Abarth 500e vs Honda Civic Type R

The Abarth 500e starts from $60,500 before on-road costs, while the Honda Civic Type R opens at $77,250. That makes the Abarth 500e the more affordable entry point by $16,750.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $66,550 and $84,975 respectively.

The Abarth 500e qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Honda Civic Type R, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Abarth 500e features a 10.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Honda Civic Type R gets a 9-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Abarth 500e stands out with JBL audio that you will not find on the Honda Civic Type R. The Honda Civic Type R counters with heated front seats, Bose audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Abarth 500e gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Honda Civic Type R offers suede/cloth sport. Climate control is 1-zone in the Abarth 500e and 2-zone in the Honda Civic Type R.

The Abarth 500e uses a Electric producing 113kW and 235Nm of torque, sent through a single-speed automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7 seconds.

The Honda Civic Type R responds with a DOHC VTEC Turbo In line 4-cylinder making 235kW and 420Nm, paired to a 6-speed manual driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds.

The Honda Civic Type R has the clear power advantage at 235kW vs 113kW. In the real-world sprint, the Honda Civic Type R is 1.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Abarth 500e measures 3,673mm long on a 2,322mm wheelbase, 933mm shorter than the Honda Civic Type R at 4,606mm (2,735mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Honda Civic Type R generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 185L in the Abarth 500e and 410L in the Honda Civic Type R, giving the Honda Civic Type R a 225L advantage.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 3 years / 150,000km (Abarth 500e) vs 5 years (Honda Civic Type R). The Honda Civic Type R has longer coverage.