Citroën has struck a major blow with its new C3, which is now available in a 100% electric version ë-C3, the price of which makes Dacia sweat. To do this, the brand took the basis of the C3 produced in India and Brazil to reduce costs, while profoundly modifying it.
But this strategy does not only benefit the electric ë-C3. Thus, the thermal versions of the new C3 also offer very competitive prices. The range starts at just €14,990 (plus €230 penalty) in entry-level You finish, with the 100 hp 1.2 PureTech engine. It is therefore significantly cheaper than the electric version sold from €23,300 (less €4,000 bonus) with the same finish, but which should see its price drop with a future version with a smaller battery (around €20,000 ).
Prices of the new Citroën C3 and ë-C3:
Prices equivalent to those of a Dacia Sandero
These prices are so low that they finally allow Citroën to carry out its desire to compete with Dacia. If a Sandero remains more accessible at the entry level, from €11,990 (plus €100 penalty) in SCe 65 petrol version, you have to pay at least €14,250 to afford the services of the ECO-G 100 engine , which certainly benefits from dual-fuel LPG. The raised Stepway version, comparable to the crossover appearance of the C3, even starts at €15,200 (plus €230 penalty) in the TCe 90 petrol version, which is more expensive than the Citroën.
Compared to models from general manufacturers, the C3 is significantly less expensive. A Peugeot 208 costs around €5,000 more with the same engine as the C3, and a Renault Clio costs almost the same price. Even a smaller Renault Twingo is sold from €17,000, with an engine of just 65 hp.
Finally, the current generation of Citroën C3, recently renamed C3 Origin, is priced from €16,840 (plus €170 penalty) with an 83 hp engine. It is therefore a real masterstroke that Citroën has managed to achieve with the prices of its new C3, the qualities of which we can’t wait to test.
On the other hand, as with the ë-C3 electric version, we still regret a significant price gap between the two finishes offered by Citroën’s versatile city car. Fortunately, at least for the thermal version, the range could in the future be supplemented by an intermediate Plus trim level. In the meantime, the high-end Max finish still requires an extension of €4,210 (€4,500 for the ë-C3), and it is for the moment the only option allowing you to benefit from a central screen with Android Auto and CarPlay, electric rear windows, or even a more refined exterior and interior presentation, including Advanced Comfort seats.
Note that the three-cylinder turbo 1.2 PureTech which equips the new C3 has been revised to try to correct its countless reliability problems. No more timing belt bathing in oil, this block now adopts a timing chain to avoid the main weakness of previous versions. However, we will have to wait a few more months to attest to its reliability.
The first deliveries of the new Citroën C3 are planned for summer 2024. Later in the year, the range will be enriched with a 48 V hybrid version, also 100 hp. It will be automatically associated with an ë-DCS6 robotic double-clutch automatic transmission and should allow a reduction of almost 10% in consumption, promises Citroën.