THE STYLE COUNCIL

The Abarth 600e and Volvo EX30 are both trying to stand out in a crowded compact family SUV market. Which one can shout to the top?

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ABARTH 600e vs VOLVO EX30

Sporty Scorpionissima version of Abarth 600e hopes to sting one of our class favourites, the Volvo EX30, in this week's road test

ON THE ROAD

THE 600e's aggressive differential and stiff suspension make it fun to drive, and on smooth surfaces - road or track - its focused, responsive chassis feels sharper than the Volvo's. It does a good job of recreating the characterful nature of petrol-powered Abarths. But the firm ride takes the edge off the fun on a bumpy B-road, so the EX30's comfier set-up seems all the more desirable.

TECH HIGHLIGHTS

DESPITE its outwardly sporty looks, the 600e is front-wheel drive only, while the more reserved Volvo EX30 is rear-wheel drive. Both have a single e-motor, but the Volvo's 69kWh battery is larger than Abarth's 54kWh unit. Charging is also better in the EX30, which can refill at up to 153kW - 54kW faster than its rival. The Volvo is also more efficient, especially on the motorway.

PRICE AND RUNNING

BOTH cars sneak in below the £40,000 mark, so you won't have to pay the extra VED charged on cars that breach that figure. Kit levels are similar, too, so the main difference here will be the efficiency of the motor, which was significantly better in the Volvo in our tests. Not only does it have better charging tech, you won't have to recharge as frequently, and that means lower bills.

PRACTICALITY