Citroën C-Zero Gen 1

Overview

The Citroën C-Zero Gen 1, a seasoned warrior in the early EV game, bowed out in 2020. This compact electric hatchback, born from a collaboration with Mitsubishi, was always about pure, no-frills urban mobility. For its final year, it remained a quirky, budget-friendly option primarily for city dwellers. As a used buy, you might snag one for around €3,700 in the EU. Its key selling point? Simplicity and an incredibly tight turning circle, making it a doddle to park. It's a proper old-school EV, perfect for short hops around town.

What's New for 2020?

For 2020, the Citroën C-Zero Gen 1 didn't exactly get a revolutionary makeover; it was more of a farewell tour as production ceased this year. Updates were minimal, if any, as it reached the end of its decade-long lifecycle. The focus remained on its established formula: a compact, accessible electric vehicle for urban environments. Think of the 2020 model as the final curtain call for this pioneering city car, offering one last chance to grab a slice of early EV history, albeit without any fresh bells and whistles for its final outing.

Design & Exterior

The 2020 Citroën C-Zero Gen 1 sports a distinctive, somewhat bubbly and tall-boy design, a hallmark of its city-centric purpose. It's undeniably compact, measuring just 3475 mm in length, 1475 mm in width (excluding mirrors), and standing 1600 mm tall. This kei-car-inspired shape maximizes interior space on a tiny footprint. Exterior features are basic: simple halogen headlights and typically steel wheels with hubcaps. Its narrow body and short overhangs scream "urban agility," perfect for squeezing through tight city streets and into even tighter parking spots. It's functional over flashy, for sure.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Step inside the C-Zero Gen 1 and you'll find a surprisingly airy cabin for its diminutive size, though materials are unmistakably budget-focused with hard plastics aplenty. It officially seats four. Tech is pretty basic; don't expect massive touchscreens or advanced connectivity here. You typically get essentials like heating, a simple radio/CD player, and electric windows. Cargo-wise, the boot offers a modest 166 litres, expanding to a useful 860 litres with the rear seats folded flat. There's no frunk to speak of, keeping things straightforward and practical.

Performance & Driving Experience

Don't expect neck-snapping launches here! The C-Zero's single Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM), pushing out 49 kW and 196 Nm of torque to its rear wheels, gets you from 0-100 km/h in a leisurely 15.9 seconds. Top speed is capped at 130 km/h. However, for zipping around town, it’s surprisingly nippy and responsive thanks to that instant electric torque. The ride is geared for urban comfort, and its tiny turning circle makes U-turns an absolute doddle. Regenerative braking is present, helping to claw back a bit of energy.

Range, Battery & Charging

The C-Zero Gen 1 comes with a 14.5 kWh usable battery pack. Green Cars Compare estimates a real-world range of around 99 km, making it strictly a city or short-commute companion, achieving an efficiency of 6.83 km/kWh. For charging, the standard 3.7 kW on-board AC charger will fill it from empty in roughly 4 hours using its Type 1 (J1772) port. For quicker top-ups on the go, it supports DC fast charging at up to 50 kW via a CHAdeMO port, potentially getting you to 80% in about 30 minutes.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

The Citroën C-Zero Gen 1 secured a respectable 4-star rating from Euro NCAP back when it was originally tested. Standard safety kit includes the essentials for its time, such as ABS, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and a suite of airbags (front, side, and curtain). However, don't go looking for advanced modern driver-assistance systems. Features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, or blind-spot monitoring were not part of its rather basic, city-focused package. It covers the fundamental safety bases for its era and purpose.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

As a model discontinued in 2020, new factory warranties are no longer applicable. For used examples, any remaining original warranty would depend on Citroën's terms at the time of first registration – typically, this might have been around 2-3 years for the vehicle and often 8 years or 100,000-160,000 km for the battery, covering significant degradation. Maintenance on EVs like the C-Zero is generally lighter on the wallet than petrol cars, focusing mainly on tyres, brakes, and suspension, thanks to fewer powertrain moving parts, making for potentially cheap urban motoring.