New 200-mile Citroën ë-C3 electric van will cost less than £20k
Citroën aims to revive the small car-based van segment with its new ë-C3 commercial vehicle...
On sale Now Price from £19,937
Trends of the past always have a way of coming back around – think vinyl records, film cameras and, now, small car-based vans. Indeed, the new Citroën ë-C3 van is based on the small car equivalent, and it’ll attempt to revive a dwindling segment of the automotive market.
The new ë-C3 is designed for businesses who need less space and don’t cover huge distances. It’ll have next to no competition, bar the keenly priced Dacia Spring Cargo, which is currently the UK’s cheapest electric van, and the larger Toyota Corolla Commercial.
The ë-C3 van is powered by the same 44kWh (total capacity) battery as in the regular Citroën ë-C3, which is good for an official range of 200 miles. The Spring Cargo, for reference, can only manage 140 miles, but that model is fitted with a smaller battery, and the hybrid-powered Corolla Commercial which can cover 64.2mpg under official figures.
Much like its car equivalent, the ë-C3 is powered by a 111bhp electric motor, which is a good deal more potent than the Spring Cargo.
With a maximum charging rate of up to 100kW, a 20-80% top-up should take around 26 minutes using a rapid charger.
Given the ë-C3 van’s compact proportions, it gets an appropriately modest 300kg payload, which is slightly less than the 370kg of the Spring Cargo. However, with a boot measurement of 1220 litres without the load cover, it offers more space than its closest rival.
Outside, as you might have guessed, the ë-C3 van looks very much like its small car equivalent – although it comes equipped with larger 17in wheels that are available exclusively on higher spec versions of the car.
The interior is also similar to that of the car equivalent, equipped with a responsive 10.25in infotainment touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, a head-up display, LED headlights, cruise control and rear parking sensors. And despite its low price, it comes equipped with Citroën’s Advanced Comfort suspension, which provides a pleasantly pillowy ride.
Speaking of price, the Citroën ë-C3 van starts at £19,937 when you take into account the Plug-in Van Grant. That’s not quite as cheap as the Spring Cargo, which starts at £14,995.
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