The Abarth 600e sees this tiny Italian brand take its next EV step. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

The Abarth 600e gate-crashes the growing EV hot hatch segment with an Alfa Junior Veloce-derived electric powertrain and striking looks. This small Latin shopping rocket shows the electric era might be rather fun after all.

Background

The most powerful Abarth ever isn't some kind of junior supercar but an electric version of a fairly humble Fiat family hatch. Driving excitement is still in prospect though from this car, the Abarth 600e. We've had Abarth models of this size before - the rare Abarth Punto - but the brand is mainly known for citycar-shaped pocket rockets. In 2022 with the launch of the Abarth 500e, those started to turn electric and this fast 600e continues that trend, borrowing much of its engineering from the fastest Veloce version of Alfa Romeo's Junior Elettrica. The wild look is very much of a Fiat 600e on steroids, but the differences between the two cars are more than skin and spoiler-deep, thanks to this Abarth model's performance-orientated Perfo e-CMP platform.

Driving Experience

EV hot hatches of this size tend to be either the 'hot' or the ultra-rapid 'vindaloo' kind. You'll be served up the former recipe with an Abarth 600e, particularly if you choose the standard 240hp 'Turismo' model that most sales are centred around. Abarth is also offering an uprated 'Competizione' version with the 280hp motor from the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce. Both variants drive through the front wheels and use a 51kWh usable-capacity battery pack theoretically able to take the car up to 207 miles, if you drive this Italian hot hatch in the way a typical enthusiast owner never would. 62mph from rest in the 'Turismo' takes 6.2s. It's 5.9s in the 'Competizione'. Any friends who sneer at the thought of a bespoilered Fiat 600 can be put firmly in their place with the news that the underpinnings here are usefully different. This Abarth rides on an evolved 'Perfo' version of the donor car's Stellantis e-CMP platform that brings track width enhancements - 30mm more at the front and 25mm more at the rear. There's also a performance-enhancing battery cooling system, plus a Torsen limited slip differential sourced from Japanese specialist JTEKT. British braking experts Alcon provide the quad-piston calipers and the large 380mm brake discs (developed to resist fade on track). And there's a stiffened suspension set-up borrowed from the Junior Veloce which drops the car by 25mm over the equivalent Fiat and incorporate struts at the front and torsion beam at the rear. Thus the front and rear anti-roll bars have been stiffened by 140%. And there's a grippy set of bespoke Michelin tyres. The most notable feature about the smaller Abarth 500e was its fake engine note. Well you may or may not be pleased to discover that you don't get that on this 600e unless you stretch to the rare 'Competizione' version. The drive modes are familiar from the 500e. The standard one is Turismo, which limits output to 187hp and top speed to 93mph to preserve range. The other two settings - Scorpion Street and Track - unlock the full powertrain output and add some weight to the steering.

Design and Build

Even if you didn't know that this electric GLC shares nothing other than its badge with its combustion equivalent, you could probably guess the fact at first acquaintance. The two cars share much the same length, but in everything else they diverge considerably, most notably with the 'EQ Technology' version's divisive 'Iconic grille' which dominates the front end, especially when illuminated. Adornments like this are now deemed necessary to set premium models apart and this one is quite the piece of jewellery, featuring 942 small squares illuminated by 140 individual LEDs. Both headlamps and tail lights feature star-shaped illuminating signatures and animate during charging. The rear adopts a more coupe-like look than the ICE GLC with a black-tipped roof spoiler and a black central bar. And of course there are big wheels, with sizes up to 21-inches. The real party piece though, lies inside with an interior supposed to 'fuse analogue luxury with digital elegance'. There's not much that's 'analogue' about it, with the dash housing the largest seamless digital screen ever offered on a Mercedes. The 39.1-inch MBUX Hyperscreen stretches from the digital instrument cluster you view through the wheel, through the centre infotainment monitor and onto the separately-controlled display on the passenger side. Is this, as Mercedes claims, 'the most beautiful interior in the class'? A target customer will probably think so. It certainly ushers in a new era of technology, the screen integrating AI tools from Microsoft and Google and using the 'Virtual Assistant' voice control is supposed to be 'like chatting with a friend'. Also new is the one-piece panoramic glass roof which can almost completely block UV radiation, can be switched from transparent to opaque and can incorporate 162 illuminated stars. Stuff like this used only to be in luxury limos. Perhaps what might really sell family folk this car though, is the space you can get in the back of it. The bespoke MB.EA platform enables a 2,972mm wheelbase length that's 84mm longer than that of a combustion GLC (and nearly 100mm longer than that of the old EQC). That's freed up 47mm more rear leg space. Despite the raked roofline, there's also 17mm more head room than in an ICE GLC. Out back, there's a big 570-litre boot, which extends to 1,740-litres with the rear bench folded. And that new platform provides for a 128-litre under-bonnet 'frunk' for storage of the charging leads.

Market and Model

Thanks to the fact that this Abarth qualifies for a £1,500 government grant, prices start from just over £32,000 for the 240hp 'Turismo' model. There's a big price jump (to around £36,500) for the 280hp 'Competizione' version. Both variants get Adaptive Cruise Control, dedicated sports seats, aluminium for the pedals and footrest, branded floor mats and specific Abarth graphics for the 7-inch TFT instrument cluster. Plus the 10.25-inch centre screen has a 6-speaker audio system. The 'Competizione' gets a dashboard fascia in matt black with gloss black serigraphy, plus a bespoke tunnel pad cover and heated racing Sabelt seats with perforated Alcantara and 'Scorpionflage' upholstery and integrated headrests. The 'Competizione' also includes Hands-free Tailgate Opening, a Cargo Flex Kit and wireless mobile phone charging. Only the 'Competizione' features a sound generator for simulated engine noise; you may or may not want that.  Safety kit includes the usual Autonomous Emergency Braking system, Lane Departure Warning, Drowsy Driver Detection, six airbags and an E-call emergency response system. The 'Scorpionissima' version comes with a Level 2 Assisted Driving 'Lane Positioning & Traffic Jam assist' system, plus 360-degree parking sensors that combine with a rear view camera. The 'Competizione' also offers an Urban Blind Spot Monitor, traffic sign recognition and Automatic High Beam.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the EV range figure - 207 miles - in our 'Driving' section, doubtless limited by the 1,624kg kerb weight. Abarth quotes a 3.4mpkWh energy efficiency figure. And the 54kWh lithium ion battery (51kWh of which is usable) charges at a modest 100kW, which is 50kW down on the MG4 X-POWER and 85kW down on the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX but on a par with the MINI Aceman JCW. With this Abarth, a public DC fast charge from 20-80% takes 27 minutes. AC charging from 0-100% from a 7.4kW home wallbox takes 8 hours and 15 minutes; or 5 hours and 30 minutes from a 3-phase 11kW wallbox. It's a yawning 26 hours from a domestic plug. As usual with an Abarth, this car is covered by a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty and there's 36 months of breakdown cover included as well. Should you have a problem on a journey, you can use the 'Uconnect' infotainment system to contact roadside assistance. What else might you need to know? Well, servicing intervals are every year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Owners can keep up to date with their car's maintenance schedule via the 'My Car' section of that 'MyFiat' app, which briefs you on the time of your next service and various maintenance issues.

Summary

Unlike quite a few manufacturers in this segment, Abarth has done the job properly here and created a properly performance-tuned hot hatch. You'll feel the difference that makes if you drive this fast 600e back to back with cars in this segment like the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX or even dual motor EV models like the MG4 X-POWER or the smart #1 BRABUS. No, there's not quite as much power, but what you have you can use more enjoyably. With a car like this, it's not how fast you go but how fast it can bring a grin to your face and this Abarth does that pretty rapidly. There are a few things though: the 'Competizione' model's faster 280hp motor should be standardised and that pricier version's EV sound system feature should be included on 'Turismo' version most will choose. Plus this car isn't quite as special as it should be inside. If you can live with these caveats, there's a few enjoyable Latin lessons to be had here.