Citroen E-C3 review: A cheap and cheerful city EV

March 26, 2025 Matt Allan

We see if the Citroen E-C3’s price, specification and performance are enough to help kick-start the affordable EV revolution

Electric cars are too expensive. So we are repeatedly told. Most are out of reach of ordinary people and the cheap ones are too compromised to work as a family’s only car, goes the thinking. But the Citroen E-C3 might just be about to change that.

It’s true that up until now EVs have mostly been more expensive models. Car makers pursuing profit margins have focused on bigger, longer-range electric SUVs that suit company buyers and wealthy private customers, but are of little interest to those with more modest budgets or requirements.

But 2025 is seeing a shift as a wave of sub-£25,000 EVs come to market. There’s the Renault 5, the Hyundai Inster, and the Vauxhall Frontera to name but a few. And, of course, the Citroen E-C3.

This is the fourth generation of C3 but the first to offer an all-electric model alongside petrol and hybrid. The EV is still a bit more expensive than the fossil fuel versions but, starting at less than £22,000, is among the very cheapest ‘proper’ electric cars you can buy.

Citroen says it wants to bring electric mobility within reach of everyone and the E-C3 is central to that ambition. But a low price is only part of the equation, to truly win over drivers, affordable EVs still need to be practical, user friendly and attractive.

Citroen E-C3 design, interior and technology

The E-C3 was first hinted at with 2022’s Oli concept car and there are still nods to that in the production. The E-C3 has ditched the blobby look of the third-generation car for a much squarer, more upright look featuring Citroen’s new retro-badge in a bluff front end and a sharp finish around the rear end.

Citroen insists the E-C3 is a hatchback and that the Aircross will be its compact SUV, but there is a definite crossover vibe. It has thin body cladding, roof rails and is taller than before. The seating position is around 10cm higher than your average hatch, but at 4.01m it’s only 2cm longer than the previous hatchback.

Citroen says the E-C3 is still a hatchback, just one with SUV styling cues

That similar footprint means this really is still a supermini with everything that implies for passenger space. Citroen says it has class-leading rear knee room, but the back seats are still just for kids, and there’s only really space for four onboard. Those up front at least have reasonable room and benefit from Citroen’s Advanced Comfort seats for the first time in a C3, which are genuinely super-comfy.

A 310-litre boot is on a par with the more expensive Vauxhall Corsa Electric but a little behind the Renault 5’s 326 litres. In supermini terms, it’s all perfectly respectable. But there are signs of cost-cutting. You need to put the key in a physical ‘ignition’, for example; the boot has a flimsy floor with nowhere to store the charging cable; and in the entry-level car, the rear windows aren’t electric.

Despite such budget-conscious decisions, the E-C3’s interior is a stylish and welcoming space. Citroen has borrowed Peugeot’s i-cockpit idea, so the C-Zen dashboard features a small, low-set steering wheel ahead of which sits a slimline instrument panel with plain but easy to read graphics. The dashboard is finished in a mix of squishy plastic and attractive fabric. In tandem with the two-tone door cards (complete with tags encouraging you to ‘be happy’) this elevates it beyond the level of bargain basement plastics. Don’t expect Lexus-like fit and finish for £22k but overall quality is perfectly good. And – praise be – the heating controls are a clear and easy to use panel of physical switches and buttons.

The E-C3’s interior is simple but inviting

Above those controls, all E-C3s get a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring. It’s a fairly basic system but reasonably clear and responsive, and connected services include the e-Routes app that helps with route planning, and remote preconditioning. They’re features we take for granted on more expensive cars, so it’s nice to have them here too.

Battery, motor and performance

For the moment, the E-C3 comes with a single powertrain that’s shared with other cars on the new Smart Car platform.

That means a 111bhp motor driving the front wheels and drawing its energy from a 44kWh battery. According to WLTP testing, the Citroen E-C3’s range is 199 miles, and all models come with 100kW charging.

Performance isn’t exactly electrifying – 0-62mph takes 11 seconds and the top speed is 84mph. But it’s a city car, it’s going to spend most of its time doing 0-30mph runs, where it is punchy enough. Point it at a national speed limit sign and it feels ponderous but once you’re up to speed it’s perfectly settled and solid.

Small touches help elevate the E-C3’s look and feel

At higher speeds, the steering is relatively quick due to the tiny steering wheel but still vague. At lower speeds its sharpness and lightness make urban manoeuvres easy.

The E-C3 is the first B-class car to get Citroen’s Advanced Comfort suspension with its clever hydraulic bump stops. The result is a truly impressive ride that has the suppleness of cars in a class or even two classes above. Refinement is generally very good as well, although there’s some tyre noise at motorway speeds.

Citroen quotes official consumption of 4.5m/kWh. Oddly, the car’s trip computer has no way of displaying real-world efficiency but through some mathematical gymnastics, we worked out that our car returned 3.38m/kWh. That’s not hugely impressive for a small car and translates to a real-world range of around 150 miles. But, to be fair, quite a lot of our drive was spent on fast-moving A roads and 150 miles is still adequate for this car’s intended use.

Later this year, Citroen will introduce a smaller battery, offering 124 miles of range and an even lower entry price.

Citroen E-C3 price and specification

Which brings us onto the E-C3’s price.

Citroen says the E-C3 is the first affordable electric car built for Europe in Europe. Renault might contest that, but nonetheless, it is one of the first wave of truly affordable EVs, with prices starting at £21,990.

That’s £1,000 less than the Renault 5, £1,500 less than the Hyundai Inster – which have similar performance and range – and £3,000 less than a Fiat 500, which only manages 118 miles and 94bhp.

There are just two trim levels in the UK – Plus, which costs from £21,990 and Max, a still budget-friendly £23,690.

All versions get 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, Advanced Comfort suspension and seats, rear parking sensors, cruise control and manual air conditioning. The neat two-tone paint, skid plates and roof rails are also standard across the line-up along with the 10.25-inch touchscreen.

Max adds LED rear lights, rear privacy glass, posher seat material, automatic air conditioning and satellite navigation. It also introduces heated seats and steering wheel, a reversing camera, rear power windows and wireless phone charging.

Verdict

The E-C3’s purpose is simple – to make EVs more accessible without compromising so much as to make them unattractive.

It is definitely compromised in some areas but delivers where it really matters and is a great car for the money.

Its performance is merely adequate and there are clear cost-cutting touches. But it offers a sensible range, decent charging and class-leading comfort in a stylish package.

As an affordable electric car for commuting, school runs and shopping trips, it ticks an awful lot of boxes.