Right now, the entire car industry is shifting towards electrification, and while that still includes plug-in hybrid powertrains, the ultimate goal is for each carmaker to have a full battery-electric range.

This means zero-emission driving for each and every segment, which for Europeans especially, will result in an emphasis on small city cars, on a larger scale than many other regions in the world. As such, our focus here is on the new Fiat 500e, and the Honda e (yes, small ‘e’).

The production version of the Honda e made its debut at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, drawing in some 40,000 prospective buyers willing to place a reservation. Deliveries are scheduled for this summer.

Read Also: 2020 Honda E Stars In Fresh Photo Gallery And Videos, Reveals Full Specs

By now, you’ve probably realized that while both cars are relatively small and offer seating for four, the Fiat has a smaller footprint with a notably shorter wheelbase (-210mm or -8.3 in.) and has only two doors. In terms of dimensions, the new Fiat 500 measures 3,610mm (142.1 in.) long, 1,690mm (66.5 in.) wide, with a 2,320mm (91.4 in.) wheelbase, while the Honda e is 3,895mm (153.3 in) long, 1,752mm (68.9 in) wide, 1,512mm (59.5 in) tall with a 2,530mm (99.6 in) wheelbase.

Their designs are follow a similar path blending nostalgia with the future, though the end result is different, with the 500 having a more fashionable Italian styling and the Honda e a more straight-forward, almost utilitarian aesthetic. Then there’s the fact that the Fiat is a quasi-convertible, though a closed top model will follow.

And yet, there are parallels to be drawn between the two. They’re both really quirky, unlike say the Renault Zoe EV.

Wait, is the Honda actually more tech-y on the inside?

As a matter of fact, yes, you can say that. It has a total of five displays spread out across the upper dashboard, with the ones on the edge acting as wing mirrors. The Fiat 500e has a pretty modern layout too, especially with that wide 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display, but overall its dashboard design is nowhere near as contemporary as the Honda’s.

The e’s dual touchscreen displays measure 12.3-inches each, while the gauge cluster one has 8.8-inches in diameter.

Then there’s the onboard tech, of which there is plenty to go around. The Honda e offers goodies such as the standard Side Camera Mirror System, a new Personal Assistant (AI-powered voice command system), plus driver assistance features like Collision Mitigation Throttle Control, Low Speed Brake Function, Lead Car Departure Notification System and Honda Parking Pilot, among others.

The new 500e meanwhile brags about being the first car in its segment with Level 2 autonomous capabilities. Its system combines the adaptive cruise control with lane keep assist with a front-facing camera that monitors your surroundings.

What about range?

Fiat’s all-new 500e is powered by a 116 HP (117 PS) electric motor and a 42 kWh lithium-ion battery, serving up a range of 199 miles (320 km) on the WLTP cycle. Also, since the car is fitted with an 85 kW fast charger, you can replenish the battery up to 85% in just 35 minutes.

In a straight line, you’ll be taking your 500e from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in about 9 seconds flat, which to be fair isn’t really all that quick for an electric car. Nor any type of car, for that matter.

With the Honda, you get two electric motor options, one delivering 134 HP (136 PS), and the other 152 HP (154 PS). The latter will help get you to 100 km/h (62 mph) in about 8 seconds, with the aid of a 35.5 kWh battery – which enables a WLTP-rated range of up to 138 miles (222 km). So in regards to performance-wise, the Honda has the edge over its Italian counterpart. As for how rapidly you can get it to 80% using fast charging, that would be 30 minutes.

One major difference between the two is that the Honda e comes with rear-wheel drive, whereas the Fiat’s power is sent exclusively to the front wheels. Does this means that the small Japanese EV is more fun to drive? That’s possible, but we’ll have to drive both to know.

Let’s talk money

Even though it’s a little too soon to look at pricing from a global perspective (we don’t even know if the 500e is coming to the U.S.), we can tell you that the launch edition Fiat is priced from around €37,900 ($42,160) in Italy, while the Honda e costs upwards of €29,470 ($33,323) in Germany if you go for the least powerful variant, while the “Advance” version will start from €32,470 ($36,715). Prices in the UK start from £29,000 (equal to $37,850) for the Fiat 500 launch edition and from £26,160 ($34,150), in both cases including the government’s plug-in grant.

Technically, you can justify the difference in price by attributing it to the Fiat 500e’s better driving range, its convertible factor as well as the launch edition’s rich standard equipment list. The fact that you can yank back the roof is definitely worth certain considerations, especially for style-oriented buyers.

Which of the two would you rather use as your daily driver?