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Abarth 500e vs VW ID.Polo
Selected trimHatchbackChange trim164 mi · 42.2 kWh · £27,995
At a glance
In this comparison, Abarth 500e leads on city driving, while the VW ID.Polo leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Abarth 500e if...
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
Choose the VW ID.Polo if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.5p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.Polo wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueVW
Abarth
4.4
VW
6.3
Motorway RangeVW
Abarth
3.1
VW
5.1
FamilyVW
Abarth
0.8
VW
8.3
ChargingVW
Abarth
3.3
VW
6.3
Cost Per MileVW
Abarth
4.2
VW
9.8
City DrivingAbarth
Abarth
9.6
VW
7.5
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
VW ID.Polo
Life 116PS
- £4,050 cheaper
- 40 miles more WLTP range
- 256 litres more boot space
- 12 min quicker 10-80% rapid charge
- 1 more seat
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £27,995 | £23,945 (better) |
| Official range | 164 miles | 204 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 185 L | 441 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 35 min | 23 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 7 sec | Not available |
Size Comparison
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Abarth 500e
VW ID.Polo
Length
Abarth 500e3,673mm-380mm
VW ID.Polo4,053mm
Width
Abarth 500e1,683mm-133mm
VW ID.Polo1,816mm
Height
Abarth 500e1,518mm-12mm
VW ID.Polo1,530mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,673 mm | 4,053 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,683 mm (better) | 1,816 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | 1,900 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,518 mm | 1,530 mm |
| Turning circle | 9.4 m (better) | 10.9 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 717 mm spare (better) | 584 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 4 | 5 (better) |
| Boot space (seats up) | 185 L | 441 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 550 L | 1240 L (better) |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Abarth 500e
- Eligible for the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant, one of 8 hatchback EVs we track that qualifies for the top band.
- At 3,673 mm, shorter than 85% of hatchback EVs in our UK catalogue.
- 9.4 m turning circle, tighter than 90% of hatchback EVs in our database.
VW ID.Polo
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Abarth 500e Hatchback |  VW ID.Polo Life 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3.67m | 4.05m+380mm |
| Width | 1.68m | 1.82m+133mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 1.90m | Not available |
| Height | 1.52m | 1.53m+12mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.32m | 2.59m+270mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 185L | 441L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 550L | 1240L (better) |
| Seats | 4 | 5 (better) |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 9.4m (better) | 10.9m |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 42.2kWh (better) | 37kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 164 mi | 204 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 85kW | 90kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £27,995 | £23,945 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £24,245 (-£3,750) | £23,945 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Available | 2023+ | 2027+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 164 miles | 204 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 137 miles | 170 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 35 min | 23 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 85 kW | 90 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 42.2 kWh (better) | 37 kWh |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 7 sec | Not available |
| Power | 114 kW (better) | 85 kW |
| Torque | 235 Nm | Not available |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Buying options
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Abarth 500e
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.Polo
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the Abarth 500e worth the extra £4,050 over the VW ID.Polo?
The Abarth 500e costs £4,050 more than the VW ID.Polo. On the headline specs that premium buys little measurable advantage - the two are closely matched on range, charging and space. The VW ID.Polo is not just cheaper - it also offers 40 miles more WLTP range, 256 litres more boot space and 1 more seat (5 versus 4). On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the VW ID.Polo comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Abarth 500e or the VW ID.Polo?
The VW ID.Polo is £4,050 cheaper to buy. The VW ID.Polo is cheaper to charge, roughly £120 a year versus £176 for the Abarth 500e, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the VW ID.Polo comes out roughly £4,330 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Abarth 500e and VW ID.Polo like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 137 miles for the Abarth 500e and 170 miles for the VW ID.Polo - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The VW ID.Polo goes roughly 34 miles further between charging stops. A rapid charge to 80% takes around 35 minutes in the Abarth 500e and 23 in the VW ID.Polo, so the VW ID.Polo loses less time at each stop. That makes the VW ID.Polo the stronger long-distance car.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Abarth 500e or the VW ID.Polo?
The Abarth 500e is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 133 mm narrower than the VW ID.Polo. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 717 mm of total clearance for the Abarth 500e and about 584 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.Polo. The Abarth 500e also turns in a 1.5 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
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See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Abarth 500e and VW ID.Polo rank among EVs under £30,000Where the Abarth 500e and VW ID.Polo rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Abarth 500e and VW ID.Polo rank among the best small electric carsWhere the Abarth 500e and VW ID.Polo rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Abarth 500e and VW ID.Polo rank among the best city EVsWhere the Abarth 500e and VW ID.Polo rank among the cheapest EVs to run
If neither is quite right
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Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .