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By Jonathan Crouch

Citroen's e-C3 Aircross aims to bring more affordability and style to the segment for small all-electric SUVs. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 37

Citroen's first all-electric compact SUV is this car, the e-C3 Aircross. There aren't too many compromises with practicality over the combustion versions, but you'll need to be happy with the relatively small 44kWh battery's 186 mile range.

Backgroundword count: 99

If you're fed up with being quoted expensive prices for that new full-electric compact SUV your family needs, perhaps as a second car, don't give up quite yet. Here's one that's more affordable, without being dispiritingly budget-minded: the Citroen e-C3 Aircross. Like its close Stellantis cousin and rival, Vauxhall's Frontera Electric, the e-C3 Aircross is based on that conglomerate's more affordable-to-make 'Smart Car' platform. Which means it gets a smaller 44kWh battery than other Stellantis Group small SUV models of this size (like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric and the Peugeot E-2008). Which also contributes to the more affordable price.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 202

So how much EV range does a small family SUV like this really need? Possibly not that much for the urban duties it will mainly be tasked with - in which case you might find this e-C3 Aircross's 186 mile figure quite sufficient. Its small 44kWh battery pack uses 'LFP' 'Lithium Ferro Phosphate' tech, instead of the more usual lithium-ion cells, LFP packs being cheaper to produce, partly because they lack cobalt. The downside to the LFP tech is extra weight, another thing that keeps EV range here well under the 200 mile mark. This model's 113bhp electric motor is located on the front axle, propelling the car to 62mph in around 12s en route to the very modest 84mph maximum. Ride comfort is a traditional Citroen attribute, so the Advanced Comfort shock absorber hydraulic bump stops from larger models are carried over to this one. The remainder of the damping set-up is conventional, with MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear end. For those still unconvinced by (or unprepared to pay the price for) EV technology, Citroen offers its usual 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine with or without Hybrid tech as part of this third generation C3 Aircross line-up.

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