Fiat 500e vs Honda Civic

The Fiat 500e starts from $52,500 before on-road costs, while the Honda Civic opens at $45,350 (our estimated RRP; the brand lists drive-away prices only). Both land at the same RRP, so on-road costs and dealer deals become the real differentiator.

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 $57,750 and $49,885 respectively.

The Fiat 500e currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Honda Civic does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.

The Honda Civic holds a 5-star ANCAP rating vs 4 stars for the Fiat 500e. Adult occupant protection scored 78% for the Fiat 500e and 89% for the Honda Civic.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 8 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Honda Civic, against 6 on the Fiat 500e.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Fiat 500e and 6 in the Honda Civic.

A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.

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

The Fiat 500e features a 10.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Honda Civic gets a 9-inch display and 10.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Fiat 500e stands out with Apple CarPlay and BeatsAudio audio — features our data doesn't list for the Honda Civic. The Honda Civic counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging and Bose audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Fiat 500e gets leatherette upholstery while the Honda Civic offers leather. Climate control is 1-zone in the Fiat 500e and 2-zone in the Honda Civic.

The Fiat 500e uses a Electric producing 87kW and 220Nm of torque, sent through a single-speed automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9 seconds.

The Honda Civic responds with a Hybrid making 135kW and 315Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.1 seconds.

The Honda Civic has the clear power advantage at 135kW vs 87kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Honda Civic is 0.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Fiat 500e measures 3,631mm long on a 2,322mm wheelbase, 929mm shorter than the Honda Civic at 4,560mm (2,733mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Honda Civic generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 185L in the Fiat 500e and 410L in the Honda Civic, giving the Honda Civic a 225L advantage. The Honda Civic seats 5 vs 4.

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

Warranty: 3 years / 150,000km (Fiat 500e) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Honda Civic). The Honda Civic has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: —5yr (Honda Civic).