Review: Citroen ë-C3
Electric cars, such as the Citroen ë-C3 are becoming much more affordable
When electric cars were first introduced to the public, they were priced beyond the reach of most people's budgets.
The intervening years have brought a steady reduction in prices as more of the mainstream manufacturers bring out their own versions.
Citroen is a case in point. It now has the widest range of EVs on the market under £30,000, making driving an electric vehicle a much more sensible choice.
The ë-C3 as tested here is one of the smallest in the Citroen fleet, only the diminutive Ami is below it in the pecking order.
It won a hat-trick of awards even before the first orders were delivered, and it has continued to be a winner for Citroen.
The range starts at £19,995 for the Plus, with the Max trim we drove coming in at £23,690 (£24,050 with the added extras).
The 44kWh LFP (Lithium iron phosphate) battery is said to deliver up to 199 miles of driving, though much less in the real world.
If you have access to a 100kW DC rapid charger, the battery can go from 20 per cent to 80 per cent charge in 26 minutes. A 7.4kW home charger will take four hours and 10 minutes.
The ë-C3 is one of the first Citroens to showcase the new face. Gone is the large chrome double chevron grille across the front, to be replaced by a neat logo in a small oval frame.
Apparently, the design harks back to 1919 when Citroen first started making cars, and it is neat and unobtrusive.
The whole look of the ë-C3 is well put together with a nice boxy shape.
The interior is smarter than you’d expect from a budget car, with a pleasant cloth trim on the dashboard and a small, squished-up steering wheel, which allows the driver to see clearly over it to the digital display.
The cabin has lots of creature comforts, including soft seats, a heated steering wheel and heated rear and front windscreens.
Both models have parking sensors, and the Max has an added rear-view camera.
For a small car, it is really quite roomy. However, passengers with long legs may feel a bit cramped in the back, and the middle seat of the three is a bit too tight for long-distance travelling.
The boot is not a bad size either for a compact car, but the extra deep lip is a bit annoying and heavy bags will need to be hefted out.
Unusually, you have to insert a key into the ignition - most electric cars these days are push-button - some don’t even need you to do that.
Acceleration is not brisk, and it takes a ponderous 10.4 seconds to go from 0-62mph. Top speed is 82mph, so the ë-C3 is not best suited to motorway travel.
The suspension is comfortable thanks to Citroen’s hydraulic unit that really irons out the bumps. Overall, the ë-C3 is a really nice car at a sensible price.
Citroën ë-C3
Price: £23,690. As tested £24,050 with Elixir Red paint
Battery: 100kWh capacity
Power: 114bhp
Torque: 98lb/ft
Transmission: One speed
Top speed: 82mph
0-62mph: 10.4 seconds
Claimed range: 199 miles.
CO2: zero