Can an EV be a Real Hot Hatch? Fiat 500e Abarth full review

[@jabezhane]

A great way to burn £35000! I hope that 15 years from now we'll sit in a pub and go "Remember that whole EV car BS?" and have a good laugh.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

I don't think that conversation will happen. EVs are not BS - they are excellent in a multitude of scenerarios and for various people. But no, they aren't going to work for everyone. We've lived on petrol for 120+ years, but change shouldn't mean tribal hatred. Pistons and electric can co-exist. Jonny has V8, EV, hybrid and Vtec!

[@Everything_Evan]

Yeah it's a hole they just keep digging crazy

[@jabezhane]

@@TheLateBrakeShow Oh I have no problem with co-existing. The fact that the eco issues EVs have get swept under the carpet... That and they fact that the pwoers that be will have to do a massive u-turn when the usual sleepy populace wake up and find that 70% cant afford to buy into the EV dream or its just not practical. I think the big thing will be high efficiency 1000cc ICEs with say 90HP and pushing 75-80mpg. Not all of us need two tons of EV SUV costing £55000 and then worth £5000 5 years later.

[@Ryukachoo]

I hope 15 years from now you'll sit in the pub and say " remember that dumb comment I made that age terribly?" and have a laugh

[@jabezhane]

@@Ryukachoo I'd be happy...but it seems highly unlikely.

[@catmandoodoo7903]

The artificial sound is the automotive equivalent of sticking a card in your bicycle spokes.

[@deansmits006]

Yet auto journalists keep harping on EVs lacking sound excitement. But when they do offer it, they are ridiculed for having fake sounds, unnecessary. Who cares if it's fake? If you want to hear engine sounds, and it's done well, and it's all heard inside so you don't bother other people, why not have your cake? Perhaps someone just needs to develop a really good simulation, paired with excellent steering feel, and haptic motors in the seat and steering wheel to get people to like it. I dunno

[@catmandoodoo7903]

@@deansmits006 the journalists seem to be the ones going on about noise. All the EV owners I know love the quietness of their cars. Mind you, most of the people I know are car enthusiasts who have more than one vehicle.

[@Frank-pc2rs]

You can turn it off. Lol.

[@egold33311]

Just went on their website, looked at the price of £34,195 for the lowest spec, laughed and came back to watch this video!

[@jabezhane]

Yeah that's the problem! When you have to spend that much for a city car...GTFO That and you'll want to get rid of it after 4-5 years and it will be worth next to nothing.

[@crossy7225]

Jesus christ. I had no idea it was that price. Thanks but no thanks

[@Perthshire]

It's a NO from me. They're having a laugh.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

Ugly, overpriced, poor range, and probably just as unergonomic for 6 foot plus guys as the original 500. Someone would have to be on crack to choose this as their ‘fun’ car over a GR Yaris for the same price, and there’s better electric commuters for the money.

[@andyspinks9996]

No one will buy that at that price 😂 wow.

[@theidiot1297]

It’s great that there are three genuine fun, hot hatch EVs. Just wish they had 50% more range and were 10k cheaper.

[@sab0nes]

That's what I'm dealing with now. I drive the first Gen 500 electric. Love everything about it but the range. 200-250 miles not in eco mode would be perfect

[@float32]

@@sab0nesme too. Rear wheel drive would also be nice. Can’t put the power down in the corners!

[@graemejohnson9025]

And you could drive them anywhere without the need to find a charging station. And sit and wait.. twiddling thumbs. It's all bs..

[@rallychamp2003]

Check out the price of nearly new, second hand. I saw some 500e's that were less than a year old and half the new price.

[@rallychamp2003]

@@graemejohnson9025 After 2 hours of intensive driving in a 500e recently I was ready and happy for a 30 minute break. Stretch of legs, loo, coffee and a snack and catching up on WhatsApp, 10% to 90% rapid charging was over in a flash and I was ready for the next 2 hours of super fun.

[@JustAnoth3rHuman]

Very cool looking car. Absolutely insane prices, starting at 34k! I’ll be commuting via horse & cart if this is the trend.

[@jabezhane]

No, just suck it up and be a good sheep now!

[@barneyrubble9309]

That's the whole point.

[@Sabre_Wulf1]

Horse and cart is the ultimate workaround for ULEZ.

[@bid84]

@@jabezhane”sheep” is what people who can’t afford an EV say. You can buy a Suzuki ignis petrol for under 16k. No one has a gun to your head to go electric

[@jeffhopkins5704]

@@bid84 yet.

[@happychappers8311]

I cant think of anything sadder than a fake engine sound. I can certainty find something better to spend £38k on.

[@goosegog]

A wig is sadder, but only just! 🤣

[@muckspreader1able]

@@Zanpaaor buy a petrol one or buy something totally better for £38k like a focus r/s and s3 golf r all better then this embarrassment.

[@happychappers8311]

@goosegog so it's a middle-class, mid-life crisis? Trying desperately to stay trendy and cool while appeasing your wife's friends.

[@Modge17]

I’d get a used R35 GTR 😂

[@eliotmansfield]

it’s like the days of pegging a piece of cardboard in your bike wheel to make it sound like an engine 😢

[@RaHorakthi33]

Fun fact: on the wireless charging pad for the phones you can see the stylized drawing of the city of Turin (the pointy architeture is the Mole Antonelliana)

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

True. Not that interesting though. Jonny saw that on the original 500e review.

[@alfb1989]

@@TheLateBrakeShowBit needlessly dismissive of a fan’s comment? Disappointing

[@PimsLegacy]

@@TheLateBrakeShow Bit harsh. And rich of you to think we watch every video. If someone started watching your channel on this video.. not good practice to comment in this way. So: 'Not that kind though. Hope Jonny sees your comment and corrects you.'

[@Steve_Hallett]

I'm almost certainly on my own, but this summed up one of my problems with modern cars. At my age I find modern infotainment systems far too distracting and quite frankly a bit of a risk. There is info all over the place. I'm happy with the basics.

[@Andrew-qb3oq]

Everyone seems to be whining about the price, but most new cars are expensive. Especially electrics. I have an original 2015 500e with sticker price of $36,500. They didn't sell well, but were quite common lease cars in California. Less than 4 years later the cars we're worth around $6k. Which is around the time i bought one. I still have it as a back up EV and battery is still giving me the same range as it did when i picked it up. I suspect the new 500e and abarth will benefit from heavy depreciation. Especially as battery technology progresses. This will be an excellent offlease purchase in 2 to 4 years. Can't wait.

[@petesplaneta9340]

It’s a fun category. To be honest I quite love chucking my Corsa E about. I’m sure it’s not as planted but it’s cheaper had more range and can rapid charge quicker. I have driven a Honda e and it was nice, but the problem is if I’m going to drive along some twisty roads I’ll probably be travelling 50 miles somewhere and 50 back. With Honda E, Fiat 500e Arbarth or Mini e ranges and a right foot that’s having fun, I won’t be able to do the return trip without getting pretty close to empty.

[@maxtorque2277]

BMW i3s. By far the most fun EV with a reasonable range (~160 miles) Far more FUN to drive than HondaE, 500e, CorsaE or in fact any other EV ime

[@geetee4037]

Pretty close to empty is fine, charge at home. Travel 45 miles and back instead?

[@jonnyboy8781]

£38k? You are havin a laugh! 1.4 tonnes. Front-wheel drive. One-speed. 0-60 only 7 secs? This is a ‘neutered’ Arbath. All the fun’s been extracted. Longer & wider apparently an improvement comfort-wise but the handling? And, the piston engine is an amazing machine. Electric-cars for the middle-classes!

[@PitWChannel]

It is so interesting. Not a single petrolhead cared about cobalt mines when it was only used to refine diesel or built into catalysators.

[@SquintyGears]

Yeah and they parrot the same misreported research paper that says tire dust of electric cars is 20x more particulates than exhaust pipes... They literally forgot they have tires too. Micro plastics is a real issue but gas emissions aren't counted in that equation...

[@paulallen6915]

The Italians are renown for their electrical prowess, what could possibly go wrong....

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

😳

[@keithdargie1755]

I’m on my second Abarth Competizione, I love them. The usability of them in town is awesome. Love the look of the electric one, not keen on the engine noise generator - I would have preferred a more modern turbine like noise but I think they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t as the exhaust is so intrinsic to the Abarth experience. I’m tempted, it’s expensive but I like it. Couldn’t have a Honda e as I fell in love with concept car then they ruined it for me with the production shape. Great review 👍

[@apathyboy5306]

I’m in the same boat mate. Own a petrol Abarth. Really liked the electric version. Just a little too pricey and the range not exceptional

[@barneyrubble9309]

Best thing about the vid was the spitfire.

[@markhamilton7289]

Had a 1hr drive in one and it was a really fun little car. Switched the speaker off after 5 mins at the first opportunity though. The abarth was really well damped for a small hot hatch …better than my 330e over broken tarmac tbh. It’s fun and interesting which frankly we need more of.

[@fanBladeOne]

Interested in the EV-transition. Great Fiat 500 fan. Also an AvGeek first class. This video was quite something to behold 👍

[@ASCIIDOS]

Abarth; my experience. Had a 2010 Abarth 500, I have never owned such an unreliable frustrating car yet one which hosts such an incredible car community. I absolutely loved the car, it pulled me through some really rough times. Straight through custom exhaust, interior stripped etc. The faults however... Door handles x5 in 12 months. Bother driver and passenger. Fuel pump x1 Daytime running bulbs (awkward as toss, needed a cable tie to retrieve old bulbs) x5 Seized brake caliper x1 Fuses blown x3 OG exhaust (backbox) rusted through x2 The biggest issue... 1st date with the other half. Bolt from the concentric slave cylinder (from factory) came loose, totalled the flywheel, damaged the box and ended up in the starter. 2K bill. Viewed one the other day, touched rhe gear knob and it was just loose - came off in my hand. Relevance to this video? Like my experience, some great ideas but in practice seems to fall short. Its a no from me. That being said, I bought and sold a Fiesta ST with stage 2 Mountune in 6 months. Albeit faster, better, etc it didnt have the character of the Abarth.

[@bentaylor9021]

It’s nice to hear it as it actually is from a long time road test user 😊

[@ASCIIDOS]

@@bentaylor9021 Anytime! Thanks for reading, have a good one.

[@terryhayward7905]

On looks alone, the 500E is the one for me. The fake engine sound needs a switch on the console to turn it ON when you are driving in a pedestrian area, like a supermarket car park. I have walked out in front of a silent Tesla a few times in my local Sainsbury store car park.

[@deanw_666]

As an ICE Abarth owner, I love the look of this A500e. I think the front grilles need to be black, and the diffusers could be something other than white, but looks wise, I really like it, A lot of complaints from the Abarth community are regarding the price as well as the sound maker. But if you compare the price to similar sport version cars on the market, it's not too far out, but it's still quite blooming pricey for what it is. But look at the new Civic Type R and compare the price of that to a Civic from 10-15 years ago. Maybe they'll be more popular after a couple of years when they have lost the main bulk of the depreciation, but time will tell. Nice balanced review squire!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Great comment, thank you for taking the time to write.

[@deanw_666]

@@TheLateBrakeShow Never a problem! Thank you for your reply 👍👍

[@muckspreader1able]

I wouldn’t tell anyone😂

[@deanw_666]

@@muckspreader1able what wouldn't you tell anyone?

[@float32]

Used of the only reasonable way to buy electric.

[@mikerivers9634]

I’ve got a Competizione Cabrio and have just ordered the 500e Cabrio. The EV experience is on another level… seriously. I drove a Honda E through central London and the experience was actually quite calming. Refinement comes to mind, and I almost thought about getting one but opted for this one as it’s the best looker by far.

[@123rtheo]

Hang on so it’s nearly 40k and they want another 600 quid for a fancy paint colour unbelievable. 😂

[@SDK2006b]

All car makers charge extra for colour options. Usually one colour is standard, often black or white, then you pay extra for something different. This can be up to £3k for a special Matt or individual colour.

[@villa50bis]

I paused in the video when Jonny announced the price to come and say the same thing! Wtf?

[@mattpointon8093]

Lamborghini do the same

[@muckspreader1able]

Yep they’ll,always be a fool that will part with their money.Let them😂

[@mbak7801]

As a second car if I was buying new then I would limit my spending to £35K. A main car can be over £40K but again I would stagger purchases by a couple of years.

[@michaelwoolgar6097]

Great review Jonny! The Honda E was the first electric car that interested me but this is the first EV I've ever wanted to buy myself. And considering my current car is an BMW M2 Competition, I say that's an impressive achievement from the humble Abarth! Test drove one last weekend and adored the driving feel which reminded me of my old Fiesta ST-3, the footprint of the car is tiny and means you can place it so well. Negatives were the left foot placement for us right hand drive counties, the speaker (But can be switched off so moot point) and of course the roughly 150 mile range. But considering my M2 Comp delivers just over 200 miles for a £70 tank, 50 miles less for a £4 fill up? That's a fair trade! It's been refreshing considering what I use a car for during this process as although the M2C is epic, you get illegal so quickly and the bills? The bills! Decided my next car is going to be the Abarth 500e and really looking forward to see what EV driving is about, with the first EV I've ever cared about.

[@kalmmonke5037]

peopelare saying its a whoel structure dedicated to being a ev, why did they not make it lower to ground and forget trying to have a the small trunk? would have more range, more agility and g forces from preserving momentum around turns, it might as well have a limited slip diffrential in the name of less tire wear damage for less usage of tires and less of that supposedly endrocrine disrupting microplastics emissions, especially as noone thinks to not acclerate too much around turns for these reasons anyway, even normal cars should have it in the enviromentalist perspective, and thats before the sporty drivers are happy too. engine noise should be customizable .

[@Blackmamba12345]

@@kalmmonke5037Because people don’t want nor need more range in these types of cars. Most people who buy these cars already have at least another car for longer journeys and most like three or four cars in their household. Therefore this is mostly for short distance commutes or short travels.

[@NativeTexMexican]

Pretty cool of that Spitfire to provide air cover for your shoot... 👍🏽

[@skr525ia]

Thank you for including the "disturbing" Spitfire

[@GoingSidewards]

Great review Jonny! I love my piston Abarth, yes it’s not very good, but the best cars are interesting, not good. This looks fantastic, but $60,000?!?

[@AH-fg8dk]

For me a Hot Hatch = 205GTI & 860KG of fun. Although the Arbarth's Merlin soundtrack is pretty cool 😂

[@wayneauchmuty6045]

Will the new Renault 5 fall into this category also? Or be a larger car? Love the look of the Abarth, but the Renualt 5 really interests me!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

5 Renault will

[@andyboardman7428]

@@TheLateBrakeShow hi Johnny,,any news on the Escort RS Cossi mate?

[@peterlaine5774]

There's a hot hatch Alpine version of the Renault 5 coming

[@TazTweetin]

What a drone from the speaker. That would do my head in.

[@mikebull1972]

A brilliant, thorough review- Jonny just excels at this. But 40k...for that...hard pass!

[@AutojungleCoUk100]

Got a piston 500 and absolutely a shorter journey car, the twitchy steering is not ideal. Having said that the shorter trips to the closest town and the cheap running costs make it too good to get sell. Once the price drops to closer to bottom feeder market would be great to swap out the piston for this and keep the piston car for longer trips

[@nickname1812]

As a long standing purchaser of brand new Abarths they can shove this where the exhaust is supposed to be.

[@danpestell2011]

I like that you get the option to unplug the speaker 🙂

[@markarnold8160]

This is for those who like different, without getting too far away from sensible. It is definitely that second car that many families can utilise, but it's also that 'I just need to get a growbag from the garden centre' car and go off on a bit of a hoon!

[@ohyesitsme]

With the cost of living as it is I can't see "many families" that are going to spend £38,000 on a toy. I mean you'd be hard pushed to do the school run in that thing.

[@muckspreader1able]

£38k for a second car to,look,stupid in?I,have a Leon with 150bhp that’ll do 600miles on a tank,and cost 3 times less.Go waste your money.

[@NickFoster]

@@muckspreader1able Come back when you grow up.

[@ricco123tube]

Anti EV experts are so enthusiasticly entertaining with opinions based on their feelings and the headlines from last week's clickbait news articles. Love it.

[@Rhowhat]

Electric cars are a great summary of our entire approach to climate change. They are marginally better for the planet but much better for the local area and allow us to pretend we are doing something while not changing any of the underlying causes of climate change. Also mental pricing for this one in particular, its going to be worth sub 25k in 6-12 months.

[@davincisghost9228]

Relying on oil for transportation IS one of the "Underlying causes of climate change".

[@RedBatteryHead]

Main EV purpose is to move away from petrol and it's industry. Clean up the local environment. Don't forget the whole maintenance chain that's being diminished too.

[@mariosuper1293]

Can you tell me, what are they gonna do with the batteries?

[@davefitzpatrick4841]

​@@mariosuper1293the batteries last 15-20 years can then be repurposed for domestic and industrial storage, they are then recyclable with manufacturers are putting recycle centers in place .

[@0tispunkm3y3r]

@@RedBatteryHead This is wishful thinking. Or at least it's going to take a very long time. Even with all the cars turned to EV the demand for oil and gas will still be there. Heavy industry, heavy duty off road, heavy shipping, 3rd world running any old tut on anything that will burn, the absolute minefield of modern day products that require oil or are a direct result of oil production. There's still a fuck ton of oil and gas in the ground. Venezuela, if it hadn't turned into some weird basket case, has more of the stuff than they know what to do with.Cars? tip of the iceberg IMO.

[@TuRo-Maserati]

BRAND NEW TOURSIMO COUPE NOW £27,500 AT BOTH VOSKERS AND ARNOLD CLARKE - Great value peddle at that price and i bought one. I suspect it will bottom out at £15-16k in 3 yrs so circa £350 to own one per month depn and a nice £300-400 fuel saving per month (net - after home charging cost). Great drive to except the seats.... I'm getting then re-modelled/foamed at a specialist £250 a chair to sit 30-35cm lower and somewhat more 'in' the seat.

[@brianallan1036]

No beating heart or sole,Never for me.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Doesn't always need one. Drives far better than any other Abarth

[@downtheallotment]

Engines are always better. Probably the best thing in this video is a spitfire actually it is the best thing in the video. I didn’t get past the advertisement

[@mclarenjohnf1]

I have never been against small hatchbacks or plain small cars I had a Fiat 126 for about 2 years then changed to a Fiat 127, The Abarth was a GTI hunter not a stupic thing with a piped engine sound it is against everything Abarth stands for.

[@bentaylor9021]

Nice review again Jonny. I’ve always liked these and think that once my daughter is old enough she will be in something like this. I certainly won’t be in the queue to buy one for £38k - no matter how nice it is.

[@Andy-2022]

Who in their right mind would spend 38 grand on a fiat 500!

[@muckspreader1able]

They’ll be an idiot somewhere don’t worry then in 2 years it’ll be worth maybe £20k😂

[@kanatsizkanatli]

What idiot would pay 20k for a used fiat?? It's a disposable car embodying tons and tons of carbon, absolutely the dumbest idea humans have brought to manufacture

[@deansmits006]

There's a lot of overpriced cars right now

[@caffeineisking8132]

People with actual money, I work for people who spend 30k+ on a garden shed/ office. Us working class peasants are being outprided off the road slowly but surely

[@matthewmason8982]

Surprised you didn’t link the Spitfire interruption to your video of The Beast 😄 Absolutely love the Abarth 500s. That old school “Bad Boy Bonnet” looks great.

[@herme99]

If they made a fake engine note that sounded like the Lexus LFA I’d have one 😂

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Not difficult...

[@BHBeckenbauer]

Interesting how the gammon-faced Daily Mail types are very concerned about where the materials used in batteries come from but don’t seem to know where the petrol they use comes from or which rare earth materials are used to process it…

[@Sabre_Wulf1]

Sticking with mine. 2013 cost 6k 3 years ago, stock, does 116 mph top speed even now. I dont see how the piston version is 'awful'. This is my daily, my weekend car is an 19' f-type svr, so im not bigging up the little abarth as its all i own. I love it! Perky and fun in corners and roundabouts. That new abarth is a 35k starter.

[@Perthshire]

Jonny is starting to sound like a spokesperson for the EV industry.

[@robsmall6466]

​@@Perthshire💰..... all the same

[@davidmatthews3093]

@@PerthshireHe is using his knowledge and experience to tell it as it is. I’d rather listen to his point of view than to some mate of yours down the pub.

[@Perthshire]

@@davidmatthews3093 i form my own opinions from experience and observations and research. so off you jolly well trot, there’s a good boy.

[@hjorth72]

Just love that car. I have the normal Fiat 500e. Have done 55.000 km (over the last 2½ years) I hope to make a swap to the Abarth soon.

[@1985murphy]

38k for that what a joke

[@downesy68]

As an Aussie who grew up in the 70s, I’m loving the t shirt, Jonny 😊

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

✊🏽

[@drjonze]

Spitfire sounds awesome ..At least you don't have to struggle to find somewhere to charge it ..I really don't understand this whole E.V thing .Where is the infastructure ? what about battery life ..currently i drive a 10 year old car .A 10 year old EV will have a battery thats lost most of its capacity

[@shaunbrader1095]

35k? For a speaker on wheels? Nope!!

[@d.c.Jones70]

It really doesn’t matter whether the car is good or not it’s too expensive,seriously who is going to use there own money to buy one of these

[@1rexrex]

Thank all the luxury car makers for jacking their prices. Well beyond what is reasonable. For regular people. In an industry that fills pricing gaps with more expensive versions of cars. Its easy to guess that they are gonna keep taking more money for cars if they can.

[@ivanvisanich]

Just watched a video posted by an Italian guy. Had an E500. Bought it for €36k. Due to spiking Electricity bills in Italy he decided to flog it. 7months with 5500kms on the clock. Best deal he got for it was €17,000. Market will be flooded with 2nd hand EV's that no one would want.

[@jabezhane]

Shhhhhh you mustn't say that.

[@ObiePaddles]

19,000 euros buys a lot of electricity and ICE cars cost a little bit too. Still, a link would be great.

[@metricstormtrooper]

Evidence?

[@sunilnijran1515]

I really loved your review of the Honda e and would love one!! The Mini e doesn't appeal to me that much for some reason.. but this Fiat 500e.. it's just so cute!! I think I would buy the Honda e for myself and get the Fiat for my daughter when she turns 17!!👍🙂

[@Buck3366]

Absolutely outclassed by the MG4 XPower with 435 bhp for 36k. You can’t sniff at that and they can outpace a GTR off the lights.. proven!

[@jabezhane]

Just a shame it seems all EVs are designed to go as fast as possible for as much cost as possible. What about a 100bhp equivalent that does 0-60 in say 9 seconds and can do 500 miles on a charge for those of us over the age of 30 that don't have shopping lists stencilled on the side of our car? Oh no..we can't have that.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Fair point. MG are on fire at the mo, but the badge doesn't have the cool draw that Abarth and Fiat does to so many younger buyers.

[@jabezhane]

@@TheLateBrakeShow Younger buyers? You mean those that can't afford to buy a flat nowadays? Can you not see where this is all going? Boomers and company car leasing only!

[@evoermine]

Not everyone wants an MG4. Zero to 60 isn’t everything.

[@Buck3366]

@@evoermine And not everyone wants a 35 grand Fiat 500. Horses for courses. I was giving a direct competitor for that price bracket in the small EV sector, which has far more bang for your buck. Granted it’s Chinese and not as nice looking as an Abarth but the elephant in the room is that huge price tag of the 500 to it’s mediocre range and lacking performance. Don’t shoot the messenger.

[@michaelward4582]

38k for a milk float, wow. Absolutely unbelievable. Not for me

[@neildaniel8232]

I'd have the Honda E, for a city/short journey second car it's full of character, well built and understated in it's design. The Mini is a little too try-hard (same for the ICE version too actually) and the 500 is just too expensive.

[@mantarayal]

As a motorcyclist, the thought of already bad drivers messing around with their screens, scare the s#$t out of me. Phones are bad enough!! Cool wee car though and fabulous review. A tad pricey. Just a tad.

[@ennypua]

40 grand? Madness.

[@hughmarcus1]

Something new comes along & the default is Jonny. Once again a great blend of technical detail & a good description of how it drives. I agree with Jonny, that fake noise is grim. It just sounds like some 20yr oks has chopped the centre box out of the exhaust. After about 10 minutes you’d want to turn it off.

[@robsawalker]

Great video as usual, Jonny. A new 205 GTi 1.6 was about £6,500 in 1985 which is about £25,500 today, so this Abarth Turismo is not far off 50% more, which is quite a lot. It does look cool, but for me I think if I was looking for a little, short-range BEV I'd want the Honda. The speaker is so weird and very schoolboy, don't see the point. I'd love to have seen Jonny jump out of it and into a 205 GTi after to see how they compare purely as a driving experience.

[@davidmatthews3093]

The superior quality and features of a car like a modern 500 is well worth the price increase. It’s not a like for like comparison.

[@AG9229]

@@davidmatthews3093agreed. The 205 was extremely basic, while the 500 is full of tech and luxury features. It’s not an apples to apples comparison.

[@alanssnackbardailyrelaxati8155]

Beautiful music in the intro Johnny. I loved the 595 Yamaha racing edition abarth I had before I was poor again..

[@ScenesThroughTravels]

Cool Car but personally i think that fake noise would irritate me after a while Jonny. Enjoyed your content as always ! 💯💯👍👍😁😁

[@Lukeywoodsey]

To me part of the appeal of driving down a country road is you don't need to go stupidly fast, you can drive a small car and enjoy yourself. A manual makes it much more fun though, revving an engine out

[@paulratnage2663]

Good video Johnny, to much money at present for the Abarth but it’s nice looking motor. Honda have announced that the will not be making the e anymore. Is it true that other countries have moved their deadline for the sales of ice car to 2035 ie Germany & Italy. Think I even heard that Spain have delayed beyond?

[@daviebevan]

Another excellent Sunday evenings viewing. I look forward to Sunday evenings with this channel

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thank you! ✊🏽

[@grrfy]

as a former owner of a Abarth until last year,I think it looksa bit frumpy from the front,too plain and fussy at the same time somehow,The standard 500e looks better I think, It is also even more overpriced tha the petrol,which at least made the right noises,which this doesn't.Oh and my 22 year old Honda rattles less than my Abarth did,I do miss it though on occasion

[@alastairwatson3201]

I’m still a bit “whatever” with electric cars, especially in Australia where the infrastructure is faecal at best. But Jonny’s T-shirt? Absolutely bang on. (Sorry - it’s probably also an Aussie thing.)

[@MJHKing1]

Nah, I hear you on the other side of the world

[@sweetfreedomGB]

Most blokes would be embarrassed driving it

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Really? In 2023? I'm more embarrassed driving a massive SUV in 2023 than a Fiat 500e.

[@sweetfreedomGB]

@@TheLateBrakeShow Yes, definitely. However, as Stirling used to say 'each to their own old boy, each to their own'. Love the channel by the way.

[@sweetfreedomGB]

@@TheLateBrakeShow I would be equally embarrassed in any SUV from companies like Urban, or the latest GWagon, however I think you would have to admit to the charm of an older Range Rover or 88 Landy? Or even an early muscle car...Again, all very subjective, as is the intrigue of motor cars.

[@The_Jimrod]

I had a lease BMW i3 a few years back, pretty much spec for spec with this. Was a fun car, surprised things haven't advanced technically on that ancient (in EV terms) design for Fiat though.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

I3 is a far better engineered car, and is almost 10 years old.

[@GlennDavidson]

Looks like fun. When I was walking/cycling/living around B-roads as a kid where I grew up, engine noise was often the only warning you got that someone was bombing along winding blind corners at speeds well over the limit. The dumb fake engine noise makes a lot more sense if it's being sold as a "fun B-road attack" car to drivers that may over-estimate their ability 🤷‍♂️

[@ohyesitsme]

Who wants to drive on country roads with no gears to change, no exhaust note, just sitting there in silence. As an Abarth Punto Esseesse owner this 500e would be the last car on my list.

[@juliandclarke]

Good review. Thanks. Looks excellent, but will stick with my Honda e I’ve had for 3years

[@niklaswejedal463]

Fake engine sounds in EVs falls into the same category as plastic chrome/wood and fake vents and intakes... - and I think I keep my Zoe, thank-you-very-much; the job comute is terrible in a car that is more "sport" (my Renault Modus (!) ) than "comfort" (my Zoe), I have found. Impossible to have any fun in rush-hour traffic or behind people who insist on driving 10 km/h under the speed limit anyway. Better to just sit back and woft along.

[@cwshtygriff13]

What are the minerals used to make the batteries? What fuel is burned to generate electricity? Why are you so against the internal combustion engine? What is the real agenda?

[@campbellvearing5896]

Yep, I could not drive with that noise. I love the silence of an EV, I don’t mind road noise as it helps ‘feel’ the road and car. That droning would drive me nuts.

[@FormulaWhine]

In this category right now I think I'd wait until Renault release the 5. If it was between the Abarth 500e, Mini or Honda E today, I think I'd pick the Abarth and remove the speaker permanently. It's the coolest looking of the three, but all of them are hampered by range. Today, you should be looking at a real world 200 miles as standard.

[@martinaston1715]

£38k 😂😂 no sorry just no

[@stupidvideos1449]

WHAT?

[@Milnoc]

£38,000 is about $65,000 Canadian. That's huge. I paid $11,950 Canadian plus tax for my gas powered 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth back in 2020. That's £6,800. I would very much like an electric Abarth, but I would need to win the lottery first.

[@paulhemming159]

As always great video Jonny. The sound generator is like 5 mins of smiles and then a world of frustration & embarrassment. This car is far too expensive to be viable for most. The thing that gets me is electricity is needed to charge these vehicles, is that really really clean electricity that causes less damage to the environment than fossil fuels? Isn't the way forward to focus all the money thats being poured into EV into synthetic fuels which could be used in the millions of ICE vehicles already in circulation? There isn't the infrastructure by means of charging stations not by an extremely long way. Personally I'd rather drive a Citron 2cv than a Tesla which is basically a vibrator with wheels!! No soul or passion with EV... quick YES equal or equivalent to ICE... never... The only place EV makes sense is small city cars for use in cities... yet how does someone living in a flat or a terraced house charge the vehicle over night? Makes no sense in sooo many ways....

[@reubensmith348]

That speaker would drive me insane! One of the beauties of EV is it's quiet!

[@RichardMajor86]

You say electric cars work, BUT UMMM AKCHULLY I DRIVE 500 MILES EVERY DAY AND HAVE 7 KIDS AND HAVE TO CARRY 3.5 TONNES OF GRAVEL EVERYWHERE - EVs JUST DONT WORK FOR ANYONE!!! Etc

[@pan6593]

He didn‘t put it that way…

[@Bra_Hundfoder]

I’ve own a Nissan Leaf since 2012 and it works fine for us. We all have different needs nobody is the same and have the same needs. I understand EV doesn’t work for you, but it works for so many else. 😊 Kind regards

[@RichardMajor86]

@@Bra_Hundfoder (it was just a little joke)

[@jamesisaac9416]

​@@RichardMajor86 Don't quit your day job

[@azurefog]

Been driving a 2018 500e for a few years. 110bhp is a lot of fun but n a heave go-kart. I’d love to throw one of the Abarths around!

[@joe90h34]

Almost 40k for a Fiat 500 wtf has the world come to 😂😂 people financing their whole lives has allowed manufacturers to slowly push the overall prices up. All people ask these days is ‘how much a month ‘

[@jabezhane]

It's the great plan to drain the 99% dry quicker and quicker. Most are too dumb to see it.

[@daisy_dispatch_]

I don’t have nor will I have the budget for an EV but I like what they have to offer. This was a, as always, balanced review that recognised that if you’re buying anything with Abarth written on it, then economy isn’t high up your shopping list. Which leads me onto the point of this comment. Using a straw poll of my friends most don’t recognise Abarth as the “sporty” end of the range and those that do recognise the range spectrum don’t expect engine noise from sporty EV. And this is my point. You don’t accidentally buy an EV, which means you know they don’t have an ICE, so why add a speaker that plays the noise of a petrol car, in an EV, which is pointless in the first place, but then choose to omit any gear change sounds. Bloody pointless. They could have saved money, space and time leaving it out. My daughter had a boggo spec 500 petrol and like the KA she had before that were just hilarious fun with small but peppy engine for the car, a wheel in each corner and decent feel, so I can just imagine what the Abarth is like and what the EV adds the party. I’d have one and I doubt it would make it 8 miles to work given how I’d drive it!

[@politirel2]

£35,000 for this thing, mad as a box of frogs, those batteries will have to be replaced in a few years, and that will cost maybe £8,000. It might burst into flames too, fingers crossed not while you are driving it.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

We are not defending the cost, but your comment on batts needing replacement simply aren't true. They will last as long as you have the car - or as long as an engine has been designed to last. The difference is that the EV has fewer moving parts, and is cheaper to service and work on.

[@rogerfinch7651]

3 1/2 years into my EV and no fire and still same range. Loving it. Suggest you try one, and stop reading the daily fail misinformation 🤣

[@jasonspegel2116]

@@TheLateBrakeShowI just watched Ratarossa a fellow car youtuber buy a 2013 model S and the battery needed replacing. Tesla quoted him 17,000 pounds to replace it. 10 years is the life of a car now? Electric motors are amazing but battery tech is still junk. Maybe solid state changes things

[@herme99]

@@jasonspegel2116To be fair that Tesla had done literal moon mileage.

[@darrenwallis7630]

Keep getting brainwashed by your oil & gas overlords… what a moron…

[@Marthaviews]

Who doesn't love the sound of a Merlin on a Spitfire!!

[@stevecox5012]

Still watching the video, so you may answer it, but can that synthesized noise be turned off? Would drive you mad! 😬. Ahhh, you can! That's better! 😂

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Yes, but not an obvious menu. Luckily once deactivated it stays the f#£& off

[@stevecox5012]

@@TheLateBrakeShow 😂 What a relief! As it was clearly too much trouble to make a gear change noise, they should have just left the idea on the shelf. Overall looks and err, sounds, like a pretty good car, but the price of these things is crazy.

[@ayboogie420]

Honda E is RWD, and good steering angle, and the best interior. Perfect 3rd car to own for round town trips and silent rainy night drifts.

[@stepheng8779]

Yeah just what everyone wants 🤦

[@andyspinks9996]

Give me a shout back in like ten+ years when there are some decent electric vehicles and more useable charge points. Until that point I will stick to my boring 5.0L V8 supercharged XKR. 😅

[@johnparker8270]

Used to have a 15 plate 500 abarth and my ears will bear witness that motorway journeys were anything but fun.

[@RobertDodge]

MG4 X Power x (Yes I know not a small car but 0-60 in 3.8 seconds for a similar price.

[@1frojoe]

Even the MG4 Extended range is quicker 0-60 than the Fiat

[@russellcopp6968]

After driving a couple of electric cars, I don't understand why regen breaking is taken away in sport mode. To me, a bit of regen works like engine braking. No regen feels like a basic auto drifting into corners and I hate the lack of feel and throttle control that comes with that. Just my personal opinion 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@peterward3965]

Who on earth would pay 35k for a small souped up hairdressers car.

[@kevdavies3445]

caught this being tested on the brecon beacons in acid green the testers were quite complimentary about it tht price tag though

[@dougiemiller5030]

Just came to this video & read so many comments on the price. This is a great looking wee car in my opinion. The sound generator is certainly a gimmick but I would expect some folk will put it on when they're going for a blast along winding roads. Price-wise... Who buys a car with cash nowadays. The folk that can afford to buy a near £40k car with cash probably won't flinch at the price. It's a second car for fun. Most folk that 'buy' this will finance it through pcp or pch. There are thousands of folk that spend £400+ per month on a car.

[@paulmaynard408]

A bonus with electric cars is that the weight distribution won’t change while driving.

[@CharlieStyr]

The piston 500 as you call it is from 2007, based on the Panda from 2003 as I'm sure you know - 2 decades is a totally different era of quality expectations at this point!! I'm impressed that they will presumably keep flogging it until new ICE sales are banned, with the 500e being a separate model.

[@justinkuzmanich3865]

MFP Intercepter for the win