It’s pretty much between the Tiago & Tigor EVs and of the two, I like the Tigor more.
Citroen E-C3
Citroen eC3 Pros
- Funky-looking electric hatchback. Crossover styling cues will appeal to the masses
- Real world range of ~200 km is good enough for city driving and urban commutes
- Zero emissions, cheap “fuel” costs, no gears, light controls & compact size make it an ideal city car
- Sorted handling characteristics, due to the lower centre of gravity
- Good-looking cabin that is practical too
- 315-litre boot is very usable and fits a 15-inch spare wheel underneath
- 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Now gets connected to car tech as well
- Lots of customization options and accessories to make your car truly unique
- Like the C3 Petrol, we expect this EV version to be well-priced
Citroen eC3 Cons
- Missing plenty of features – adjustable regeneration, electric ORVM adjustment, climate control, rear wiper & defogger, reversing camera, alloy wheels, etc.
- 56 BHP motor isn’t very fun-to-drive. Top speed is limited to just 107 km/h
- 200 km range makes the eC3 strictly a city car. Not ideal for long-distance travelling
- No fast AC home charging even as an option. Either wait 10 hours or find a DC fast charger nearby
- The usual EV challenges (charging infrastructure, brand new tech could mean niggles, range anxiety)
- Just 2 variants at launch (no true top-end variant)
- Quality of cabin materials doesn’t feel great; cost-cutting is pretty evident in certain areas
- Cabin width makes the interiors suitable for 4 adults, not 5
- Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns; dealer network is tiny
Tata Tiago EV
Tata Tiago EV Pros
- A well-rounded EV package at a sub-10 lakh rupee starting price. Total value-for-money
- Zero tailpipe emissions & green image will appeal to the environmentally-conscious
- Real-world range of ~200 km is adequate for city commutes & urban dwellers
- Stupendously cheap fuel cost of 1 rupee / km (if you charge at home)
- Peppy behaviour in “S” mode! “D” mode is rather tame though
- Selectable regenerative braking is a very welcome feature
- Sorted road manners due to the lower centre of gravity & firmer suspension
- Smooth drive, no gears, light controls & compact size make it an ideal city car
- Well-designed interiors are likeable & user-friendly
- Features like the 8-speaker Harman audio system, cruise control, auto headlamps & wipers, connected car tech & more
- Solid build & construction. Tigor EV’s 4-star GNCAP result is reassuring
Tata Tiago EV Cons
- A stiff 4-lakh rupees more expensive than the Tiago Petrol AMT. You’re paying for the tech & being an early adopter
- Needs a charging point installed at your home parking. This is not doable for many people
- ~200 km range means this is strictly a city car. No long highway runs
- Stiffer suspension than the regular Tiago means you feel more of the road. Bad roads are felt
- Power tapers off after 100 km/h; top speed of just 120 km/h
- No spare tyre, you will have to make do with a puncture repair kit. We suggest buying a spare
- Long “full tank” charging times in comparison with an ICE car. Overnight charging is best
- Some misses such as “P” mode on the shifter, alloy wheels, adjustable rear headrests, etc.
- Rear headroom is tight. Also, a rare Tata car that cannot seat 5 (best for 4 adults)
- Tata’s after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
- It’s a brand-new technology, so there will be issues & niggles
Tata Tigor EV
Tata Tigor EV Pros
- A competent EV package at an affordable starting price
- Zero tailpipe emissions & green image will appeal to the environmentally-conscious
- Real-world range of ~200 km is adequate for city commutes & urban dwellers
- Stupendously cheap fuel cost of 1 rupee / km (if you charge at home)
- Peppy behaviour in “S” mode! “D” mode is rather tame though
- Sorted road manners due to the lower centre of gravity & firmer suspension
- Smooth drive, no gears, light controls & compact size make it an ideal city car
- Well-designed interiors are likeable & user-friendly
- Features like the 8-speaker Harman audio system, projector headlamps, connected car tech & more
- Solid build & construction. A 4-star GNCAP safety rating is commendable
Tata Tigor EV Cons
- A stiff 5-lakh rupees more expensive than the Tigor Petrol AMT
- Nexon EV is superior & not that far away in terms of pricing (or EMIs)
- ~200 km range means this is strictly a city car. No long highway runs
- Stiffer suspension than the regular Tigor means you feel more of the road. Bad roads are felt
- Power tapers off after 100 km/h; top speed of just 120 km/h
- Smaller 316L boot (regular Tigor = 419L) due to the intrusive spare tyre
- Some misses such as “P” mode on the shifter, adjustable regen braking & alloy wheels
- A rare Tata car that cannot seat 5 (best for 4 adults)
- Tata’s after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
- It’s a brand-new technology, so there will be issues & niggles
Mahindra eVerito
Here’s what GTO had to say on the matter:
Tata is the king-of-the-hill when it comes to mainstream EVs. It’s pretty much between the Tiago & Tigor EVs and of the two, I like the Tigor more.
The Citroen E-C3 had potential, but they stripped it too much (like the Citroen petrol). An unwise decision from people who still think Indian customers love “cheap”. Sadly, the French just don’t get the Indian market. The E-Verito is a relic that has no business being on sale today. Will Mahindra pull the plug on it already? For heaven’s sake, it was a car designed 25 years ago!
Here’s what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:
A car and its maker being trusted and proven go a long way in the EV space. This is where Mahindra’s record has been poor and Citroen’s is inexistent in India. That is also Tata’a single biggest USP. They have cut their teeth the hard way, have learnt from their mistakes, have optimised their products over the years(adjustable regen, cruise control) and are now offering well-rounded and mature EV offerings. The base cars being successful and well-rounded in their ICE avatars also helps. There is also the matter of crash safety, where all of the competition remains untested, in EV as well as ICE.
My pick of the lot is the Tiago EV, the most sorted, well-equipped and best-looking city car of the lot. I didn’t know the eVerito still existed. Though it was taken off life support a while back.
Here’s what BHPian anshumandun had to say on the matter:
Put my money where my mouth is. The car is really peppy to drive in sports mode. ~220 kms real range is good for the city. Decent features list. Backed by Tata’s experience in the EV space. 8 years warranty on battery and motor (trump card against the E-C3). And priced really well.
Here’s what BHPian SoumenD had to say on the matter:
Tiago without a doubt. It has a small footprint and decent range for city usage, is easy to park and is pretty safe compared to the petrol counterparts in the segment. Even feature-wise its punches above its weight. For me, it’s the perfect city car.
Was very excited about Citroen E-C3 but sad to see they continue to shortchange Indian customers with even basic features like front adjustable headrests, rear wash/wipe, adjustable ORVMs etc. That’s just preposterous IMHO.
Keyword: Budget EVs: Citroen eC3 vs Tata Tiago EV vs Tata Tigor EV