Ultra-affordable electric supermini awarded Car of the Year by top motoring magazine

The motoring publication Auto Express has praised a range of new cars, including an incredibly affordable hatchback set to go on sale in the UK in late 2024.

17:17, Fri, Jul 5, 2024 | UPDATED: 17:25, Fri, Jul 5, 2024

Low angle view of a red Citroen e-C3 at launch

The new version of the Citroen C3 has been called Car of the Year 2024 by Auto Express (Image: Getty)

The latest version of the Citroen C3 supermini has been crowned Car of the Year 2024 by the motoring publication Auto Express.

The awards were given to models launching during the 2024 model year based on a number of factors, including value for money, performance and running costs.

A spokesperson for Auto Express noted that the upcoming fourth-generation Citroen C3 won the Car of the Year award due to its interior comfort and competitive price.

They explained: "Citroen's Advanced Comfort tech, applied to its suspension, and the seats inside a spacious cabin give the C3 plenty of appeal on its own.

"However, it's the prospect of a fully-electric version, priced from less than £22,000, that cements its place at the top of a very impressive list of shortlisted cars."

The fourth generation of Citroen's popular hatch, the C3 will be sold as an EV from under £22,000 (Image: Getty)

Currently, the smallest model in the Citroen range, the latest version of the C3 is set to compete against other budget models, including the Dacia Sandero, Kia Picanto and MG3.

Whilst the entry-level models will be fitted with a tried and tested 1.2 petrol engine, the e-C3 will bring an electric powertrain to the city car for the first time.

The new version of the car may not be as affordable as the outgoing third-generation, however, Citroen claim that the petrol model will still start at under £18,000, with the e-C3 retailing from a very competitive £22,000.

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Three quarter view of a beige Dacia Duster SUV

The latest generation of the Dacia Duster was ranked the best small SUV and Driver Power winner (Image: Getty)

However, several other new models also received awards from Auto Express, with Dacia's new version of the Duster being named as both the Small SUV of the Year and winner of the Driver Power Award for reliability.

Launched in the UK in 2012, the Dacia Duster is a rugged five-seater focusing on offering value for money. The latest model is set to receive a price rise, but the Romanian brand has stated it will still cost under £20,000.

Nevertheless, Auto Express claimed that owners gave the model a score of 90.79 percent, particularly enjoying the infotainment system, general build quality and amount of space offered.

Three quarter view of a light blue Hyundai Ioniq 5

Voted Performance Car of the Year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N can accelerate to 62mph in 3.4 seconds (Image: Getty)

However, the company also gave awards to several high-speed models, with the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 N being voted Performance Car of the Year 2024.

The latest sporty variant of the otherwise refined family liftback, the Ioniq 5 N, delivers 641bhp to all four wheels, allowing the five-seater to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds.

Whilst the £65,000 price tag means the Ioniq 5 is not exactly affordable, it is still significantly cheaper than the petrol-powered BMW M3 or Audi RS4 Avant.