As with the electric Fiat 500, the Abarth 500e doesn’t have a heat pump, and it isn’t an option. This will have an impact in colder temperatures because a heat pump provides a more energy-efficient way of warming the interior and preserving the driving range. That’s a shame because both the Alpine A290 and MINI Cooper Electric both get one as standard.
Peak charging speed is as per the top-spec Fiat 500e, at 85kW, yet due to the relatively small battery, a 10-80 per cent charge takes only 25 minutes. If you do most of your charging at home – all but essential in a car like this, we’d argue – then a full recharge is likely to take 6 hours using a 7.4kWh wallbox charger.
| Model | Battery size | Range | Insurance group |
| Abarth 500e | 42kWh | 164 miles | 23-28 |
Insurance groups
The Abarth 500’s insurance group ratings are roughly where you’d expect for a small, sporty electric hatchback, with the entry-level car starting in group 23, and the top-spec model in group 28, similar to the 27-29 of the Alpine A290. The regular Fiat 500, for comparison, sits in groups 13-18.
Tax
Like other EVs under the £50,000 mark, the Abarth 500e will cost you only £10 in your first year of paying VED, which then rises to £200 per year thereafter, matching most combustion cars. There are also the same BIK benefits for company users, with rates of just four per cent in the ‘26/’27 tax year. This will climb to five per cent in ‘27/’28 tax year, seven per cent in ‘28/’29, and nine per cent in ‘29/’30.
Depreciation
In terms of residual values, the Abarth 500e could do better. Over the course of a typical ownership period of three years or 36,000 miles, our expert data from CDL suggests that the 500e will retain 40 to 42 per cent of its original value, which isn’t as good as the 47 per cent the Alpine A290 is expected to be worth, or the 46 to 54 per cent the MINI Cooper Electric is anticipated to be worth.
The Abarth 500e looks especially cool in a lairy colour combination. The cabin is finished to a high standard
Pros |
|
Cons |
|
The Abarth 500e looks menacingly different to the standard Fiat 500 on the outside, with a sporty aesthetic that’s emphasised in the car’s more exuberant paint options. More subtle colours are available if you’d rather blend in.
