GO! tests The Citroen e-C3: The electric car for the small purse

The new Citroen E-C3 is available from 25,000 francs. GO! editor-in-chief Sämi Pfister shows where the French car hides its budget price and where it doesn't.

In a world where electric cars are often considered luxury goods, the new Citroën e-C3 is a refreshing exception.

With an entry-level price of around 25,000 Swiss francs, the e-C3 offers an affordable alternative in the increasingly expensive electric market.

While many other electric vehicles entice with high prices and extravagant features, the Citroen e-C3 concentrates on the essentials.

What do you have to do without at this price?

The e-C3 forgoes high performance in order to keep the price low.

With 80 kW of power, the e-C3 accelerates to 100 km/h in 11 seconds. This is not exactly exhilarating, but it is sufficient for everyday use.

GO! editor-in-chief Sämi Pfister compares it to what a telephone can do.

"A lot of horsepower is a bit like a large display or a great camera on a phone. It's nice to have, of course. But do you really need it?"

The Citroen e-C3 also uses a lithium iron phosphate battery with 44 kWh. It offers around 20% less energy density than the more expensive lithium-ion batteries, but is cheaper.

Despite the smaller battery, the e-C3 achieves a remarkable range of 326 km according to the WLTP standard. What's more, it can be charged from 20 to 80% in just half an hour at 100 kW.

And what not?

Despite the low price, the Citroen offers a surprisingly pleasant interior.

"Sure, there's a bit of plastic everywhere, but on the whole it's tiptop," praises Sämi.

Thanks to a minimally positioned speedometer, the car even has a kind of budget head-up display. The central display unit offers all the necessary functions and also responds quickly.

The e-C3 may not be the fastest on the road, but it makes up for this with driving comfort.

Citroen has equipped the model with "Advanced Comfort" shock absorbers. They soften the hardest bumps and enable a pleasant ride even in poor road conditions.

Sämi's conclusion on the Citroen e-C3

The Citroen e-C3 does not present itself as a luxury SUV or high-performance sports car, but as a solid, affordable option. It is for those looking for a reliable, comfortable and environmentally friendly car.

It may share the SUV format that is so popular these days. In its price range and with the features it offers, it certainly sets the standard.

With the Citroen e-C3, buyers get a car that fulfills many basic needs without being expensive.

It shows that electric cars are also affordable without having to sacrifice basic amenities and an acceptable range.