Citroën ë-C3 for €99 per month, a good deal?

It is already possible to pre-order a Citroën ë-C3 for €99 per month. What does the small French car offer in its YOU trim?

First of all, it is important to carefully read the terms of the offer before getting excited and filling out the pre-order form. The Citroën ë-C3 is available in a 36-month long-term lease with 30,000 km in the YOU version… with an initial payment of €9,500. This is reduced to €4,500 after deducting the €5,000 ecological bonus, which the European-made car is certain to benefit from after December 15. You can also deduct an additional €2,000 if you justify low income (according to the conditions of the decree of December 30, 2022) and a government conversion premium of €2,500 for trading in your Diesel vehicle registered before 01/01/2011 or gasoline registered before 01/01/2006, intended for destruction.

So if you don’t have low income and a vehicle destined for the scrap yard, you will pay €4,500 upon ordering and €3,465 over the following three years… not very logical, but don’t worry, that’s the rule everywhere!

The essentials and a little more

The entry-level YOU version affected by this €99 offer features a very good standard equipment level. It notably includes LED headlights, Citroën Advanced Comfort suspensions, Active Safety Brake (emergency braking system), the new Citroën Head Up Display, electric mirrors, automatic lighting, rear parking assist, a rear spoiler, cruise control with speed limiter, manual air conditioning, and 6 airbags.

We would just regret that the digital display is replaced on this version by a My Citroën Play system with Smartphone Station for infotainment. Basically, it’s a dock to place your phone that also acts as a screen. It’s honestly a bit cheap-looking.

ë-C3, an assertive city car

With its 44 kWh battery and 113 hp power, the ë-C3 can deliver up to 320 km of range (WLTP cycle). Fast charging accepts up to 100 kW, allowing 20 to 80% capacity recovery in 26 minutes. For alternating current (home or work), charging power will be 7 kW (4h10) and 11 kW (2h50). The Type 3 cable will be provided as standard. Acceleration is modest: 0 to 100 km/h in 11 seconds and a top speed of 135 km/h, electronically limited. Beware of overtaking on the highway! Trip planning will be possible via the newly launched Citroën e-ROUTES app.

In conclusion, this is a comprehensive offer that places the ë-C3 in direct competition with the Fiat 500e, Dacia Spring, and MG MG4 and MG5. Honestly, Citroën doesn’t hold a candle to the MG offer, but by December 15, the Chinese models should be excluded from the ecological bonus, balancing the competition. Dacia and Fiat remain, but at this level, it’s a matter of personal preferences and tastes…