autoX Awards 2023: Citroen eC3 Performance, Quality and Value for Money Ranked

autoX Awards 2023: The low-cost EV space in India is rapidly evolving, so much so that there were three cars from the segment in our ‘Best of 2023’ alone, including the Citroen eC3.

7 Nov, 2023

1 min read

autoX Awards 2023: The low-cost EV space in India is rapidly evolving, so much so that there were three cars from the segment in our ‘Best of 2023’ alone, including the eC3. Now, the eC3 is unlike most other EVs that we have driven so far for a few reasons. First, it has an air-cooled electric motor, which means somewhat compromised performance in the name of heat management. And it’s quite apparent when you drive it, for the eC3 tops out at 107km/h – a bit underwhelming, I must say.

While we couldn’t test the range, it’s just about okay – considering the way it consumed the charge during the test, I would say that it would return around 200km on a full charge, which is better than its rivals. The ride quality is simply superb. I mean it’s a Citroën after all! It also gets a superb touchscreen, which honestly feels like it belongs in a more expensive car. The looks of the eC3 are quintessentially Citroën, which is a good thing. However, there is hardly any bit that separates it from the regular C3 hatchback. Sadly, that’s where the commendable aspects of the eC3 come to an end and the shortcomings begin.

Citroen EC3 Motion

Interestingly, or rather surprisingly, the Citroen eC3 misses out on a lot of features. For instance, it requires a physical key to be put in the key slot to bring the electric motors to life. Now, while slotting in a physical key to start a car has its own old-school charm, it seems like a pointless exercise in an electric car. The ORVMs are manually adjustable even on the top-spec trim and that’s pretty much all you get.

Also Read: Citroen eC3 Electric Car Review: The Sensible EV?

And lastly, what about its lap time? Well, it was the slowest car we put to the test, and that’s hardly surprising, given that its top speed is limited to 107km/h. A slow EV seems like an anomaly, doesn’t it? I mean, one of the most desirable aspects of an electric vehicle is their ability to outpace their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts – and that is definitely something Citroën should think about.