Abarth 500e vs. Abarth 595 Competizione: which is better?
Two hot hatches built on the iconic Fiat 500 design, but which comes out on top: petrol or electric?
There are few cars with as much history and appeal as the Fiat 500, and the Abarth 500 models take that to the next level.
Abarth 595 models have been around for almost as long, and Competizione models offer even more performance.
Electric Abarth 500e cars are just as quick in most cases, but also offer the opportunity of much cheaper running costs.
Continue reading to find out what the key differences between these models are, as you move one step closer to deciding between the Abarth 595 Competizione and Abarth 500e.
Styling: Abarth 500e vs. Abarth 595 Competizione
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When Fiat revived the iconic 500 in the late noughties, buyers flocked to Fiat dealerships to get an up-to-date slice of history, and it continues to be a popular city car among new and used car buyers.
Abarth used this stylish car to showcase its own unique styling and performance, and you can instantly identify an Abarth model among similar Fiat models thanks to the upgraded, sporty bodykit.
Abarth 500 models have larger bumpers, flared wheelarches and distinctive exhaust pipes around the back, to name just a few of the changes.
There are several trim levels available for the petrol-powered Abarth 595, including popular Turismo models and sportier Abarth 695 models, but it’s the Abarth 595 Competizione that sits at the top of the range.
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Competizione models come with a similarly bold design, but they get even sportier styling in the form of a distinctive ‘Competizione Kit’.
They also get yellow Brembo brake callipers, which leave you in no doubt that this is a serious performance model.
The electric Abarth 500e has the same classic lines and curvy design, but it also has unique electric design cues.
For example, where you’d usually expect to see a grille under the bonnet is blanked off because electric cars don’t need a grille. Bold ‘Abarth’ letters are pinned to the front beneath the Scorpion badge.
There’s still an area for air intake along the bottom, together with large bumpers that give the Abarth 500e an aggressive look.
From the side, you’ll notice the stylish alloy wheel designs and the recessed door handles, which help the car look bang up to date.
What are the Abarth 500e and Abarth 595 Competizione like to drive?
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Although they’re similarly powerful and have similar 0-62mph times, how these two cars deliver their power can differ significantly.
Standard versions of the Abarth 595 have 165hp, but Competizione models get 180hp, which helps reduce the 0-62mph time from 7.3 seconds to 6.7 seconds.
The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine is very punchy because the car is so light, so you’ll get the feeling of being pushed into the back of your seat under hard acceleration.
The short-shifting manual gearbox helps to make the driving experience more engaging, and there’s a good amount of feedback through the wheel, so you can be confident that the 595 is going where you want it to.
The ride is fairly firm, which isn’t helped by the large alloy wheels. You’ll notice this around town, and you’ll feel the need to avoid potholes.
There’s also the fact that the 595 Competizione comes with an active exhaust, which means you can pick from loud or louder. We think it’s one of the best-sounding cars around, to the point that you’ll want to roll down the windows just to listen.
The Abarth 500e has 152hp and gets to 62mph in 7.0 seconds, which puts it smack bang in the middle of 595 and 595 Competizione models.
Although it has less power, the electric motor responds instantly so it feels pretty quick, especially around town where it’s especially nippy.
Electric cars are known for cruising around silently, but the Abarth 500e emits a sort of noise that’s meant to sound like a rumbling engine. It’ll certainly turn heads.
Abarth 500e range: how far can it travel on one charge?
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The Fiat 500e has two battery options: 24kWh and 42kWh. Fortunately, the Abarth comes with the bigger of the two.
Some of its capacity is reserved to protect the vehicle’s electronics, so it has a 37.8kWh usable capacity.
It’s clearly designed for towns and cities – Abarth’s testing suggests it can do around 220 miles on a full charge.
Throw in a few faster roads and this drops to around 160 miles, which is about the same as you’d get from a MINI Electric or Honda e.
Interior and technology: Abarth 500e vs. Abarth 595 Competizione
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Although the petrol-powered Abarth 595e Competizione looks a lot like the iconic Fiat 500, it’s still packed with car tech to make it a more comfortable place.
Behind the wheel is a digital driver’s display that puts the revs and speedometer in clear view. It also features an extra boost gauge on the side so you can know how much you’re asking of the turbocharger.
In the centre is a user-friendly touchscreen infotainment system, which runs things like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
In terms of the rest of the cabin, there’s plenty of sporty-looking Alcantara, and the figure-hugging sports seats are comfortable and practical.
The Abarth 500e uses the same blueprint, so it has a pair of screens and plenty of smart Alcantara finishes, but it feels a lot more modern.
The digital driver’s display can be customised to show other information, such as the sat-nav, and the stylish infotainment display is longer and narrower.
Because it’s an electric car, it has an automatic gearbox. Rather than a conventional gear stick, Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive modes can be selected via buttons on the dashboard.
We like that it still has plenty of physical buttons for climate control and other car settings, so you won’t have to prod away at the touchscreen when you’re on the go.
Is having an Abarth 595 Competizione or Abarth 500e in the UK more practical?
Surprisingly, the Abarth is no less practical than its Fiat counterpart. The Abarth 595, including Competizione models, has a 185-litre boot. It’s about the same as you get in a Citroen C1.
The Abarth 500e also has a 185-litre boot, which means you have more space to store your charging cables and other gear than you would in a Honda e.
Abarth 500e vs. Abarth 595 Competizione reliability and safety
Though Abarth sells lots of cars, it doesn’t sell as many as most other brands, because not everyone wants a sporty version of the Fiat 500.
Fortunately, because the Abarth 595 Competizione and the Abarth 500e both share a lot of parts with the regular Fiat 500, we have enough data to know that they can be very reliable cars.
The electric model is much newer, so there’s less data overall, but because electric cars, in general, have fewer moving parts, there’s less to go wrong.
On a similar note, neither has been tested by Euro NCAP, but their Fiat cousins have. The petrol version got a three-star safety rating in 2017, and the electric version got four stars in 2021.
What are the Abarth 500e and Abarth 595 Competizione dimensions?
Both are very small cars, but the electric 500e is slightly bigger. It’s 3,673mm long, 1,682mm wide and 1,518mm tall.
The 595 is slightly shorter (3,657mm), but it’s substantially narrower (1,627mm) and less tall (1,485mm).
Used Abarth 595 Competizione vs. used Abarth 500e: which should you buy?
There’s not a lot that separates these cars in terms of practicality and functionality, so you’re left to pick whether you want an electric model that can do around 100-200 miles between charges, or a petrol version with a loud exhaust.
If you like the feel of instant acceleration, consider the Abarth 500e, but if you want more power and faster acceleration, consider the Abarth 595 Competizione.