Citroen C3 1.4 HDi 8V RANGE
Citroen Has Built Its UK Success Story On Offering The Motorist Keen Value For Money. The Latest C3 HDi Certainly Diesels Arent About To Batter The Balance Too Badly. Andy Enright Reports On The 8-Valve Version
Citroen have managed to tap 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 Saxo buyers often maturing into not-so-young Xsara buyers and so on. Tapping into these buyers' sense of value is the Citroen C3 HDi diesel range, a set of supermini-sized cars that are as easy on the eye as they are on the pocket.
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There are two basic models from which to choose with either eight or sixteen valves developing either 70 or 92bhp respectively. Its the eight-valve versions we look at here and again, there are two distinct versions to consider. The first comes priced from £10,395, the second from £12,095 both offer a headline grabbing economy of around 66mpg. The difference comes in trim levels.
The first engine is offered in basic L trim and the second choice is available as a plusher Desire. The diesel engine certainly suits the personality of the C3. In the C2,
Citroen retain a small car that begs to be taken by the scruff of the neck and flung at the nearest corner, but as its bigger brother, the C3 is a little more restrained.
"The 70bhp 1.4-litre diesel unit endows the C3 with enough muscle to effortlessly undertake motorway overtaking maneuvers."
The upright seating position gives the first clue as to the C3s intent. Fire up the engine and youll be greeted by an initial muted hacking which almost instantaneously settles down into a low-key thrum. Citroen having excelled themselves in insulating the powerplant to such an extent that when out on the open road, only the punchy swell of torque gives the game away. The all-alloy 1.
4-litre direct injection diesel may well seem familiar to some and it is indeed the same engine used by
Peugeot and
Ford at least in the eight-valve guise featured here. The reason for its popularity is because its a fine engine, built around the almost obligatory common rail architecture and given respectable performance by the fitment of a small turbocharger. All-in, the engine generates 70bhp and when combined with the C3s lighter overall weight and longer gearing, it manages not only to return better economy figures than a similarly-powered Fiesta, but also manages to outsprint the little Ford. True, you wont buy a C3 HDi for its performance, but the eight-valve versions sprint to 60mph in 13.
4 seconds is perfectly adequate, as is its top speed of 103mph. These figures probably wont set your trousers alight, but this engine has 25% more torque than the 1.4-litre petrol unit and endows the C3 with enough muscle to effortlessly undertake motorway overtaking manoeuvres without recourse to anything as undignified as a downchange. Although the entry-level £10,345 sticker price is a bit steeper than the comparable Fiesta Finesse, Citroen dealers will no doubt pull some sort of financial rabbit out of their hats to sweeten the deal.
On top of that, the Citroen is notably better equipped. 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 side airbags, ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist and comprehensive pedestrian safety features. The Desire features such equipment as electric front windows, CD-player, remote central locking, a rake and reach adjustable steering wheel and height adjustable front seats. Although some have groused about the plastics quality of the C3 interior, unless you routinely use your cars stereo display cover as a grab handle, youll probably be able to live with it.
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, non-threatening 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. The rev counter that arches across the top of the digital speedometer is a classic Citroen design cue and one that fits well with the novel design philosophy. 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.
The C3 HDi certainly hasnt ducked the challenge of taking on some tough rivals. Accomplished cars such as the
Skoda Fabia, the Ford Fiesta, the
Toyota Yaris and the
Volkswagen Polo all mix it pretty well with the baby Citroen dynamically. Which means that if you then figure in the value equation, its possible that the Citroen may emerge on top in the long run. We certainly wouldnt bet against it.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Citroen C3 1.4 HDi 8V range
PRICES: £10,395-£11,095 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 3
CO2 EMISSIONS: 110g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 103mph / 0-60mph 13.4s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 55.4mpg / (extra urban) 74.3mpg / (combined) 67.3mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm
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