Should you buy one?

If you fancy a city-friendly EV with a bit of bite and no roof, the Abarth 500e Convertible has plenty of appeal. It’s certainly quicker and more fun than the regular 500e Convertible, although it can’t match a proper hot hatch or sports car for driving enjoyment.

It’s by no means perfect, with a limited range and the inherent practicality issues making it best as an urban runabout or second car. With that in mind, the purchase price does start to look a little high, especially with the additional cost of the fabric roof taken into account.

Abarth has been offering some tempting finance deals and grants, making the 500e a more tempting option than its list price might suggest. Even without them, it’s more recommendable than the Mini Electric Convertible and certainly has a niche appeal.

What we like

It feels punchy around town and its compact size makes it easy to manoeuvre and park, while you can have a bit of fun on the open road. The interior is appealing, and it’s the cheapest fully electric convertible out there.

What we don’t like

The range is a bit short and it’s not truly exhilarating like a good hot hatch. It can also for struggle for traction and it’s unsurprisingly tiny in the back and boot.