Citroën ë-C3 available to order from 23,300 euros

In view of the entry-level price, the French company is confidently talking about “probably the most important electric car of the year” or the “first affordable European electric car”. Although the Dacia Spring, for example, is offered at a similar base price (without the current discount campaign), the Dacia comes from China. The ë-C3, on the other hand, is “simply European”: it was developed in Europe and is built in Slovakia. However, the battery cells come from China: the supplier for the LFP battery is SVOLT, a spin-off from Great Wall Motor.

The technical specifications of the model have been known since its premiere in October: The ë-C3, which is just over four metres long, is also based on the CMP Smart Car platform and has a 44 kWh battery made from the aforementioned LFP cells, which can be charged with up to 100 kW of power – it should take 26 minutes from 20 to 80 per cent. The drive power is 84 kW. However, there is one deviation: in October, the Stellantis brand still stated an expected WLTP range of 320 kilometres. The press release for the order launch still mentions 300 kilometres.

Two equipment options at launch

For the much-quoted 23,300 euros, the so-called “YOU” equipment is available. This includes 16-inch steel rims with wheel trims, six airbags, “Citroën Advanced Comfort suspension”, black-grey fabric seats, a rear parking aid, LED headlights at the front, a head-up display, air conditioning and “MyCitroën Play” – a smartphone station with hands-free system and a smartphone app including a web radio service. This version of the small car does not have an infotainment display. Obviously, hard calculations had to be made to arrive at the base price.

Anyone who values an infotainment touchscreen in a small car has to go for the “MAX” equipment for 27,800 euros. This offers “MyCitroën Drive”, i.e. a 10.25-inch touchscreen with DAB+, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as a sat nav with a map of Europe. The equipment also includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lights, a reversing camera, electric windows all round (the YOU model only has these at the front), automatic air conditioning and numerous options for charging smartphones and other devices. The base model only has a USB-C port. The ë-C3 MAX has an inductive charging cradle and a total of four USB-C ports.

In terms of technology, both versions are equipped with a 7.4 kW onboard charger ex works, and there is also a six-metre-long type 2 charging cable. The three-phase 11 kW onboard charger, with which the battery can be fully charged in four hours (i.e. within the usual AC blocking charge in some charging tariffs), costs 400 euros extra. The surcharge list is very short anyway in order to keep production lean and affordable: In addition to the standard “Montecarlo Blue” paint finish, there are three colour options and, for the MAX model only, a “winter package” for 700 euros with heated front seats, heated steering wheel, heated windscreen and fog lights.

“With the new Citroën ë-C3, we are offering our customers a unique proposition: a well-equipped, all-electric small car developed and produced in Europe, with plenty of comfort, 100 kW fast charging and absolutely sufficient range at an extremely affordable price,” says Citroën’s Head of Germany Thomas Goldboom. “It has always been important to Citroën that cars remain affordable and we are convinced that the ë-C3, with a price starting at 23,300 euros, will be very attractive to many customers.”

A version with a range of 200 kilometres is to follow in 2025 – but will be even more affordable at 19,990 euros. There are no details on this yet.

Update 09 April 2024

According to the official data now published, the new Citroën ë-C3 offers a range of up to 326 kilometres according to the WLTP. This value applies to the ë-C3 YOU, which can be ordered from 23,300 euros. For the variant with “MAX” equipment, Citroën specifies a WLTP range of 321 kilometres.

Source: Info via email, stellantis.com (in German)