Why the electric Citroën ë-C3 is extremely important for the Netherlands

Annoying, all those dots and E’s. Also, do you know what a Citroën press release looks like because that’s how the brand insists we spell Citroën ë-C3?

In any case, there are more important things, such as the Citroën ë-C3 itself. Because Citroën shows the stars of the competition in one fell swoop. The brand is the first to bring a really usable electric vehicle onto the market for around 24,000 euros.

Citroen ë-C3 vs. Dacia Spring

Don’t rush to pen now, because we haven’t forgotten the Dacia Spring. It is and remains the cheapest electric car on the market, but its technical data does not come close to those of the Citroën ë-C3.

The basic price of the Spring is 21,750 euros, but it only produces 44 hp and a range of 230 kilometers. The Spring Extreme, which costs 23,400 euros, is more powerful (65 hp), but sacrifices a range of 10 kilometers.

Just over 24,000 euros

Citroën has already announced that the ë-C3 will cost us 24,290 euros and buyers/lease drivers will receive a 113 hp electric motor, a 44 kWh battery and a range of up to 320 kilometers.

The ë-C3 accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 11 seconds, reaches a top speed of 135 km/h and can be charged with a maximum of 100 kW (the Dacia Spring does not reach more than 30 kW).

Based on the Indian C3

The Citroën is based on the Stellantis smart car platform, which is already used in India and South America for the C3 model there. There will also be fuel variants of the ë-C3 later.

The Indian electric C3 was introduced earlier this year and has the same wheelbase and range as the ë-C3. However, it is only 57 hp and has a smaller battery (29.2 kWh) that is not of the LFP type.

Greatest comfort in its class

What is typical for Citroën is that with the ë-C3 the brand claims to build the most comfortable car in its class. All versions of the ë-C3 are equipped with so-called Progressive Hydraulic Cushions as standard.

This means that the springs and dampers are supported by hydraulic buffers that absorb end-of-travel shocks more gently than traditional mechanical bump stops.

Above all, more headroom

The ë-C3 is 4.01 meters long, 1.76 meters wide and has a wheelbase of 2.54 meters. Its external dimensions are almost the same as those of its predecessor, only about 6 centimeters were added to the height.

According to Citroën, this results in three centimeters more headroom for the driver and front passenger. The C3’s ground clearance was increased from 13.5 to 16.3 centimeters.

The design of the ë-C3 is not spectacular. The proportions are clearly from the C3 as it is already sold in India and South America. The only truly new elements are the oval Citroën logo, used for the first time on the ë-C3, and the Oli-like lighting units.

When in the Netherlands?

The first examples of the Citroën ë-C3 will appear on Dutch roads in the second quarter of 2024. There are only two versions: you and Max.

Citroën ë-C3 You and Max

The first comes standard with LED headlights, manually operated air conditioning, cruise control, rear parking sensors and digital instruments.

The infotainment screen in the photo belongs to the Max version. Anyone who opts for this will receive a cell phone holder on the center console that can be used to connect a smartphone to the car.

It’s also worth noting that only the Max has a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. With the second row of seats up, the trunk is 310 liters (plus 10 liters compared to the C3).