C3 is an appealing alternative to the mainstream superminis
FAST FACTS
Citroen C3 PureTech 110 Flair Price: £15,995 Mechanical: 109bhp, 1,198cc, 3cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via five-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 117mph 0-62mph: 9.3 seconds Combined mpg: 61.4 Insurance group: 16 CO2 emissions: 103g/km BiK rating: 19% Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles automatically activates and saves the footage.
The 1.2-litre engine has plenty of get-up-and-go and is happy to spin freely up the rev range.
Yet despite a spirited time to 62mph in just over nine seconds, it is more an agile super-mini than a hot hatch.
The five-speed manual gearbox has a fairly long-throw between ratios and the ride is on the soft side, making it a good car for poor roads but a little ‘wallowy’ when pressing on through bends.
Its nippy performance makes little dent on fuel economy – most owners should easily hit the 50mpg mark on regular routes. My own average hovered around 51mpg with a best of 56mpg.
The three-pot engine makes a pleasant sound and is well insulated keeping cabin noise levels low. Inside the compartment it’s light and airy with ample shoulder and headroom.
The hatchback boot holds a useful 300 litres of luggage and the rear seats fold down for extra cargo space.
Generous-sizes door pockets and glove box emphasise the C3’s practical family-friendly nature. A seven-inch touch screen occupies centre stage in the facia and operates air con, heating and ventilation as well as the sat nav system.
Front seats are enveloping and comfortable with ample lateral support. Finish is generally of a high standard with plenty of tactile materials.
Standard kit includes cruise control, lane-departure warning system, speed limiter, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink.
If a basic C3 isn’t quite individual enough for you, buyers can customise their cars with side air-bumps to defend against parking scrapes, door mirror caps and different roof colours that contrast with the body shade.
Fun to look at and to be in with low running costs, the C3 is an appealing alternative to the mainstream superminis.