Citroen C3 XTR range
Unless youre catastrophically inept when negotiating multi storey car parks, its difficult to see quite who the Citroen C3 XTR is aimed at. The blurb that accompanied the unveiling of the car claimed that it was targeted at those who live an active lifestyle and are looking for adventurous styling that reflects this. Do you buy that? Theres only so much marketing spin its possible to take before calling foul and the Citroen C3 XTR appears to have crossed it.
Unlike cars such as Rovers Streetwise which has now bitten the dust and VWs Polo Dune, the XTR doesnt even feature raised suspension, which robs it of some of the promised rugged attitude. Other markets in Europe offer this as an option for around £500 but Citroen UK decided that most buyers probably wouldnt bother. This being the case, at first glance, the XTR appears little more than a standard C3 wearing a car bra at the front and sporting a set of roof rails. If you feel that this reflects your active lifestyle, then by all means go ahead but one wonders quite what sort of activities youd use it for.
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If you go for the petrol model, bear in mind that youll benefit from (or be stuck with, depending on your point of view) Citroens semi-automatic Sensodrive gearbox with its steering wheel paddles. Manual users will have to take the diesel option. Besides that black front grille, theres also faux aluminium foglamp surrounds. The black bumpers curve around to integrate with the extended front wheelarches and side sills that are claimed to provide added protection against everyday bumps and minor scrapes.
Perhaps the XTR would look a little more macho if it were finished in dark grey with the plastic parts completely scraped and battered but a Land Rover Defender it most certainly is not. Macho types looking for an urban warrior will find plenty of more deserving sources for their money.
"A Land Rover Defender it most certainly is not."
The XTRs styling apendeges are mounted on the latest facelifted C3 body with its restyled nose featuring bigger air intake, more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. More important are the alterations inside which include revised and markedly higher-quality dashboard and door panels. The stereo and ventilation controls look tidier and theres a more grown-up feel about the interior generally. The effect is still not class-leading but its much more like it.
The C3 XTR isnt all about mere cosmetics. The modular roof bars can be used to transport some pretty heavy items, rated as they are for a 60kg load. They can also be fitted in a transverse position so that long items like canoes or windsurfers can easily be accommodated. The interior has come in for a little attention with a highly resistant fabric being specified for the seating.
ISOFIX child seat mounting points feature strongly and such is the C3 XTRs family orientation that the normally optional Child Pack is standard on this model. No, this isnt a lockable trunk that stows problematic sprogs safely in the boot: its a selection of extras that will hopefully offset just such an outcome. A child safety indicator on the dashboard monitors whether seat belts have been unclipped whilst safety locks can be activated or deactivated via a dash-mounted switch. A 12-volt socket at the rear, previously the preserve of MPVs, allows junior to play Gameboys without the ticking time bomb that is a battery failure/high score moment. Aircraft-style trays can be fitted to the back of the front seats with clip-in pen and cup holders and plastic bag hooks.
The greatest feature is probably the simplest. A swing down mirror thats usually stowed behind the standard rear view allows you to keep an eye on the offspring without impeding your forward vision too badly. The innovation certainly doesnt stop there. Citroens Moduboard system is a load bay dividing system that helps protect soft items from hard, clean from grubby and prevent bulky objects from racing across the load bay during spirited driving.
Not that pedal to the metal antics are encouraged by the C3 - that kind of thing is left to the sportier models in the C2 range. Clever safety-conscious electronic features have been borrowed from the larger C5 things such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers with rain sensing activation, hazard lights that deploy automatically under severe braking as well as (optional) side airbags, ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist and comprehensive pedestrian safety features. The egg-like shape suggests almost MPV-like levels of interior space. Certainly at the front, thats true, with more elbow, head and shoulder-room than any other rival, not surprising when you consider that this car is wider than some Family Hatchbacks from the next class up, notably VWs Golf.
At the rear, things are a little different. The three inches in length the C3 loses to a 5-door Fiesta shows here in the restricted legroom and the headroom isnt great either. Mind you, theres no shortage of load space in the back of the XTR with 279 litres with the rear seats in place or a gaping 1,155 litres with the rear seats folded down. Its tricky to see who will buy the C3 XTR.
Its equally hard to think of a car that less suits the macho treatment than a C3. This market sector is one that will either flourish with better products arriving in due course or will soon be forgotten as an embarrassing footnote. Whichever of these two options comes to pass, the Citroen C3 XTR will never shine.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Citroen C3 XTR range
PRICES: £12,040-£12,960 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 4E-5E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 118-143g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.4] 0-60 12.4s / Top Speed 104mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4] (urban) 34.4mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 45.6mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1687/1609mm
