New Citroën ë-C3 Aircross Extended Range gets bigger battery for improved efficiency
A bigger battery for the Citroën ë-C3 Aircross promises 61 extra miles of range...
On sale Now Price from £23,495 (incl. ECG)
The Citroën ë-C3 Aircross is something of an outlier; despite its electric SUV status, it’s inexpensive and lightweight, unlike its rivals. Those are good characteristics to have – but its downfall was its short electric range. Now, though, there’s a new version optimistically named the Citroën ë-C3 Aircross Extended Range, which will aim to shake off that reputation.
Indeed, the ë-C3 Aircross Extended Range gets a larger 54kWh battery (compared with 44kWh in the regular model), which allows it to gain an additional 61 miles of range, for an official total of 249 miles. That means it can now go further than even the most efficient Hyundai Inster, and it matches the pricier Jeep Avenger Electric.
Power comes from the same 111bhp electric motor driving the front wheels, and the ë-C3 Aircross Extended Range can charge at the same rate as the regular model, at 100kW. Naturally, given the bigger battery, a 20-80% top-up takes two minutes longer from a public charger.
But despite the bigger battery, Citroën claims no space is lost for passengers or in the boot. Its impressive 460-litre capacity bests those of the Inster and Fiat Grande Panda Electric.
Inside, the ë-C3 Aircross Extended Range receives the same 10.25in infotainment touchscreen as in the standard range model. We found it easy enough to use, but the set-ups in rivals like the Inster and Renault 5 are of higher quality.
You can have your ë-C3 Aircross Extended Range in one of two trims: Plus and Max. Indeed, those are the same trims available on the regular model. Entry-level Plus trim comes with a decent amount of goodies, including 17in alloy wheels, a head-up display, front and side parking sensors, a reversing camera and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.
Stepping up to Max trim adds creature comforts like a heated windscreen, LED rear lights, a heated steering wheel and front seats and wireless smartphone charging.
The Citroën ë-C3 Aircross Extended Range is available to order now, with prices starting at £24,995. It’ll also be eligible, alongside other Citroën models, for the Government’s £1500 Electric Car Grant – with that, it’ll cost from £23,495. That puts it in line with the smaller Hyundai Inster, and you’ll pay more for a Jeep Avenger Electric, which offers the same amount of range.
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