Just before the pandemic hit, France’s PSA Group announced plans to bring the Peugeot brand back to North America. Up until 1991, when the brand pulled out of North America, Canadians could have visited their local Peugeot dealer to purchase a genuine French vehicle.
For a while, it looked like French cars were coming back to Canada. Fast forward to 2023, and things have changed. Currently, plans to bring French cars back to Canada have been kiboshed, but you can never say never.
Here in Canada, we already enjoy a nice mix of vehicles from various parts of the world, including Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, the U.K., as well as all the American brands. So are we missing out because French brands like Citroen, Peugeot, and Renault are not available on this side of the Atlantic?
A Unique Driving Experience
If you’re perfectly happy with the mix of vehicles we already have available here in Canada, then you probably won’t feel like you’re missing out. However, if you like the idea of driving something unique or different, then you’ll likely find some of the vehicles made by French manufacturers very appealing.
For example, Citroen makes a little car known as the AMI (French for friend). This tiny EV has room for two, a maximum speed of 45 km/h and an electric range of 75 km. It sells for a total of €9,190 ($13,469 CAD), including taxes. Europeans seem to love the AMI. When a limited-edition of the vehicle was offered this summer, the 800 available units sold out online in a mere 10 hours.
At the other end of the size spectrum is a new van called the Citroen Holidays. Reminiscent of the Volkswagen camper vans we saw on North American roads in the 1960s and ’70s, the Holidays is perfect for families who enjoy the great outdoors. Much like the VW van of old, the Holidays comes with a pop-up roof with a bed, a two-row bench seat that opens up to form another two-person bed, front seats that swivel around towards the living area of the vehicle, a complete kitchenette, and a folding table for dining or working.
With its retro exterior and modern interior, the Citroen Holidays would certainly be ideal for modern “van life” fans looking for a unique vehicle that could set them apart from other van dwellers. Pricing hasn’t been released yet, but Citroen says that this “teaser” prototype offers a taste of a new range of Holidays models that will debut shortly in Citroen dealerships.
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes
Most vehicles in France (and in Europe in general) would be considered small by Canadian standards. You’ll rarely see anything as big as a Chevrolet Suburban on French roads. Instead, most people drive small crossovers equipped with small engines. Hybrids and electric cars are also very popular.
The French drive smaller cars because the more CO2 their vehicles produce, the more taxes they have to pay. Moreover, fuel is brutally expensive. Currently, in France, both diesel and gasoline sell for just a bit over €2.10/litre. In Canadian currency, that’s about $3.00/litre!
This is why a compact crossover like the all-new Renault Clio is available with multiple powertrain options, including hybrid, gasoline, diesel, and a dual-fuel option that combines gasoline and liquid propane. Depending on how much you’re willing to pay for fuel and how much you’re willing to pay for the CO2 tax, your Clio’s powertrain will come from the factory configured to produce 65, 90, 100, or a whopping 145 hp.
An Electrified Europe
With the cost of fuel as high as it is and with governments taxing emissions, it’s not surprising that European automakers, including the French brands, are turning their attention to engineering new electric vehicles.
A month ago, Peugeot announced that by 2025, it will offer “the widest range of electric cars of any generalist brand in Europe.” The company added that it’s replacing its best-selling vehicle, the 3008, with an all-new electric fastback, the E-3008.
With a range of 700 km, this new electric SUV is both attractive and powerful. Peugeot says that when the E-3008 debuts in dealerships in February 2024, it will be available with three all-electric powertrains, offering 210, 230, or 320 hp. According to the company, 100 per cent of its European sales will be electric by 2030.
Whether Canadians are missing out because we can’t buy some of these unique and interesting French vehicles is up for debate. Some of us are perfectly happy with the choices we already have, while others would welcome something new and different.
French vehicles are sold in many places around the world. According to Peugeot, its best-selling vehicle, the 3008, is available in 130 countries. Although an all-electric SUV, like the E-3008 with a 700-km range, would certainly be appealing to some Canadian drivers, there’s no guarantee that it would pass North American safety standards or survive a Canadian winter. Then again, Peugeot managed to import cars into Canada decades ago, so it might be willing to do so again. Like I said, never say never.
