Citroen C3 Becomes Yet Another Electric SUV, But At Least It’s Cheap

Ah the Citroen C3. The humble hatchback that always looked a little bit funky, but never had much beyond that to shout about. It was, however, rather cheap - bested only in the UK by the Dacia Sandero, MG3 and Kia Picanto (depending on which day you’re looking at the price lists).

Well, it’s back, but it’s become yet another electric SUV. Boo, hiss, spit etc. But at least in doing so, it hasn’t become mega expensive. UK pricing hasn’t been revealed for the e-C3 (to give it its proper name), but in Europe, it’ll go for €23,300 (around £20,250).

By comparison, the cheapest electric car currently on sale on our shores (excluding the Ami, of course, which technically isn’t a car) is the Smart EQ Fortwo at £22,225. And that’s a two-seater city car with a measly 81 miles of range.

With the Citroen e-C3, you are getting a respectable official figure of 199 miles from a 44kWh battery pack. Plus, with 100kW of DC charging power, you replenish 80 per cent of charge in 26 minutes.

Granted, it does look a lot stranger in our eyes compared with the outgoing C3 - even if it is bigger both inside and out.

Although UK specs haven’t yet been confirmed, you’ll be able to get some interesting tech on the e-C3. Most exciting is the standard introduction of Citroen’s Advanced Comfort suspension, which adds hydraulic bump stops in place of mechanical ones within the dampers to help gradually iron out harsh lumps and bumps. If our experience with other Citroen models is to go by, it works very well.

Other creature comforts as standard on entry-level European ‘You’ models will include LED headlights, rear parking sensors, cruise control and even a head-up display.

Range-topping ‘Max’ versions get 17-inch diamond cut alloys, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Citroen’s extra foam-padded seats (also using the Advanced Comfort branding), a rear camera and heated door mirrors. Oh, and an amazing thing called ‘rear power windows’. No word yet on how much this will cost, though.

It doesn’t end there. An even cheaper version will be coming in 2025, with a smaller battery and a target price of 19,990 euros (approx. £17,000). That one should have the Dacia Spring quaking in its 14-inch boots.

Expect to see the Citroen e-C3 go on sale early in 2024. Then presumably at every supermarket EV charger until the end of time.