Citroen C3 1.1iL
The
Citroen C3 1.1iL Offers A Credible Modern Supermini For Less Than You Might Think. Andy Enright Reports
The C3 has made quite an impact for Citroen. In offering a spacious, unthreatening supermini at reasonable prices, the French company has latched straight into a winning formula. Originally, the problem was that the range opened with technically sophisticated 1.4-litre models.
Where was the budget version that could take the battle to cars like the
Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 or the
Toyota Yaris 1.0? Noticeable by its absence, thats where. That changed with the introduction of the C3 1.
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1iL, a car that now offers an easy leg-up into C3 ownership from just £9,195.
Citroen being Citroen, they will possibly be able to sweeten the deal further with one of their seasonal cashback/free insurance deals, but even at the RRP of £9,195, the C3 1.1iL looks a sound bet. True, theres not a great deal of engine on offer, but that goes with the territory here. Cars in this sector are all about fuel economy, miserly emissions and urban desirability, three areas where the bulbous Citroen scores highly.
The 60bhp engine averages 47mpg with nearly 60mpg possible on a gentle run whilst at the same time emitting a mere 143 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre. Performance is predictably laid back, the C3 breaching 60mph in just under 16 seconds on the way to a top speed of 99mph. Youll need to work the engine a little harder than you will in a 1.4, and given the small price differential between the 1.
1iL and the £10,395 1.4 Desire, those who are looking to cover higher mileages would be advised to opt for the larger engined car. Alternatively, for £700 more you can pick up the 1.1-litre engine in well-specified Desire trim.
Equipment levels for the C3 1.1iL are modest, although its good to see that Citroen havent cut too many corners regarding safety provision. As well as variable electric power steering, the C3 is fitted with twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist and comprehensive pedestrian safety features, making it one of the safer options in its class. Remote central locking is also standard.
"The C3 1.1iL, like many Citroens, is priced aggressively"
In making the C3 subtly different to what wed come to expect as a blueprint supermini, Citroen have created a car thats more faithful to their old tradition as manufacturers of supreme lateral thinking. They claim that its a very different take on the supermini concept: three-door versions for example, will never be made. Instead, that niche is being covered by the C2 citycar. The C3 will instead offer spacious family motoring for those that arent particularly interested in lift-off oversteer or any such lairy antics. The C3 1.
1iL, like many Citroens, is priced aggressively, evidence of Citroens success at tapping into the psychology of the UK market probably better than any other car manufacturer of late. Their formula has been to catch em young, tempting buyers with a credible badge that, with cashback, discounts and free insurance policies, make the cars as affordable as bargain basement Koreans. This tactic has been spectacularly effective, twenty something C3 buyers often maturing into not-so-young Xsara buyers and so on. This policy has given Citroen such remarkable year on year sales growth.
Combine that with the fact that this supermini market has increased by some 30% over the past five years and the C3 looks set fair for success. Only the small matter of the
Ford Fiesta, the
Renault Clio, the
Peugeot 206, the
Vauxhall Corsa, the
Skoda Fabia and the
Honda Jazz come between the C3 and number one spot on the podium. Like all C3 models, the interior is also adventurously styled which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, weve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves.
Rock-hard seating, coalhole colour schemes and a fetish for aluminium inserts have all been forsaken in the quest to provide a functional family car. The dashboard has shades of toned-down
Fiat Multipla, the lovely silver-trimmed circular vents appearing to warp the fascia as they bust gently through atop a voluptuous pod housing the stereo and air conditioning controls. The digital instrumentation is clear and easy to read and has a
Saab-style black panel that turns all but the most important functions off if you dont want to be distracted by them at night. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes.
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. The C3 1.
1iL would be a surefire winner if it were permanently priced £500 lower. Unfortunately this is something that Citroen dealers only periodically do, making the C31.1iL look a poor bet on paper compared to more powerful 1.4-litre versions.
Nevertheless, keep tabs on your Citroen dealership and you could land yourself with a bargain.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Citroen C3 1.1iL
PRICES: £9,195 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 2
CO2 EMISSIONS: 143g/km
PERFORMANCE:0-60 15.8s Top Speed 99mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (extra urban) 56mpg / (combined) 47mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm
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