If you are looking for a small electric car that offers comfort, style, and value, you might want to check out the Citroen e-C3. This all-electric version of the popular C3 hatchback has just won the Ecobest award from the Autobest jury, a prestigious recognition for the most eco-friendly car in Europe.
But what makes the Citroen e-C3 so special? How does it compare to other electric cars in its class? And what are the benefits of choosing an electric car over a conventional one? Now, we will answer these questions and more, as we explore the features, performance, and advantages of the Citroen e-C3, the Ecobest car of 2024.
A New Design Language for a New Era
The Citroen e-C3 is not just a C3 with a battery. It is a completely new car that showcases Citroen’s new design language and logo, which were first revealed by the Citroen Oli Concept in 2022. The e-C3 has a tall, boxy shape that gives it a crossover-like appearance, with slim LED headlights, C-shaped lights, and chunky wheel arch cladding. The new logo, which consists of two chevrons and a horizontal line, is prominently displayed on the front grille and the tailgate.
The e-C3 also offers a high level of customization, with 12 body colors, four roof colors, and three color packs to choose from. You can also opt for a two-tone exterior paint, roof rails, and 17-inch alloy wheels on the higher trim level. The e-C3 has a modern and bold look that stands out from the crowd.
A Spacious and Comfortable Interior
The e-C3’s exterior dimensions are similar to those of the previous C3, but thanks to the clever use of space, the interior is much more roomy and comfortable. The e-C3 has a high roofline that provides 1.18 inches of additional headroom and 0.8 inches of added knee room for the passengers. The cargo area behind the rear seats has also grown slightly from 10.59 cubic feet to 10.94 cubic feet.
The interior of the e-C3 features a stepped dashboard that creates a sense of space and a good amount of storage. The digital driver’s display is located on top of the dashboard, while the 10.25-inch infotainment screen (which is optional on the entry-level version) sits more centrally. The dashboard also has colored detailing and fabric inserts that add some flair and contrast to the hard and scratchy plastics.
The e-C3 is equipped with Citroen’s signature Advanced Comfort Seats, which are designed to offer optimal support and softness. The seats are also heated and adjustable on the higher trim level. The e-C3 also has a panoramic sunroof that lets in more natural light and a wireless phone charging pad that keeps your devices powered up.
A Smooth and Efficient Electric Powertrain
The e-C3 is powered by a 111-horsepower electric motor and a 44-kilowatt-hour Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) battery, which delivers an official range of 199 miles on a single charge. This is more than enough for most daily trips and comparable to other electric cars in its class, such as the BYD Dolphin Active (211 miles) and the MG 4 SE (218 miles). The e-C3 also has a 24-kilowatt-hour battery option that offers a range of 124 miles, which could be ideal for those who do mostly short trips or want a more affordable electric car.
The e-C3 can be charged at home using a wallbox or a domestic socket or on the road using a public charging station. The e-C3 can accept charging rates of up to 100 kilowatts, which means that a 10-80% top-up should take around 30 minutes with a suitably powerful charging point. The e-C3 also comes with a free six-month subscription to the Free2Move service, which gives you access to more than 220,000 charging points across Europe.
The e-C3 has a smooth and quiet driving experience, with a 0-62 mph acceleration of around 11 seconds. The e-C3 also has three driving modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport, which adjust the power output and the energy consumption according to your preferences. The e-C3 also has a regenerative braking system that recovers some of the energy lost during deceleration and braking and a heat pump that optimizes the heating and cooling of the cabin without compromising the range.