In the small car class, it’s models like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa that tend to dominate, but there are also plenty of other models that are worthy of your attention.
One such model is the Citroen C3 – a car that does things a bit differently to others in its segment by prioritising comfort and ease of use above all else. It’s also recently benefited from an update, bringing greater personalisation (which we’ll explore later) along with a stylish redesign.
Does that sound appealing? Here’s what you need to know about the Citroen C3 before buying one…
What engines are available?
Citroen offers a choice of two petrols and one diesel engine on its C3.
Let’s start with the petrol options, with an 82bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine kicking off the range. Paired to a five-speed manual gearbox, it can take the C3 to 60mph in 12.3 seconds and it sits in a much lower insurance group than the rest too – making it an ideal option for new drivers. Citroen also says it can return up to 54.3mpg, while returning CO2 emissions as low as 123g/km.
If you’d like something with a bit more poke, you should choose the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol option, which produces 108bhp. Available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic, it’s able to hit 60mph in 9.2 seconds (9.7 for the automatic), while returning up to 53.3mpg, with CO2 emissions as 123g/km.
If you cover a lot of miles, it’s worth taking a look at the 99bhp 1.5-litre turbodiesel, which is paired to a five-speed manual gearbox. In terms of performance, it’s able to accelerate to 60mph in 10.2 seconds, though it’s the efficiency that really impresses. Citroen claims up to 70.6mpg, with CO2 emissions of 112g/km.
What trim levels are offered?
Citroen offers four trims on its C3, with equipment highlights and prices as follows.
Sense – from £15,305
Standard equipment on the C3 includes 16-inch steel wheels with covers, LED headlights, front electric windows and a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also get electric heated and folding mirrors, cruise control, a speed limiter, lane keep assist and traffic sign recognition,
C-Series – from £14,180
The special-edition C-Series trim brings 16-inch alloy wheels, C-Series badging and a black roof. You also get a red colour pack, along with rear parking sensors and automatic air conditioning.
Shine – from £16,355
In addition to the Sense trim, the Shine brings 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a black bi-tone roof and automatic lights and wipers. Soft-touch interior trim is also added, along with rear parking sensors.
Shine Plus – from £17,955
At the top of the line-up is the Shine Plus, which features 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. Satellite navigation is also added, along with a reversing camera, leather steering wheel, wooden interior trim and Citroen’s acclaimed ‘Advanced Comfort’ seats.
What about personalisation?
If you want your car to stand out from the crowd, there are few better on offer than the Citroen C3. In fact, the French firm says there are nearly 100 different colour configurations available, thanks to seven colour options, four roof options and three shades for the ‘airbump’ surrounds – these are the plastic mouldings that run along the doors. Various interior ambiances are also available to help the C3 to be even more personalisable.
The actual options list is relatively subdued, though, however you can choose front parking sensors and blind spot monitoring for £250, while an in-build dash cam is available, and a worthy addition at just £150.
Enquire on a new Citroen C3
