The sophisticated and comfy Citroen C3 aims to mix quirky design cues with a high-class interior. It’s roomy, too, with a spacious interior and good sized boot. There are two engine options available; 1.1 litre petrol and 1.4 litre petrol but both struggle to carry C3’s weight. The 1.6 litre Citroen C3 engine delivers 94bhp and comes mated with a four speed automatic gearbox. It is definitely an improvement over its predecessor but it is still not on the same level as its class leaders for all-round capability. With its round and upright lines, the Citroen C3 surely stands out from the supermini crowd. However, it doesn’t have the same flamboyance as the Kia Rio and Ford Fiesta. All trims other than the entry-level VT come with alloy wheels and Citroen’s trademark panoramic windscreen. Top of the range Exclusive model gets extra chrome trim in a bid to give the car a hint of luxurious appeal. Once you get in it’s clear that designers have tried to give the five door C3 an upmarket feel.
The dashboard is inspired by the DS3 supermini and most of the plastics have a class look and feel. It is clear from the beginning that the Citroen C3 has been made with comfort in mind. A flexible ride, low noise levels and good driving position make the C3 an unexpectedly relaxing long-distance companion. There are two engine options available; 1.1 litre petrol and 1.4 litre petrol but both struggle to carry C3’s weight. The 1.6 litre Citroen C3 engine delivers 94bhp and comes mated with a four speed automatic gearbox. The Citroen C3 was awarded only four stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests despite having a totally new design. There are six airbags only in the VTR+ models, while ESP is optional in every model other than the range topping Exclusive version. C3 is a refined cruiser as the road and wind noise is kept to the minimum. As the C3 is a big car it also has a spacious cabin. The interior has plenty of storage and the boot space is 300 litres.
The Citroen C3 is a supermini which doesn’t break the bank due to its low running costs. The 1.6 litre petrol returns almost 50mpg, which makes it frugal and the CO2 emissions are lower than the 1.1 litre and 1.4 litre engines. Nonetheless, the diesels are the easiest on your pocket, especially eco-special Airdream cars. This eco-special has tweaked the 1.6 litre engine and it now delivers 74.3mpg and tax-busting CO2 emissions of 99g/km. The Citroen C3 lets itself down with its awkward looks and uninvolving drive. However, lots of space and good diesel engines make up for these short falls. If someone is thinking to buy the SensoDrive model, they should try it out first. Although its gearbox gives a sporty advantage however, the gear shifts can be a bit slow. The Pluriel comes with full length sunroof. The best choice can be the C3 1.4 HDi with its fast diesel engine that generates a decent amount of torque. It is also equipped with start/stop feature that helps lowering the fuel consumption.
