Abarth 500e Price Guide

The Abarth 500e is the electric performance version of the Fiat 500e, and it faces a challenge that no Abarth has confronted before: how do you make a car feel like an Abarth when there is no engine note, no turbo spool, and no exhaust to pop and bang on the overrun?

The Answer

Abarth’s solution was a simulated sound generator that pipes a synthesised version of the 595’s exhaust note through external speakers, controllable via a Sound Generator button on the dashboard. It sounds absurd on paper and divides opinion in practice, but the performance is genuine: 155bhp and 235Nm from the single electric motor, 0–62mph in seven seconds, and a top speed limited to 96mph. The 42kWh battery provides around 150 miles of real-world range. The chassis is stiffened over the standard 500e with recalibrated springs and dampers.

Buying

The 500e is too new for long-term reliability data, though the underlying Fiat 500e platform has proven reasonably robust. The synthesised sound system is a love-it-or-hate-it feature — try it before committing. Battery health is the key long-term concern, as with all EVs. The Abarth 500e competes with the Mini Cooper SE and the forthcoming 600e for the affections of buyers who want electric performance with personality.