Citroen C-ZERO (2011 – 2018) Review
Citroen C-ZERO (2011 – 2018) At A Glance
Citroen's all-electric small car. Zero tailpipe emissions. No VED and no fuel costs. Free to drive into central London congestion zone.
Range is 80 miles. Expensive. Tight inside. Huge cost of replacement batteries effectively writes the cars off.
Mitsubishi i-MIEV all electric rebadged as Citroen Z-ZERO, offering zero fuel consumption, zero CO2 emissions and zero engine noise. Launched last quarter of 2010.
Reviews for Citroen C-ZERO (2011 – 2018)'s top 3 rivals
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Citroen C-ZERO (2011 – 2018) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3475–3480 mm |
| Width | - |
| Height | 1600 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2550 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1120 kg |
| Boot Space | 166 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | 12500 miles |
| Spare Wheel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Tyre-repair kit | ||
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £20,520–£26,216 |
| Insurance Groups | 28 |
| Road Tax Bands | Exempt |
| Official MPG | - |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | 4 |
On sale until January 2021
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 66hp Auto 5dr | £20,520 | - | 15.9 s |
On sale until October 2015
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Electric 5dr CVT Auto | £26,216 | - | 15.9 s |
Model History
January 2010
C-ZERO to make its world show premiere at the 88th European Motor Show in Brussels later this month - alongside 25 other models from Citroën’s award-winning range.
Zero fuel consumption, zero CO2 emissions and zero engine noise - the aptly named C-ZERO is Citroën’s 100% electric solution to meet the demands of modern day urban driving. With compact dimensions, rapid charge and generous range for day-to-day car journeys, C-ZERO is a perfect city companion.
C-ZERO’s permanent magnet synchronous motor is powered by a latest-generation lithium-ion battery system and delivers 47kW or 64bhp EEC from 3,000 to 6,000rpm. Maximum torque of 180Nm is available from 0 to 2,000rpm. The batteries can either be charged by plugging the supply cord into a 220-volt socket or, alternatively, C-ZERO can be charged using a 400-volt supply for an 80% charge in 30 minutes.
Despite measuring just 3.48m long, C-ZERO offers a spacious and comfortable cabin interior with four real seats and a 166 litre boot. On the road, C-ZERO has a top speed of 80mph, acceleration from 0-62mph in 15 seconds and a range of around 80 miles over a standard combined cycle. C-ZERO’s 9m turning circle and nimble handling also make it easy to navigate through city traffic.
C-ZERO UK launch in the last quarter of 2010 and prospective customers can request an exclusive test-drive prior to placing a pre-order at www.c-zero.citroen.com.
September 2010
Citroen C-ZERO launched
Mitsubishi i-MIEV all electric rebadged as Citroen Z-ZERO, offering zero fuel consumption, zero CO2 emissions and zero engine noise. Due for launch in the last quarter of 2010.
The CITROËN C-ZERO is a full-electric vehicle powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 47kW or 64bhp EEC from 3,000 to 6,000rpm. Maximum torque of 180Nm is available from 0 to 2,000rpm. Power is transmitted to the rear axle via a single-speed reduction gear.
The motor is powered by a latest-generation 330-volt lithium-ion battery system comprising 88 50Ah cells (for onboard energy of 16kWh), mounted in the centre of the vehicle. Lithium-ion technology keeps battery weight down compared with conventional technology, while offering equivalent performance. It is also resistant to partial re-charges, which have no impact on battery longevity.
Re-charging the C-ZERO's batteries could not be simpler. Owners plug the supply cord into a 220-volt socket. A complete charge takes six hours, while an 80% charge is possible in just 30 minutes using an external station with a single-phase current of 125A at 400V, for power of up to 50kW.
Using the car is equally simple. When the driver turns the ignition key, a beep confirms that the car is running. CITROËN C-ZERO drives like a regular car with an automatic gearbox. The traditional fuel gauge is replaced by a battery charge indicator.
The CITROËN C-ZERO is perfectly adapted to the needs of all kinds of users - including public sector operators, local authorities, smaller businesses and company fleets - and also to those of private customers looking for a car with exceptionally low running costs.
With four real seats - thanks to a 2.55m wheelbase - and a 166 litre boot, the C-ZERO is impressively quiet to drive and boasts a plethora of comfort and safety equipment. Original-fit features include power steering, ABS, traction control, ESP, electric windows, six airbags and air conditioning.
The C-ZERO’s compact exterior dimensions - 3.48m long - and a 9m turning circle, make it a cinch to nip in and out of city traffic. And with a top speed of 130kph (80mph), acceleration from 0-100kph (0-62mph) in 15 seconds and 60-90kph (37-56mph) in 6 seconds, along with a range of around 130km (80miles), over a standard combined cycle, it is also fully at ease out on the open road.
February 2011
Identical Mitsubishi i-MIEV awarded 4 Star NCAP rating. 73% Adult Protection, 78% Child Protection, 48% Pedestrian Protection, 86% Safety Assist.
March 2011
Citroen C-Zero became available to lease in the UK and Citroen annoiced 11 specialist dealers:
| Dealer | Location | Contact Number |
| CitroënCity | London | 0843 022 0519  0843 022 0519 |
| Citroën London West | London | 020 8987 4000 020 8987 4000 |
| Citroën Slough | Slough | 01753 219 222 01753 219 222 |
| City Motors | Bristol | 0117 977 8881 0117 977 8881 |
| Perrys Milton Keynes | Milton Keynes | 01908 360 200 01908 360 200 |
| Citroën Birmingham | Birmingham | 0121 766 7060 0121 766 7060 |
| Citroën Manchester | Manchester | 0161 274 3577 0161 274 3577 |
| Springfield- Gateshead | Gateshead | 0191 477 9999 0191 477 9999 |
| Citroën Glasgow | Glasgow | 0141 221 7724 0141 221 7724 |
| Citroën Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 0131 657 6900 0131 657 6900 |
| Donnelly Bros | Dungannon | 0288 772 2887 0288 772 2887 |
All of Citroën’s EV specialist dealers will provide a C-ZERO demonstrator for customer test drives, plus an electric vehicle charging bay - complete with a charging post, hard standing and signage. The dealers also have two nominated sales and two aftersales electric vehicle specialists who will be fully trained, with access to all the necessary special tools and equipment to prepare, service and maintain the new C-ZERO city car.
Available exclusively from one of Citroën’s new EV dealers, Citroën customers can now benefit from the Government’s £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant via a comprehensive ‘peace-of-mind’ package for both business and private users with the C-ZERO available to lease at £415 per month (excl. VAT) over 4 years or 40,000 miles. The offer includes the lease of the vehicle, the battery pack, and all scheduled servicing and maintenance.
The C-ZERO provides a stylish, practical, comfortable, safe and economically viable solution to the increasing challenges of urban transportation. The C-ZERO is designed to make metropolitan mobility easier, with compact dimensions, a tight 9.0m turning circle, a rapid battery charge facility and sufficient range - up to 93miles - for the majority of day-to-day car journeys. A high level of specification, with a range of comfort enhancing features, ensures users enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of electric power without losing the equipment of conventionally powered vehicles.
What to watch out for
I n the summer of 2012 Mitsubishi MiEV ‘s French counterparts, the , Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot iOn started using a battery with reduced capacity, 14.5 kWh (80 cells) instead of 16 kWh (88 cells). Mitsubishi i-MiEV kept the 16 kWh battery.
A t the time PSA said that cars would keep the previous range because the regenerative braking was now more efficient. The truth is that there was a change in cell chemistry, LEV50 was replaced by LEV50N . A change of electrolyte that allows it to be more heat resistant, similar to what happened in the Leaf with the lizard battery. The Ragone curve (battery efficiency) also improved.
“We have developed new large sized 50 Ah lithium ion cells with specific energy of 110 Wh kg for electric vehicle (EV) applications. The cells were redesigned on the basis of advanced technologies optimized composition of lithium manganese oxide positive active material and adoption of electrolyte additive. The cells exhibit excellent performances namely, the high rate discharge capability at 6 C rate at 25 °C is 96% based on 0.2 C rate, and the retained discharge capacity is 90% after 700 cycles under the condition of D.O.D. 100% at 45 °C.”
These new cells retain 80 % of the initial capacity after 5.500 charge/discharge cycles (100 % DOD @ 25°C).
14-02-2016:Identical Peugeot iOn now down to £12,495 OTR. Reader report: "What a terrible car - slow, rattly, narrow, impossible to demist, blown all over the road by sidewinds, awful build quality. The windscreen cracked spontaneously overnight. And when our car had a low-speed rear impact with a lamp-post, I had a look under the back bumper and found practically nothing between that and the back axle/motor/gearbox. I was able to pull out the dented bumper and thin supporting metal strut with one bare hand! If the car had been rear-ended by a bloke on a pushbike it would have been a write-off. We got it for £12,995 and still lost £6,000 in one year, after which we could stand it no longer."
08-03-2018:Report of total battery failure of 2013 Citroen C-Zero. PSA quotes 18,000 - 22,610 Euros + tax for the full Yuasa battery pack, but sometimes only one or two cells need replacing.
