Citroen C3 Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Citroen C3 range
Prices: £10,990-£16,440 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 2-5
Emissions: 99-158g/km
Performance: [HDi 90] Maximum speed 112mph / 0-62mph 11s
Fuel Consumption: [HDi 90] (urban) 53.3mpg, (extra urban) 76.3mpg, (combined) 65.7mpg
Safety: Six airbags, ABS with EBD
Dimensions: length/width/heightmm 3941/1728/1524

SMALL AND SENSIBLE

Our Rating: 7.3 / 10

Citroen is hoping to take the supermini sector by storm with its latest C3. Steve Walker reports.

Citroen’s take on the supermini genre is practical and roomy but doesn’t rely on expanded dimensions to achieve this. An upright seating position and clever use of interior space allows a big boot and decent rear passenger accommodation. The car handles neatly and the ride is comfortable but there are more engaging superminis from a driver’s point of view. Minimal increase in weight over the original C3 helps the car deliver strong economy.

Citroën turned 90 in 2009 but although it may have passed pensionable age and then some, it’s desperate to be seen as an innovator, an embracer of technology and a brand in tune with the fickle finger of fashion. It’s not alone in that by any means but more than most manufacturers, Citroën has been responsible for some moments of shining innovation, design bravery and unadulterated quirkiness down the years. It’s looking for a return to those past glories with the latest C3 supermini.

The original C3 supermini sold two million units, so Citroën is well within its rights to brand the car a success. To complement the smaller, sportier C2, the first C3 adopted a family friendly approach to ensure all possible bases were covered by Citroën’s small car range. The current C3 is working in partnership with the DS3, a three-door Citroën supermini targeted overtly at the supermini sector’s trendier buyers, so once again, it falls on the five-door C3 to come at things from a more practical angle. Citroën’s aim was to achieve this with a little extra style and elegance than the previous generation car managed.

It’s in urban areas where the C3 gives the best account itself from a driving perspective. At low speeds, the suspension masks the assorted humps, cracks and potholes with finesse and the engines remain unobtrusive. Citroën’s efforts to reduce noise levels in the car with more insulating material in the engine bay and improved joints around the doors pay off. The light steering and 10.2m turning circle will help owners out of many a tight spot, as will a good field of vision around the car. Only the Citroën trademark clunky gearbox and over-sharp brakes let the side down.

On the open road, it’s more of a mixed bag. The car feels stable and comfortable at motorway cruising speeds where engine refinement continues to hold up well but the wind rustles around the A-pillars, breaching the peace. Through corners, the C3’s soft set-up contributes to more body lean than the best handling superminis. It’s not too bad though and the car changes direction sweetly, so it’s perfectly possible to have some fun driving it.

On the engine front, the diesels make the most sense. The smooth VTi petrol units are competent but even the 1.6 feels quite lethargic at low revs. You need to work it harder to access the meat of its 120bhp power output and even then, performance is hardly explosive while the engine note gets harsh. The diesels have more shove low down and are generally quite progressive in their power delivery, settling down to a muted drone at motorway speeds.

Many of Citroën’s most critically acclaimed efforts of recent times have been MPVs. The French manufacturer understands this area of the market and it’s not a shock that elements of these successful people carrier designs have found their way into the C3 supermini. The domed roof line is carried over from the original C3 but efforts have been made to elongate the look of the car and the latest model is a far sleeker and sharper prospect. There’s a large glass area for visibility and light in the cabin and the seating position is more upright than in many superminis, simplifying entries and exits.

Unusually for a supermini, the C3 is barely any bigger than the car it replaced. At 3940mm long, it’s not one of the larger models in this sector and keeping a tight rein on the exterior dimensions helped the designers to pull the neat trick of actually maintaining C3’s weight compared to its forbear. Inside, there’s little sign that the car’s had its growth stunted. It boasts one of the biggest boots of any supermini at 300 litres and there’s room for four adults. Six-footers will struggle