Hello friend,Today I’d like to share my thoughts on the Citroën eC3 2024 — an electric car that’s recently caught my attention here in Ranchi and I believe could be a strong contender for urban driving. I’ll walk you through what I found interesting, what works, and what you might want to keep in mind if you’re thinking of buying one.
What is the Citroën eC3?
So brother, first of all: this car is the first fully electric hatchback from the French brand Citroën in India, designed for city driving, ease of ownership, and a greener footprint. According to information, it’s built with a 29.2 kWh battery pack and claims a driving range of about 320 km on a full charge (as per ARAI/MIDC cycles) for the Indian market.
What I like: It’s compact enough to manoeuvre in town, plus you get an electric drivetrain — fewer moving parts, quieter cabin, less fuss with fuel. Do you know it’s very special or unique because in this price‐segment there aren’t many full EVs offering decent range yet.
Price in our town (Ranchi)
Now, since you asked, let’s talk about what the price looks like in our area roughly. While exact on-road figures for Ranchi may vary (due to state taxes, registration, accessories), here’s what the sources say:
- On many portals the ex-showroom price starts around ₹ 12.90 lakh for the base variant.
- On-road prices in cities like Hyderabad show from around ₹ 13.66 lakh for the base up to ~ ₹ 16.30 lakh for the top variant including all charges.
- One portal gives starting at ₹ 12.84 lakh ex-showroom.
So in our town of Ranchi, if we add local factors like registration, insurance, state incentives (if any), I’d estimate the on-road price somewhere around ₹ 14 lakh to ₹ 16 lakh for the mid‐variant. If you catch a good offer, maybe closer to the lower end.
What stands out – Features & design
Friend, here are the features that I found appealing:
Exterior & Style
The Citroen eC3 carries a fresh, modern look: the design is compact but with that ‘crossover’ feel (higher ride-height, upright stance). It’s sporty enough without being too flashy. Then: you get colour choices too – I saw mentions of mono-tone and dual-tone options.
Range & Battery
As mentioned, the claimed ARAI/MIDC range is up to ~320 km on a full charge with the 29.2 kWh battery. That’s quite good if your primary driving is within city + suburbs.
In real-world use, though, expect a bit lesser depending on driving style, AC usage, road conditions, etc.
Interior & Tech
Inside, what I found: a 10-inch touchscreen (in many reports) with smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay / Android Auto) is available. Also steering-mounted controls, decent cabin space for a small hatch.
Comfort is decent for the price. For example, you could imagine a family of 4 using this car for daily commuting as well as occasional weekend outing.
Colours & Variants in the Citroen eC3
The car is offered in a variety of colours. While I don’t have the full list, you’ll likely find cheerful hues as well as more sober ones (white, black, maybe blue/red options). The dual‐tone roof options add style.
What to check – Weaknesses / Practicalities
Brother, now we come to the honest bits. No car is perfect, so let’s look at what you might need to carefully think about.
Safety
The safety ratings are a concern. On one of the portals, the Citroen eC3 is noted as having received 0 stars in the Global NCAP test for the adult occupant protection in the Indian version.
What this means: you may be getting decent features, but crash protection may not be up to the highest standards. If safety is a top priority, you should check what features (airbags, stability control, etc) are standard in the variant you pick, and also drive carefully.
Real-world range & charging infrastructure
While the claimed 320 km is good, in real life this can drop with heavy AC use, high speeds, city stop-go traffic, etc. Also: check how many public charging stations you have in & around Ranchi or on your regular routes. Range anxiety can be real for some people.
If you have access to private charging at home (overnight) that helps a lot.
After-sales & servicing
Because this is a relatively new model and brand presence for EVs in India is still growing, servicing, spare parts, battery warranty terms should be checked. The battery warranty is typically longer than the car warranty, so check those details with the dealer. I saw mention of 8 years / 1,60,000 km for battery in some sources.
Practicalities in our kind of city
Ranchi has mixed roads, sometimes unpaved stretches, and weather extremes. The ride comfort, ground clearance, build quality matter. Also, second-car or daily urban commuter usage is likely ideal for this; if you travel long distances often (200-300 km in one go) then you’ll want to check whether it fits your pattern.
My personal take: Should you consider it?
Yes, I believe you should consider the Citroen eC3 if your profile fits. Here’s the kind of person for whom this car would make sense:
- You do most of your driving in city + suburbs, not huge long highway trips every day.
- You have a charging spot at home (or easy access to one overnight).
- You want to move to electric for lower running cost, smooth drive, less fuel worry.
- You are comfortable with slightly lower safety ratings compared with the newest high-end models, but want value.
If I were you, I’d go for it as a second car for the family. For example: you use it for kids’ drop-off, office commute, local weekend drives. With that use, the range is more than sufficient and charging overnight means minimal hassle.
On the other hand, if your job takes you on long highway runs often, or you carry heavy loads (family of 5 + luggage + AC), then I might check other EVs or look for one with larger battery / higher safety rating.
Ownership cost & running thoughts
Here’s what you can expect in terms of running the car in our town:
- Electricity cost: Since it’s an EV, your “fuel” is electricity. Charging at home overnight is cheap compared to petrol/diesel.
- Maintenance: Fewer moving parts (no engine oil changes, fewer mechanical parts) means lower routine service cost. But check battery health, tyre wear, etc.
- Resale & future: EVs are still maturing in India; resale value may be uncertain compared to ICE-cars today. But as the EV ecosystem grows, being an early adopter has its benefits (maybe incentives, good deals).
- Convenience: Having a home charger plus a plan for public charging for occasional longer drives makes life easier.
A quick realistic scenario in our context
Let me paint a real-life example: Suppose you live in Ranchi, your work is 25 km away in the city, you drive some weekends to nearby hill towns (say 60-80 km each way), and you can install a 7 kW home charger. You pick up the Citroen eC3 in dual-tone blue-black colour (just my favourite).
You drive daily to work + errands, say 30 km each day. On the weekend, you take a 160 km round trip once a month. You charge at night at home, full from empty maybe once a week. In this usage pattern, the 320 km claimed range is more than enough. The electric cost is low, you enjoy a quiet cabin, no fuel stops, eco eco-friendly. On longer trips, you schedule a coffee break + quick public charger stop if needed.
That is the kind of setup where the Citroen eC3 makes a lot of sense.
Final thoughts on Citroen eC3
So brother, wrapping up:
The Citroën eC3 2024 is a smart choice for city-smart EV buyers looking for an affordable, full-electric hatch. If you drive mostly within town and have a home charger, this car offers a credible range, decent tech, and modern feel. Just be aware of its safety rating, charging infrastructure, and always check that the variant you pick has the features you want.
If I had to give it a thumbs-up, I’d say: Go for it if your lifestyle suits. And if you don’t, wait a bit, compare with other upcoming models, maybe hold out for a model with higher safety and bigger battery.
If you like, I can check how the Citroen eC3 compares exactly with its rivals (like in our budget around 15 lakh) and see which might give more value. Would you like that?
