CITROEN E-C3

Did this electric supermini win our hearts and minds? The verdict is in

- JACK WARRICK

Our time with Citroën’s smallest car has come to an end after around 2500 miles, and in that time I've learned a lot about this electric supermini. Given we have had a relatively balmy summer, the conditions couldn't have been better for a small EV such as the ë-C3 to thrive and really make a case for itself among an increasingly large pool of rivals. Much like parts of the summer we've just enjoyed, the competition couldn't be hotter for the ë-C3 right now. There's the BYD Dolphin Surf, Hyundai Inster and, of course, the Renault 5, which is already considered by many to be the benchmark small EV. There's also competition in-house at Stellantis, with the Fiat Grande Panda and Vauxhall Frontera set to keep the ë-C3 on its toes when they arrive later this year.

After our time together, my feelings about the ë-C3's departure are mixed. Don't get me wrong: there is a lot to like about this budget package. But ultimately it didn’t quite suit my lifestyle and there were some glaring flaws.

Let's start with the good bits. There was ample interior space, with head and leg room in both rows a real plus point. The Citroën's boxy silhouette meant passengers didn’t struggle for room and, at 310 litres, the boot was a usable size and shape too.