Citroen C3

The refined and comfortable Citroen C3 aims to blend quirky design cues with a premium cabin.

Auto Express Car Reviews

Rating:
Latest deal price: from £9,585 to £14,084

For: Refinement, space, diesel engines

Against: Awkward looks, uninvolving driving dynamics

The refined and comfortable Citroen C3 aims to blend quirky design cues with a premium cabin. It’s spacious, too, with a roomy interior and decent-sized boot. While it’s an improvement over its predecessor, the French car can’t match the class leaders.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Citroen C3

Styling

With its bulbous and upright lines, the Citroen C3 certainly stands out from the supermini crowd – although it lacks the flair of Ford’s Fiesta. All versions apart from the entry-level VT benefit from alloy wheels and the firm’s trademark panoramic windscreen, which stretches into the roof above the driver and front passenger. Range-topping Exclusive models get extra chrome trim in a bid to give the car a dash of premium appeal.

Interior

Climb aboard and it’s clear that designers have attempted to take the five-door C3 upmarket. The dashboard is taken from the firm’s DS3 supermini, while most of the plastics have a quality look and feel. Low levels of road and wind noise mean the Citroen’s a refined cruiser, plus there’s a decent haul of standard kit, too. However, we’d advise steering clear of the VT version, as it goes without air-conditioning – and you’ can’t even specify it as an option.

Driving and performance

It’s clear from the outset that the Citroen C3 has been designed with comfort in mind. Low noise levels, a supple ride and high set driving position make the C3 a surprisingly relaxing long distance companion. Precise steering and decent grip inspire confidence in corners, but keen drivers will be disappointed. The 1.1-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines struggle with the C3’s weight, meaning the 94bhp and four-speed auto equipped 118bhp 1.6-litre units are a better bet. However, for most owners the smooth and torquey HDi diesels are the top choice.

This video review is brought to you by our sister site, CarBuyer.co.uk

MPG and running costs

As you’d expect from a supermini, the Citroen C3 shouldn’t break the bank when it comes to running costs. Even the 1.6-litre petrol will return nearly 50mpg – it’s as economical and emits less CO2 than the smaller 1.1-litre and 1.4-litre units. However, once again it’s the diesels that’ll be kindest to your wallet, particularly the green-themed Airdream. Tweaks to mechanicals and aerodynamics of the 1.6-litre oil-burner result in 74.3mpg at the pumps and a road tax-free CO2 output if 99g/km. A pre-paid servicing package helps to further reduce your financial outlay.

Practicality

Given its tall stance it’s no surprise to find the Citroen C3 serves-up decent cabin space. Occupants in back are treated to class competitive head and legroom, while the interior features plenty of storage – although the car’s fusebox eats into the glovebox’s usefulness. Swinging open the tailgate reveals a healthy 300-litre load bay – which isn’t much smaller than models from the class above.

Reliability and safety

Despite being a relatively new design the C3 was awarded only four stars in the EuroNCAP tests. Only VTR+ models and above get six airbags, while ESP is an option on everything other than the range-topping Exclusive version. Citroen’s dealers performed little better in our 2010 Driver Power awards, finishing 26th out of 35 runners.

For an alternative review of the latest Citroen C3 visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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4 Comments

"Occupants in back ..."
I don't type .co.uk to read American English. It's "in the back".

By PedroConejo on 22 March, 2011, 3:16pm

No longer the real thing

The trouble with Citroens nowadays is that for a start their looks are just nothing to get excited about.

Neither do other factors offer much to contribute to driving pleasure.
Just a spin around the block in a C3 or C4 will tell you that when it comes to engines Citroen are still not exactly with it.
These (cast iron) lumps that they are using can't pull the skin of a rice pudding to use an old saying.

Perhaps their engineers should copy the modern aluminium Toyota and FIAT blocks to name just a couple of names.

Sophisticated suspension systems used to be a Citroen specialty, today there are Japanese cars with more refined underpinnings (Mazda RX8 for example)

Good Lord, Citroen what has become of you?
I used to love the excentric looks, the special atmosphere in the interiors and the fabulous ride of your legendary 2 CV and Ami6 but above all of your DS 19, the great Goddess.
And I even accepted their lousy paintwork quality and the really atrocious fit and finish of their bodywork because these models had loads of character!!
Something which your current model range is totally lacking.

I' am sure that there are many more old Citroen enthusiast who like me, have fallen by the wayside.
And that Citroen, is entirely of your own making.

By takata on 31 March, 2011, 11:47am

Oops, sackcloth and ashes

Of course, it's Citroen's cast iron blocks can't pull the skin off a rice pudding.

By takata on 31 March, 2011, 12:04pm

Too little, too late

This should have been a good car (in its original version), instead it had all the quality "feel" of the tin foil tray from your Chicken Biryani on a Saturday night.

Fast forward a few years, and I think the patient (ie. customer) is dead.

Especially when it's sister DS is fluttering its eyelids at you.

By FloatingVoter on 21 June, 2011, 2:09pm

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Pictures

Citroen C3