Abarth 500e. This time, there was a throaty growl that changed with the way the car was driven, and I managed to live with it for a while. The digital dials and power usage were quite cool too and look rather better than the average graphics of the sat nav map or radio station icons. They can be activated on the 10in landscape infotainment screen and replace the standard menu options until switched off again.

Elsewhere, the options are standard Stellantis fare, with plenty of familiar switchgear getting the job done. The multi-function steering wheel is nicely laid out, with easy to access controls keeping things sensible. The 7in driver display worked to good effect as well, with those sizzling Abarth graphics really adding to the zesty performance factor. I’d expected a beefier sound system for some reason, but what I got was acceptable if not amazing.

Rounding it out was USB ports and a 12V socket behind the natty little covered centre console with a wireless phone charger topping it off. All very acceptable.

Abarth 600e verdict

The Abarth 600e delivers a scintillating drive on more interesting backroads and the performance engineering on offer really does take it to another level compared to the everyday Fiat 600e.

The appeal is limited somewhat by the rather poor range, but anyone with easy access to a home charger should get full value from its charms. There are cool looks, both outside and in, which gives extra kerb appeal. That said, some might find the garish colours and decals a little too much to bear.

I loved it but, I repeat, give me a car with a bigger battery next time, perlease.

Abarth 600e technical specifications