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Sofia Modiri Dockery
I research and write blogs on what’s happening in the EV-world.
:If you’re thinking about getting a new car, one of the biggest decisions is whether to go for petrol or electric. The Citroen C3 and Citroen e-C3 make for a great comparison. They have the same shape, size, and everyday usability.
The key difference is their power source. One is petrol-powered, the other is electric. When you look at the actual monthly expenses, the electric model is the cheaper choice, especially if you get it through a salary sacrifice scheme. Let’s dive deeper into this.
Citroen C3 (Petrol)
The Citroen C3 is a small hatchback made for daily use. Its unique design makes it a favourite for commuting, city trips, and small families. Even though it’s compact, it surprisingly has a roomy interior and provides a comfy ride.
The Citroen C3 is a compact hatchback with SUV-inspired styling that offers practical everyday usability. It seats 5 people comfortably and provides around 310 litres of boot space, which expands to 1,188 litres with rear seats folded. making it well-suited to commuting, city driving, and everyday family use.
The C3 is built to be simple, practical, and affordable to buy. However, the ongoing costs of running a petrol car can add up quickly.
Running Costs: Petrol Ownership
A Citroen C3 roughly costs around £133 per month, without insurance, maintenance, tyres and breakdown. This quickly adds up. Buying or financing a petrol car means paying for several ongoing costs separately. These typically include road tax, insurance, fuel, servicing and maintenance, tyres, and breakdown recovery – all that on top of depreciation. While some of these costs may seem manageable individually, they quickly add up over time, making the true monthly cost of running a petrol vehicle higher than many drivers initially expect.
The petrol Citroën C3 costs between £18,000 to £20,000, depending on the trim level. At first glance, it seems like a pretty affordable choice. However, depreciation is a sneaky expense. As your car’s value drops over time, you end up taking that hit. When you add all these expenses together, the actual monthly cost of owning a petrol car can be way more than you thought.
Fuel can really hit your wallet hard each month, especially given how much you drive and how expensive fuel is. As your car gets older, maintenance costs tend to rise, and surprise repair bills can pile up fast.
Most new cars lose 40 to 60% of their value in the first three years. So, for a petrol Citroen C3 priced around £19,000, you could be looking at a loss of £8,000 to £10,000 during that time. Depreciation alone can add up to £220-£275 a month in lost value, not counting fuel, insurance, servicing, or other running expenses. When you add all these costs together, the real expense of owning a petrol vehicle is way higher than what the purchase price might lead you to believe.
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Citroen e-C3 (Electric)
The Citroen e-C3 is the all-electric variant of this vehicle. It keeps the same compact size, interior room, and practicality, but swaps out the petrol engine for an electric motor and battery. This results in a quieter ride, immediate acceleration, and much lower operating expenses.
The Citroen e-C3 is a compact electric hatchback designed for practical everyday use. It seats five people comfortably and offers around 310 litres of boot space, and reaches 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds. While delivering a range of up to approximately 199 miles (WLTP), it is well-suited to commuting, daily driving, and urban travel.
Running Costs: Electric Through Salary Sacrifice
Instead of paying separately for multiple expenses, through salary sacrifice, everything is bundled into a single monthly payment taken from your gross salary.
This typically includes:
- The vehicle itself
- Insurance
- Maintenance
- Tyres
- Servicing
- Road tax
- Breakdown cover
- MOT where applicable
Since the payment comes out of gross salary, you save on income tax and National Insurance. You also benefit from a very low Benefit-in-Kind tax rate, which is just at 4% for 2026/27 for EVs.
For many drivers, this means the Citroen e-C3 can be had for less than £272.59 a month, all-inclusive. There are no unexpected repair costs, no extra insurance fees, and no hefty upfront deposit. Instead, everything is bundled into one easy, predictable monthly payment.
The Leasing Comparison
Some drivers may consider leasing through comparison platforms such as Leasing.com. Typical deals may advertise prices between £130 and £155 per month, often with an upfront deposit equivalent to three to nine months of payments. Although these deals might seem appealing at first, there are several important differences to consider. Most lease agreements require an initial deposit and typically do not include insurance, servicing or maintenance, tyres, or breakdown assistance and GAP insurance. Once these additional expenses are taken into account, the true monthly cost can easily rise to £400 to £500 or more, depending on mileage and insurance premiums.
In comparison, salary sacrifice provides a fully inclusive package, giving drivers predictability when it comes to their monthly costs.
Final Thoughts
At first glance, choosing between the petrol Citroen C3 and the electric e-C3 might seem like a simple engine decision. In reality, it is more about how the vehicle is financed and what is included in the overall cost.
Owning a petrol car means paying for fuel, insurance, maintenance, and other expenses separately, which can quickly add up. Leasing may appear cheaper initially, but the cost doesn’t include essential services.
Overall, salary sacrifice combines everything into one monthly payment while also offering tax advantages. For many drivers, this makes switching to electric not only better for the environment but also more manageable for their monthly budget.
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Fleet Evolution offers innovative salary sacrifice schemes, helping employers and employees save on costs while promoting eco-friendly electric cars. Enjoy easy setup, free maintenance, and swift activation for any company size.
FAQs
Yes. Both models share the same body size, interior space, and practicality. The main difference is the electric powertrain.
In many cases, yes. Electricity costs less than petrol and electric vehicles require less maintenance.
Most schemes include the vehicle, insurance, servicing, maintenance, tyres, breakdown cover and road tax within one monthly payment.
Usually not. Many lease deals only include the vehicle itself, meaning drivers must pay for insurance, servicing, and other costs separately. Whereas Salary Sacrifice includes everything, with GAP insurance as an option.