The new Citroën C3 Hybrid has gone on sale in the UK, priced from £20,115.

A rival for the £21,895 Renault Clio E-Tech, the new variant of the C3 uses a fresh development of Citroën parent company Stellantis’s widely used 48V mild-hybrid powertrain.

This comprises a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, a single electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

The set-up has previously been offered with an output of 134bhp in cars such as the Alfa Romeo Junior, Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa, but in the C3 it makes a combined 108bhp and 151lb ft. This yields a 0-62mph dash time of 10.1sec and a top speed of 120mph.

The set-up is designed to lean on the electric motor at low speeds, such as in stop-start traffic. Citroën claimed that, in such scenarios, it can run under electric power for up to half the time.

The company added that, in broader use, the set-up emits 10% less CO2 than the C3’s 99bhp petrol engine, which receives no electrical assistance.

The C3 Hybrid officially emits 114g/km of CO2, putting it in the 28% benefit-in-kind tax band for 2025/26, and achieves 56.5mpg.

For reference, the 99bhp petrol C3 is priced from £17,790, and is rated at 52mpg and 128g/km.

Two trim levels will be offered. Plus gets kit such as LED headlights, a 10.25in infotainment touchscreen and rear parking sensors. Max, priced from £21,815, adds conveniences such as climate control, heating for the front seats and steering wheel and a reversing camera.