Citroën C3 review: Hybrid hatch brings big comfort and clever design to the small-car class
The all-new Citroen C3
|
Citroën C3 |
|
|---|---|
|
Rating |
★★★★☆ |
|
Price |
from €23,400 - €29,200 as tested in ‘Max’ spec |
|
Engine |
a 1.2ltr petrol hybrid — not the quickest, but very economic |
|
The Spec |
very thorough indeed – and embarrassingly so for some more expensive rivals |
|
Verdict |
Easily the best C3 there’s ever been |
Despite an ugly “don’t drive” recall earlier this year covering the Citroën C3, C-Zero and DS3 (all essentially the same car) built between 2008 and 2019 because of an airbag defect, the diminutive Citroën has been hugely successful for the French company across continental Europe.
Despite not being one of the more in-demand superminis – à la Fiesta, Polo, Yaris etc. – the C3 has nevertheless clocked up over five-and-a-half million sales since 2002, making it Citroën’s most popular model.
The latest version, which we test this week in petrol hybrid format, is, we suspect, set to rewrite the C3 story, as it is by far the best one we’ve driven. And, given that the Fiesta is no longer being built, there is room in the segment for Citroën to capitalise.
Pretty much everything has changed with this latest car – the shape, the interior and the way it drives. Citroën itself has also undergone a major rebrand, and the brand’s famous chevron badging has been given a makeover.
So everything about this car is fresh and new, giving this model a completely new character and appeal. The fact that Citroën has kept pricing very competitive means the car has a strong chance to woo new and returning customers.
It was once unkindly said that cars made by Citroën were for life. This wasn’t simply because adherents of the brand were fantastically loyal to the other-worldliness of the cars — both mechanically and in design — but because you struggled to sell them second-hand.
This was a somewhat crude put-down, but historically Citroën models were not in demand as used vehicles. Yet for those who bought new, there was always deep loyalty to the brand and a love for the way the cars behaved.
That comfort levels were far above what rivals offered meant the appeal was always strong. Sadly, over the decades, the sometimes complicated engineering frightened sales personnel and potential owners alike.
The phrase “Buy a Citroën and you’re married to it” was not the compliment it might have seemed.
In this case, the leopard might not have changed its spots, but it has certainly reshaped them in an effort to shrug off old tropes, and the new C3 is a prime example.
The look of the car is now more SUV than supermini, with a boxy shape, two-tone colour schemes, glossy black plastic cladding and a raised ride height. The interior has been radically improved, offering more passenger space and a raft of technology.
Read More
Citroën has managed all this while keeping prices attractive and avoiding any bargain-basement feel—although in the case of the EV version, the ë-C3, which we will be reviewing soon, they’ve produced one of the cheapest electric cars on the European market.
They’ve also done this without compromising one of the brand’s big attractions – comfort. While the French are renowned for valuing comfort, Citroën has elevated it to an art form.
In the C3, the Advanced Comfort programme features across the range—something not often applied to smaller cars because of cost and complexity. Here, the “magic carpet ride” is achieved via two hydraulic bump stops at each corner, one for rebound and one for compression.
In practical terms, this doesn’t iron out every bump and crevasse on our roads, but it does set the car apart from most rivals.
The C3 isn’t as floaty as some of Citroën’s larger models, but it easily soaks up the worst the roads can offer. The suspension is soft but doesn’t diminish handling.
In other words, the C3 doesn’t wallow on bumpy surfaces or during cornering but absorbs everything with surprising élan. Both handling and ride quality are well above class standards.
Yes, it rolls a bit, but it never feels like it’s running out of grip, which is a boon when you need to press on. It’s also a small car with a tight turning circle, making it ideal for parking in tight spaces and navigating busy streets.
The hybrid unit — a 1.2-litre petrol engine paired with a 48-volt electrical system — isn’t the punchiest, with a 0-100 km/h time of around ten seconds, but it’s perfectly adequate. The six-speed automatic gearbox also works well.
In terms of consumption, if you’re not getting somewhere around 5.3 l/100km (52.8mpg), something is wrong.
The interior is defined by exceptionally comfy seating and, although there are some hard plastics, the overall impression is one of durability, which is a bonus at this price.
A slightly try-hard attempt at being hip—small red/orange labels on the door armrests with slogans like “be cool” and “have fun”—is seriously naff.
There is a 10.25” touchscreen that works very well and is easy to navigate. The digital instrumentation looks good and delivers information clearly. The oddly shaped steering wheel takes getting used to but works.
Interior space is a real winner, with plenty of room up front and unusually generous rear head and legroom for two adults — almost embarrassing some larger cars. The boot is a little small, but this is a supermini.
Citroën has made significant strides in recent years, and the quality of its products is rising. The brand continues to be overlooked by mainstream buyers, but it is determined to change that.
With that in mind, the C3 is very much a showcase of neat, clever design in the segment, and it should appeal to more buyers. A marketing push may be required, but it would be worthwhile.
This is possibly one of the best cars the company has made in a long time, and it reflects a strong effort within Citroën to produce more appealing and desirable models. That’s a very good thing.
