Citroen E-C3 Urban Range: What’s Different?

When the original Citroen e-C3 arrived towards the end of 2024, its keen price gained positive reviews. The new version takes that key DNA a little bit further. The name of the new e-C3 Urban Range is a bit of a giveaway – this is a car aimed primarily at city usage. It comes with a 113hp motor and 30kWh LFP battery, with the latter from a supplier not previous used by the French automaker. The regular Standard Range version of the e-C3 has a much larger 44kWh battery. However, LFP batteries have the advantage of being more resistant to 100% charging, so the full capacity can be used regularly.

The e-C3 doesn’t have the retro chic of the Renault 5 or more radical looks of the Fiat Grande Panda or Hyundai Inster. But it’s still quite funky in appearance, with two-tone paint as standard. The basic light blue is a bit more interesting than some default options, while the optional blue and red make a refreshing change for the dull shades so many brands now offer, although they are quite expensive considering the base price of this car. Overall, this is a fun design with plenty of character.

The interior of the e-C3 is rather rudimentary, as you would expect for a budget city car, but still has a solid feel. The front seats are mechanically adjusted and perfunctory, and smartphone charging will be via cable only. However, the build quality surpasses Chinese-manufactured alternatives. There are a few oddities like how the front windows won’t go all the way down, though.

One area where the e-C3 surpasses some of its competitors at a similar or lower price, such as the Leapmotor T03 and Dacia Spring, is that it has three seats in the back instead of two. The more expensive Hyundai Inster also only has two rear seats, although Renault’s 4 and 5 have three. The e-C3 has a bit more knee and headroom than these, though, making it marginally better for carrying adults in the back.

The e-C3 trim I was driving was called “You”, which doesn’t even have an infotainment screen. You need to use your phone for all navigation or media tasks. But in the UK only the Plus version will be sold, which does have infotainment and navigation built in. There’s also air conditioning and electric windows. However, the parking brake is a mechanical lever (how retro) and there’s no power button – you turn a key to get the system started (even more retro).

The rear luggage space isn’t huge, but here also it’s above direct competitors. You get 328 liters with the rear seats up, and 1,180 liters with them down. That’s typical for more expensive hatchbacks, and there’s a 60/40 split in the rear seats too. So overall the Citroen e-C3 is quite practical for carrying people and cargo, scoring highly against similarly priced competitors by essentially being a size class above them.

Citroen E-C3 Urban Range: Driving Experience And Range

With 113hp, the e-C3 Urban Range is not exactly a speed demon. It can only manage 0-62mph in about 12 seconds. That’s even slower than the Standard Range version, and that falls behind most competitors. But being an EV, it feels faster than this off the lights and out of junctions. The immediate torque is still enough to provide a nippy city driving experience.

In urban driving the e-C3 is really in its element. Unless you’re racing other small EVs you’re not really going to notice it’s a bit behind them in brute speed. You’re just going to enjoy how this car’s pleasantly responsive power delivery and small enough size enable it to tackle crowded urban streets with confidence.

I also drove this car up and down a steep, windy, and treacherous mountain road in France, which the e-C3 Urban Range coped with adequately. That’s probably not going to be its natural habitat but shows it has sufficient power for ramps and hills, which you will come across in some urban environments.

Ride quality is a bit bouncy over speed bumps and potholes, but it’s not harsh or crashy. This is a budget car so you wouldn’t expect a premium air suspension experience. On decent road surfaces it’s comfortable and assured.

A 30kWh battery is rather small by today’s standards, now that range beasts like the BMW iX3 and Volvo EX60 are smashing through 100kWh in the mainstream. The e-C Urban Range pack only delivers 130 miles of WLTP range, although this expands to 186 miles in the city cycle. The Standard Range’s 44kWh battery provides a more flexible 201 WLTP miles.

So the Urban Range’s battery is too meagre for long-distance driving, especially as DC charging only extends to 30kW, taking 36 minutes to charge from 20 to 80%, despite the tiny battery. This is also a £440 ($600) optional extra. Some owners with home charging not planning anything except urban driving might not bother, but the additional cost for DC charging does take the shine off this car’s headline value.

The e-C3 is perfectly fine at highway speeds, so the limited range and slow charging hinder its potential here. It’s not exactly a motorway cruiser but doesn’t feel small and vulnerable. If you have a short commute that involves roads this fast, the e-C3 will still cope well. You just won’t want to drive from London to Manchester.

Another Step Forward In Affordability With The Citroen E-C3 Urban Range

Long-distance driving isn’t what the Citroen e-C3 Urban Range is about, however – the clue is in the name. The Standard Range could cope a little better, but even that car isn’t meant for regular intercity travel. This is a budget vehicle intended for transporting passengers around town, school runs and modest daily commutes. For those kinds of journey requirements, the price is very tempting.

In the UK, the Citroen e-C3 Urban Range benefits from the government’s £1,500 Electric Car Grant, enabling the price to come in at just £18,495 ($25,000). That prices this car above the cheapest options like the Dacia Spring or Leapmotion T03. The BYD Dolphin Surf starts at a similar level, with the same battery size and around the same range, but it’s a smaller car. The original Citroen e-C3 Standard Range was already compelling value, but if your daily transport distance needs are even more limited, the Urban Range is a bargain with a lot more flexibility than most similarly priced competitors.