Citroen C3 RANGE
Style. Openness. Relaxation. Multi-Purpose Versatility.
Safety. These Are The Five Characteristics That
Citroen Claim Underline Their C3 Range. Andy Enright Reports
As babies, were hardwired to recognise faces from a very early age. Citroen bill their C3 model "the friendly face of motoring" although when confronted with such a wacky visage, most infants would probably dive for the duvet. Its certainly a big face, the huge headlamps and pumped up grille dominating, and its one that were growing extremely accustomed to.
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In throwing the rulebook out of the window,
Citroen created a car thats more faithful to their occasionally forgotten tradition as manufacturers of supreme lateral thinking. 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 little C2 citycar. C3 prices start from £9,195 for the entry-level 1.1-litre version or £10,895 for the 75bhp 1.
4-litre petrol model, rising through 90bhp 1.4-litre SensoDrive petrol (which is available in economical Stop and Start or XTR faux 4x4 form), 110bhp 1.6-litre petrol found in the sporty VTR and a couple of 1.4-litre HDi diesel variants to top out at £12,795.
Right plumb in the middle of the small car sector in other words, an area of the market which has increased by some 30% over the last five years. This is Fiesta, Corsa, Clio, Polo and 206 territory, though accomplished challengers like Skodas Fabia, SEATs Ibiza, Hondas Jazz and Toyotas Yaris are also making good money here. To stand out from this lot, the Citroen needs to be different and its unique looks are a good start in this respect, through company insiders admit that the orientation here seems to be more towards women than men. Opinion is divided as to whether the shape is genuinely individual or simply a melange of design cues from other cars.
At least it goes its own way. Theres even a convertible Pluriel model, though this uses so few C3 body parts it is to all intents and purposes a separate product line.
"The dashboard has overtones of a toned-down
Fiat Multipla"
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. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. ISOFIX child
seat mounting points feature strongly and such is the C3s family orientation that an optional Child Pack is available. 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. Some compensation is the 305-litre boot, one of the largest in the class. Engines are usually a Citroen/PSA Group strongpoint and those offered here are no different, even if the corporate plan calls for the 70 and 92bhp 1.4-litre HDi diesel units to be shared, not only with Peugeots 206 but Fords Fiesta.
Most sales emphasis will be on the 70bhp unit, which boasts the highest economy and lowest CO2 figures of any mainstream vehicle. It was Citroens first Euro4 compliant engine and its available from £10,395 in entry-level L form or for a touch more with the SensoDrive gearbox. If you can live with the looks (which are already being subsumed into the mainstream) the Citroen C3 is a sound purchase. Citroen continually astonish industry analysts with their year on year growth figures in the UK, and most of that growth is accounted for by aggressively priced budget models.
Given that the C3 landed foursquare in this market sector and is currently dealing a sound leathering to some of the more complacent opposition, the French companys stock looks set to rise still further. The friendly face of motoring? Not if youre a brand manager for a rival manufacturer
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Citroen C3 range
PRICES: £9,195-£12,795 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 2-5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 110-170g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.4i] Top Speed 105mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4i] (urban) 34.4mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 45.6mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS [exc LX]
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm
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