Abarth 500e Hatchback Comparison of Models: Action vs. Turismo – What Trim Suits You Best?

The Abarth logo has always been a badge of brute force, unfiltered enthusiasm and unwavering Italian flair. Now the legendary brand is headed into the electric era with the Abarth 500e, its first battery-electric vehicle. It’s not simply another member of the EV pack; instead, it’s a bold declaration that electrification can be fun, stylish and full of character.

We have been able to drive, and it’s no surprise that Abarth has meticulously crafted its extensive racing heritage into a product both modern and engaging. It carries the rebellious spirit of its petrol-powered forerunners, but with the instant torque and silent surge of electric power.

Right from the beginning, the Abarth 500e gets you What It Is. It’s more than just a Fiat with a new badge; it’s an Abarth, a re-engineered machine that delivers the signature Abarth sting. The aggressive styling, lower stance and iconic scorpion badges convey a visual hint of performance before the engine fires. 500e you at the head of the class with the style that moves you, two-tone trims: Action and Turismo, and a broad pool of drivers. Each configuration delivers a different flavour of the electric hot hatch, so whether you’re after a pure, focused driving experience or a top-spec, heavily-equipped city companion, there’s an Abarth 500e to suit your lifestyle.

So buckle up and get ready for a wild ride as this deep dive reviews both the Action and Turismo trims, from the city streets to the winding back roads. Performance and handling, interior trim and routine running costs, everything is thrown in, so we can offer you a clear comparison. In assessing how the various models deliver on the electric Abarth promise, our aim is to equip you with the facts to decide which one is right for you because these are two very exciting hatchback choices.

Shared DNA: The Core of the Abarth 500e Experience

Before we detail the differences between the Action and Turismo trims, some notes on the twin-turbo V6 base for both models. Each Abarth 500e is driven by a spirited 115kW electric motor that produces a total of 154 horsepower and 235Nm of torque. That’s when the car’s character really starts to come alive. Unlike traditional engines that need to rev up, the electric powertrain is ready to use full power, going full throttle. At least that has made for some fun driving during our test drives. That makes the 500e feel agile and enthusiastic, carrying on the Abarth performance legacy, albeit now in an electrified form.

Underpinning this confident driving is a 42kWh battery that delivers just the right balance of range and agility for the car. The Abarth 500e has a WLTP-certified range of up to 164 miles, so it’s more than ready to go for work, the kids to school and weekend shopping. We felt this was a pragmatic figure to employ if you want to ignore battery anxiety for almost all of your city driving. Also, the performance numbers are impressive, with the sprint from 0-62mph taking only 7 seconds and the top speed of 96mph. Such performance means the 500e is not only a capable city car but can be relied on to deliver the right level of punch on the motorway for the dramatic overtake, even on high-speed motorways.

Among the factors that contribute to the better range and performance are fast charging capabilities, which make the vehicle all the more practical to use daily. The Abarth 500e lets you fast charge at 85kW, which was very convenient while driving. At a compatible public charger, we managed to get from 20% to 80% charge in less than 30 minutes, enough time for a coffee. Having the option to fast charge is amazing for the ownership experience; it gives the owner the option to take long trips with little downtime. This perfect cocktail of adrenaline-pumping performance, practical range and rapid charging is what makes the Abarth 500e so enticing, no matter the trim level.

• 115kW (154hp) electric motor with 235Nm of instant torque: Tabs provides instant, exhilarating uphill acceleration, delivering a responsive and involving driving experience on urban roads and the highway.
• 42kWh battery with a WLTP range of up to 164 miles: It provides ample distance for the bulk of daily drives, so the XC40 is a practical and reliable EV for urban life.
• 85kW rapid charging capability: Enables rapid battery replenishment, under 30 minutes, reducing downtime and allowing for longer trips.

Abarth 500e Interior: Sporty Cockpit, Surprising Practicality

When you climb aboard the 500e Abarth, the interior is more modern, chic, and sporty than other Fiats. The driver-focused interior emanates immediate performance intent. Our top test drive pick, the front seats, are very comfortable and supportive, and can keep you firmly planted in place on a spirited drive, yet they are pretty much friendly towards long-distance cruising. Taller-than-average drivers will be happy to hear that the front contains a surprisingly generous amount of head and legroom, making it quite simple to get comfortable behind the wheel. The overall styling is functional and clean, and the most essential buttons are within arm’s reach, so you won’t be distracted as you look out onto the road.

The difference between the Action and Turismo models is most apparent on the inside. The Action features sport cloth seats with Abarth graphics, a functional and athletic environment that suits its purist soul. In the Turismo, the interior travels up a notch on the luxury scale. It swaps the cloth for high-grade Alcantara and leather-wrapped seats and includes ambient lighting that tosses a little mood into the mix inside at dusk. The use of superior materials really elevates the Turismo to feel like a city companion with an urbane charm, instead of a hot hatch, though it never loses its sporty soul.

Practicality is another surprise with the Abarth 500e, given its diminutive size. The rear seats are also suitable for children or short trips, giving them a little more versatility for occasional occupants. For shopping or maybe a couple of overnight bags, the 185-litre boot is adequate. We found that the 50/50 split rear seats fold down to extend this space greatly, letting you carry bigger items when the need arises. It doesn’t have a front trunk, or “frunk,” but the cabin compensates with clever storage options. There are cavernous door bins, a useful central cubby, and a glovebox that allows you to keep your things organised and out of view.

• Supportive front seats and generous headroom: Comfort and a feeling of command are guaranteed even for long-distance driving.
• Premium Alcantara/leather seats and ambient lighting (Turismo trim): It brings a touch of luxury elegance into the cabin atmosphere, further enhancing the exclusiveness of the ownership experience.
• 185-litre boot with 50/50 split-folding rear seats: Provides versatile and practical luggage space for running errands around town or for weekend breaks.

Abarth 500e Regenerative Braking: Mastering One-Pedal Driving

The regenerative brake system of the Abarth 500e is a prime example of how performance and efficiency can be best integrated. After driving it, especially in the stop-start nature of city driving, this feature really shines. There are also 3 different levels of intensity for when you lift your foot off the accelerator, which can be programmed by the driver. At the most gentle level, the car rolls along and feels not unlike a traditional petrol engine, generating just a mild braking effect. The middle position delivers a more pronounced deceleration, good for flowing A-roads where you might be more likely to miss traffic lights or roundabouts. It lets you roll a little more easily and start to quite aggressively recognise energy without feeling obtrusive.

It is the top level, and yet that is what most changes the experience of driving in the city. Engaging this mode activates what Abarth refers to as “one-pedal driving.” The second your foot leaves the accelerator, the car is already braking hard, coming to a stop at a crawling pace. After a short adjustment period, I was buzzing through congested intersections and around the block on only the accelerator pedal. It makes driving less tiring, both because you don’t have to continually swap left and right feet between pedals, and it also imparts a sense of fluid control. The braking is strong enough for most traffic situations, so the brake pedal is saved for sudden stops. This easy handling results in a 500e that is extremely intuitive and fun to drive in its natural habitat, the city.

Aside from the instant gratification of convenience, the system offers great long-term benefits. Each time you back off the gas at the higher settings, the electric motor runs in reverse, turning the kinetic energy of the car back into electrical energy to charge up the battery. The end result is a direct increase in the range of the vehicle, so you get to drive more miles each charge. I watched the range gauge level off, and even rise a little, on long downhill runs. In addition, this process naturally prolongs the life of the traditional braking system. Deceleration using the motor allows for the brake pads and discs to be saved, which means the maintenance costs will be lower and you will get longer service life. It’s a clever, multifunctional feature that improves both the driving and the owning experience.

Key Takeaways:

• Adjustable intensity levels: Tailor the driving experience to your preference and road conditions.
• One-pedal driving capability: Simplifies city driving, making stop-and-go traffic less taxing.
• Energy recapture technology: Extends the vehicle’s range by recharging the battery during deceleration.
• Reduced brake wear: Lowers long-term maintenance costs by preserving the traditional braking system.

Abarth 500e Driving Dynamics: Taming the Road with Scorpion Spirit

Abarth has made a name for itself tuning small cars to make them wildly fun to drive, and the 500e proudly holds up that banner. The key to its dynamic promise is in the way it’s designed. With its battery pack nestled low in the floor, the car has an unusually low centre of gravity. When applied to the road, this yields amazing stability and composure, particularly on the limit in the twisties. During my test drive, I hammered the 500e through a series of twisty B-road corners, and it stayed surprisingly flat and planted, delivering confidence where other small cars might get unsettled. The steering is another shining star; it’s direct, perfectly weighted, and you really do get a good feel for the tarmac, keeping you completely hooked and in command.

The handling of the car is heavily dependent on the choice of trim level, mainly because of the tyres. The Action trim comes with a pair of more conservative, skinnier tyres that are more than enough for daily city rides and offer some comfort. For those who want to take full advantage of the Abarth’s potential, the clear choice is the Turismo trim. It comes equipped with wider, more aggressive tyres that provide significantly more grip. As soon as you start to press on, this contrast is stark. The increased grip permits higher cornering speeds and a more aggressive driving style, which makes the Turismo feel like a true pocket rocket that is really yearning to be pushed to the edge of its performance.

This natural agility allows the Abarth 500e to bring a smile to your face in many different driving scenarios. While weaving through the tight, stop-and-go traffic of city streets, I was able to quickly take advantage of its size and manoeuvrability to slip in and out of traffic. Yet it was perfectly comfortable on twisty country roads, where quick reactions and instant torque meant that every drive was an event. This isn’t a car that just gets you from A to B; it’s a car that urges you to take the scenic route and enjoy the drive, regardless of where you’re going. It makes a great everyday car with the classic Abarth bucket load of fun.

Key Takeaways:

• Low-mounted battery pack: Delivers exceptional stability and sharp, confident cornering.
• Wider tyres on the Turismo trim: Provide superior grip for more spirited driving.
• Responsive and well-weighted steering: Creates an engaging and involving experience for the driver.
• Compact and agile chassis: Ensures nimble handling in both tight city streets and open country roads.

Abarth 500e Hatchback Interior and Practicality

Cabin Space and Comfort

Inside, the Abarth 500e manages to straddle the line between a sporty, driver-centric cabin with the necessary day-to-day practicality of an EV. Hopping inside, you’re welcomed by a space that’s at once functional and polished. The front seats are immediately noticeable ride holding you in place in spirited driving, but also comfortable enough for long rides. After two hours on the motorway, I wasn’t tired during my test, which didn’t change. Achieving a good driving position is easy with ample head and legroom for all users, including tall drivers. This intelligent ergonomic integration helps make the cabin a comfortable place to be, whether you’re attacking a daily grind or chasing weekend trails.

The difference between the trims is especially noticeable inside the vehicle. The entry 500e comes with stylish cloth seats featuring a unique Abarth graphic that immediately establishes a sporty vibe. But the addition of the Turismo trim really raises the bar. This high-end model features luxurious Alcantara-wrapped sport seats and a matching steering wheel and includes striking ambient lighting that brings an additional layer of elegance. These materials upgrades help transform the interior and result in a Turismo that feels far more upmarket and special. It’s an obvious choice for enthusiasts who revel in the fine details and want their performance car to offer a little more comfort and style.

Although the Abarth 500e shines at making front-seat occupants feel comfortable and entertained, rear practicality is more modest. The rear seat is really only suitable for children or adults on brief, infrequent jaunts, as there’s predictably little legroom in a vehicle of this size class. However, the cabin is still practical and well thought out. Storage cubbies are conveniently located, and the controls are straightforward, making for a clean user experience. It’s a cylinder-block jacket that brings together a performance engine design and everyday use, with a surprisingly premium feel for a city-focused vehicle without being pretentious.

Key Takeaways:

• Supportive front sports seats: Provide excellent comfort and stability for both short commutes and long journeys.
• Turismo trim’s Alcantara and ambient lighting: Create a more luxurious and upscale cabin atmosphere.
• Generous front-row space: Allows even taller drivers to easily find a comfortable driving position.
• Functional and well-designed layout: Ensures the car remains practical and easy to live with every day.

Boot Space and Storage

One big question for any potential hot-hatch buyer is how it balances performance with day-to-day practicality, and storage plays a big part in that. The boot in the Abarth 500e has a decent 185 litres capacity with the rear seats in place. At the very least, I came nowhere close to filling it on a weekly grocery shopping run for two or in extending bags for a weekend getaway. The boot opening is large enough to make loading and unloading bulky items easy, and although the lip is a little high, it isn’t so high as to be a problem. It’s a practical, well-proportioned room and one that comfortably meets the rigours of city living.

Although some electric vehicles have the door storage of a trunk or ‘frunk,’ the Abarth 500e don’t have this roller. But the car makes up for that with a whole bunch of clever interior storage spaces to keep the cabin tidy. The door pockets are generously sized, big enough to hold water bottles and other essentials, and a centre cubby and decently sized glove box will give you some more room for smaller personal items like phones, wallets and the ever-important keys. These thoughtful storage solutions help keep the interior neat and tidy, and prove that this little performance car can really live in the real world.

Key Takeaways:

• 185-litre boot capacity: Comfortably accommodates weekly groceries or luggage for a short trip.
• Folding rear seats: Increases storage for larger items, enhancing the car’s overall versatility.
• Smart interior storage solutions: Keep the cabin tidy and personal items secure.
• Flexible load space: Effortlessly combines daily errands with weekend adventure capability.

Choosing Your Electric Abarth 500e

The Abarth 500e makes its electric vehicle debut not as just another environmentally friendly city car, but as a statement vehicle. It shows that changing over to electric power doesn’t have to mean giving up driving pleasure. This car perfectly embodies the rebellious nature and performance DNA of the Abarth name, while presenting itself in a chic, modern and quite adaptable manner. Our time behind the wheel proved this is much more than a stickered-up electric Fiat; it’s a purpose-built machine designed to provide a uniquely engaging ride. It gives drivers a good reason to get behind the wheel of the electric future, proving that even a small EV can be full of character and fun.

Whether to opt for the 500e or the 500e Turismo trim level is a question of personal priorities and what matters most to you in a daily driver. The regular Abarth 500e is, in many respects, the purist’s option. It has the essence of the Abarth Solid torque, cutting precision steering and head-turning aesthetics, but in a more condensed and bearable form. This car, as we ran it, felt elemental and all-business, delivering all the pleasure with none of the premium-price accoutrements. The perfect way to get into electric hot hatches, especially for the driver who defines fun through the car’s most unfiltered connection to the road.

Instead, the Abarth 500e Turismo targets the driver who craves a more complete and well-appointed package. Once you’re in, you can tell the upgrades are truly premium-grade. The use of Alcantara for the dash and the sports seats, as well as other high-tech elements like the 360° drone-view camera, brings the cabin into the premium realm. On the street, its broader performance tyres also offer an additional grip level, allowing you to take full advantage of the car’s dynamic capabilities. Raising poles, disarming traps, moving through the jungle with the quiet rippling of the river and the throaty growl of the engine adding to the soundtrack, this is also the point where the Signature Abarth Sound Generator shines. Turn it on, and the drive transforms from electric silence to a throaty rumble that salutes the brand’s petrol-powered history. It’s a heady experience that creates a more intimate bond between man and machine, cementing the Tursimo as the perfect urban collaborator for those who demand their sport served with a large helping of luxe and tech.

• Abarth 500e trim: A focused, purist package delivering the essential electric performance and handling.
• Abarth 500e Turismo trim: The ultimate expression of luxury and technology, with enhanced grip and premium interior features.
• Signature Abarth Sound Generator: Creates an immersive soundscape that connects the driver to the brand’s sporty heritage.
• Superior dynamics: Offers faster acceleration, better handling, and sharper braking than its Fiat counterpart, making it a top-tier urban performance car.

It’s got a better ride and better handling and braking, so for anyone who wants a ’mate-to-the-nines’ urban companion, that’s the one to consider. Regardless of which trim level you choose, the Abarth 500e proves electric cars can be fun, fashionable, and full of personality. Ready to see for yourself? Schedule a test drive now or visit our website at The.Car to see which Abarth 500e Hatchback is best for you.