Charged-up

For the last year or so, Citroën India appears to have been on the back foot. It’s true the Basalt coupe-SUV, which presented not just great style but also immense value, was launched in 2024, but apart from that, there hasn’t been much fanfare. However, that’s not precisely true. While the French carmaker’s overall sales aren’t quite there yet, it has consistently improved its existing range of cars. We take the Citroën eC3 out for a spin to see how the all-electric hatchback fares nearly two years after it was originally launched.

Increasingly popular among fleet operators and urban dwellers, there’s something that the eC3 gets right. Priced between ₹12.76 lakh and ₹13.56 lakh, ex-showroom, the eC3 is the only all-electric Citroën available in India, and barring the C5 Aircross, it’s the most expensive model in the current line-up. So, what sets it apart from the rest?

Customisable

The looks? Well, not quite. It has a nearly identical appearance to the conventionally powered Citroën C3 but with some unique touches. Citroën is otherwise known for its bold design choices, but the eC3 is anything but that. That’s not to say the car isn’t likeable, though. The front-end styling involves a traditional grille, and the chevron logo is neatly integrated. The nicely styled taillights make the rear equally acceptable, while what turns out to be the most standout feature is the presence of orange accents. Let’s not forget that Citroën India has maintained that the C3 can be customised to some extent with the help of contrasting colour accents and accessory packs, so if you really want your C3 or eC3, for that matter, to have a more individual appearance, you can give that a shot.

An electric vehicle doesn’t require a radiator grille per se, but Citroën hasn’t messed with the C3’s aesthetics and carried one on the electric version, too. Surprisingly, a non-functioning, sealed fuel filler is also there, although the charging port isn’t there; instead, it is on the front fender. On the whole, the eC3 isn’t too different from the C3, but the overall design is pleasing, to say the least.

The good-looking, vibrant 10.2-inch touchscreen works well and sets the tone for an overall modern cabin

The exterior isn’t quirk-free, but the eC3’s cabin takes that up a notch. It presents a genuinely nice mix of practicality, space, and some quirks. The good-looking, vibrant 10.2-inch touchscreen works well and sets the tone for an overall modern cabin. This, to some extent, is nullified by the simple (but outdated) monochrome driver display. The infotainment unit comes with wireless connectivity for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s a smart way to route the charging cable if you want to charge your phone on the go. Balancing that are the AC controls, which look dated in comparison, and the control knobs don’t feel premium, either.

Considerable space

For a hatchback, the space on offer is commendable, and Citroën deserves full points for that. Both head and legroom, at the front and in the back, are sizeable, and none of the passengers will complain. The boot is quite good, too. We would’ve liked to see Citroën go the extra mile in differentiating the eC3 from its petrol-powered sibling because, honestly, despite being based on the same platform, the chosen mode of propulsion makes the eC3 a very different car.

The Citroën eC3 gets a 29.2 kWh battery, which, according to the ARAI-certified figure, can go up to 320 km on a single charge. We expect the final figure to be around 280 km. The electric car draws its power from a single electric motor, which in the current configuration makes 56 bhp and 14.59 kg-m. Those numbers mightn’t sound a lot, but the presence of instantaneous torque (often synonymous with electric cars) ensures that there’s no lack of responsiveness. Despite not being the lightest car around, a firm dab on the throttle will see the front wheels get overpowered, resulting in a momentous wheel spin.

Ride comfort

Like its petrol-engined counterpart, the eC3 benefits from unmatched ride comfort. It absorbs road undulations without any drama, so driving on bad roads is no problem at all. Thankfully, this doesn’t come at the cost of overall stability, either. This makes the eC3 a likeable proposition in terms of ride and handling. When it comes to manoeuvrability, too, with its light steering, the eC3 shines brightly. The steering isn’t devoid of self-centring (unlike some other budget cars), which makes the car easy to live with.

Its liveability is further enhanced by the presence of fast charging, which will potentially top-up the battery to 80 per cent (from 10) in just under an hour. If your access to a fast charger is limited, a home charger using the standard 15A socket can fully charge the eC3 in about ten-and-a-half hours, claims the company.

The Citroën eC3’s price might be on the higher side, but it trumps its rivals when it comes to ride quality and in-cabin space. The cool design further adds to the eC3’s appeal, and the vast array of features, including the 10.2-inch touchscreen, USB charging ports both at the front and rear, adequate sound system, etc., help strengthen its case even further. It’s not free of gripes, and at this price point, we would have liked to see some other inclusions like automatic climate control, AC vents for the rear passengers, etc.

As an everyday electric car, the eC3 looks well-equipped to handle everything urban driving throws at it. The range is decent, and while not the most powerful, the instant torque is bound to enable you to filter through traffic without any issues whatsoever. It’s a reasonably stylish yet practical car, whose increasing popularity shows that people have slowly begun to understand what the eC3 (or Citroën in general) has to offer. There’s definitely a long way to go for the brand, especially since the company wants to be taken seriously, but with the eC3, it’s made pretty evident that Citroën is in it for the long run, so much so that even its smallest product on sale isn’t devoid of character.