The new Citroën C3 Hybrid has gone on sale in the UK, priced from £20,115.
A rival for the £21,895 Renault Clio E-Tech, the new variant of the C3 uses a fresh development of Citroën parent company Stellantis’s widely used 48V mild-hybrid powertrain.
This comprises a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, a single electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
The set-up has previously been offered with an output of 134bhp in cars such as the Alfa Romeo Junior, Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa, but in the C3 it makes a combined 108bhp and 151lb ft. This yields a 0-62mph dash time of 10.1sec and a top speed of 120mph.
The set-up is designed to lean on the electric motor at low speeds, such as in stop-start traffic. Citroën claimed that, in such scenarios, it can run under electric power for up to half the time.
The company added that, in broader use, the set-up emits 10% less CO2 than the C3’s 99bhp petrol engine, which receives no electrical assistance.
The C3 Hybrid officially emits 114g/km of CO2, putting it in the 28% benefit-in-kind tax band for 2025/26, and achieves 56.5mpg.
For reference, the 99bhp petrol C3 is priced from £17,790, and is rated at 52mpg and 128g/km.
Two trim levels will be offered. Plus gets kit such as LED headlights, a 10.25in infotainment touchscreen and rear parking sensors. Max, priced from £21,815, adds conveniences such as climate control, heating for the front seats and steering wheel and a reversing camera.
Join the debate
Add your comment
So, in money terms at least, to save 8% in fuel costs which translates to around £80 a year for a city car you need to spend £2400 for the additional tiny battery. So about 30 years payback, good luck with that.
In other countries where cars are taxed heavily on emissions, this could even be cheaper than the base version.
..but not here. Any examples?