hatchback2016–present

Citroen C3 — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025

Citroen's distinctive, comfort-focused small hatchback. Soft seats, trendy Airbump styling, and very low running costs.

TL;DR

48 MPG

Real-world petrol

45L

Tank capacity

£61.56

Full tank (petrol)

13.0p

Per mile (petrol)

Real-World Fuel Economy: The Citroen C3 achieves an estimated 48 MPG in real-world UK driving conditions, accounting for a 12% WLTP real-world penalty.

Forecourt Fuel Cost: Refueling the 45-litre tank completely costs approximately £61.56 at average UK fuel price rates.

Fuel economy at a glance

48

Real-world MPG

Petrol

56.5

Official WLTP

Petrol

Why is real-world MPG lower? Official WLTP figures are tested under laboratory conditions — smooth roads, controlled temperature, no A/C, no passengers. Real-world driving cuts efficiency by 10–15%. WorthThePump applies a 12% penalty to give a realistic estimate.

Annual fuel costs by mileage

Annual mileagePetrol
5,000 miles/yr£648
7,400 miles/yr(UK average)£959
10,000 miles/yr£1296
15,000 miles/yr£1943
20,000 miles/yr£2591
Full tank (45L)£61.56
Cost per mile13.0p

Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.

How does the C3 compare?

Tips to get better MPG from your C3

The C3 is extremely comfort-tuned; driving smoothly and defensively yields high fuel efficiency.

Ensure the stop-start system is active during urban commuting.

Avoid carrying unused heavy loads in the compact cabin.

Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?

In a Citroen C3 achieving ~48 MPG real-world, if you fill 36 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:

£3.60

Gross saving on fuel

£0.39

Cost of 3-mile detour

£3.21

Net saving ✓

You could drive up to 28 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.

Calculate for your exact situation

Popular variants

1.2 PureTech 831.2 PureTech 110

Frequently asked questions

What is the real-world MPG of the Citroen C3?

The Citroen C3 achieves approximately 48 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 56.5 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around N/A MPG real-world.

How much does it cost to fill a Citroen C3?

The Citroen C3 has a fuel tank of 45 litres. At the UK average of 136.8p/litre for petrol, a full tank costs approximately £61.56. Diesel costs approximately £63.95 for a full tank.

What is the annual fuel cost for a Citroen C3?

At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Citroen C3 costs approximately £959 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £1296. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.

Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Citroen C3?

In a Citroen C3 doing ~48 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 36-litre fill nets approximately £3.21 after the extra fuel cost. You could drive up to 28 miles before the saving is eaten up. Use the WorthThePump calculator for your exact situation.

How much does the Citroen C3 cost per mile in fuel?

The Citroen C3 costs approximately 13.0p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £3.90 per day in fuel.

What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Citroen C3?

The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Citroen C3 is 56.5 MPG. However, real-world MPG is typically 10–15% lower than WLTP due to cold starts, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and varying loads. WorthThePump uses a 12% real-world penalty to give a more accurate estimate.

Related guides

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