The Auto Express panel of experienced judges were won over by New ë-C3 and C3’s dynamic design, cutting-edge technology, spacious interior, and excellent driving experience, plus the exceptional choice it affords both private buyers and those seeking a company car, with all-electric available to order from today and other versions coming later in the year. This helped it capture two highly prized category wins, as well as the coveted ‘Car of the Year’ title – the first time in the Awards history that Citroën has clinched the top award.
Auto Express is one of the UK’s leading car news and reviews titles both in print and online, and its New Car Awards are long established, having been launched in 1988. The awards are judged by an experienced team of road testers, chaired by Editor Paul Barker, and seek to inform buyers of the best cars on the market across a variety of sectors.
Paul Barker, Editor, Auto Express, said: “New Citroën ë-C3 breaks new ground in the electric vehicle segment, opening up access to EVs to a whole new set of buyers thanks to its attention-grabbing headline price of under £22,000. But even more impressive is that the price isn’t for a bargain-basement spec, even in the lower of the two trim levels there’s a great level of standard equipment. Then there’s the funky mini-SUV style looks and the impressive levels of comfort, which come together to make the Citroën a very worthy overall ‘Car of the Year’ in the 2024 Auto Express New Car Awards, one of a hat-trick of triumphs for the impressive little car.
But it’s not all about ë-C3, and the regular petrol model will get plenty of attention too thanks to an equally impressive starting price, design, equipment level and comfort. Whether you’re ready to go electric or not, New Citroën C3 shows that great things come in small packages.”
Greg Taylor, Managing Director, Citroën UK, said: “The sweep of wins at the 2024 Auto Express New Car Awards exemplifies the importance and significance of New ë-C3. It is a milestone both for the brand, the retailer network and the wider European EV market, representing one of the most affordable ways for buyers to make the shift to electric, earning it the coveted accolade of 2024 Auto Express ‘Car of the Year’. With a high level of specification and Citroën Advanced Comfort® technology, we’re confident New ë-C3 and New C3 will prove incredibly popular with customers, and I would like to thank Auto Express for their recognition with this trio of awards.”
New ë-C3 is the first model from parent company Stellantis to feature the new and ‘BEV-focussed’ Smart Car platform, using a 44kWh LFP battery to deliver up to 199 miles of driving range (WLTP combined cycle), providing an all-electric driving pleasure at a superb value. Standard AC fast charging from 20% to 80% takes around four hours and 10 minutes using a 7.4kW charger, or two hours and 50 minutes with the optional 11kW on-board charger. The 100kW DC rapid charging capabilities allow charging from 20% to 80% in as little as 26 minutes.
With its 113hp (83kW) electric motor and automatic transmission, accelerating the car from 0-62mph in around 10 seconds, New ë-C3 delivers more than enough performance to deal with everyday driving, particularly in urban and suburban environments. New ë-C3 marks the next chapter for the brand. It delivers best-in-class comfort, an easy electric experience, an outstanding level of useful equipment, and value for money. New ë-C3 is the first European-designed and European-built all-electric compact hatchback designed for customers wanting the benefit of zero-emissions-in-use mobility at an affordable price.
