Review - Citroen C3

Designed primarily as an urban runaround, the Citroen C3 aims to take the effort out of commutes and throws in a heap of quirky French design flair for a very reasonable asking price here in Australia.

All of these design highlights and its unique character might have you wondering whether or not the Citroen C3 has enough substance to match its funky styling, which is what we’ll be unpacking in this review.

Starting Price: $32,267

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Citroen C3 (SHINE 1.2 PURETECH 82) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Citroen C3 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Citroen C3 is available for Australian buyers in a single variant lineup kicking off from $32,267 for the C3 Shine. This price does not include on-road costs.

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You?

Using OnlineAuto’s car purchasing service, one of our car specialists can help you save and find the best value model for you.

What Features Does the Citroen C3 Have?

The Citroen C3 Shine comes riding on a set of 16-inch alloy wheels and is fitted with a set of LED headlights & daytime running lamps, climate control, keyless entry & start, cruise control, a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Range Features:

• 16-inch alloys

• LED headlights & daytime running lamps

• Climate control

• Keyless entry & start

• Cruise control

• Reversing camera with front & rear parking sensors

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel

• 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

Citroen C3 Colours

The Citroen C3 range is available in a choice of five colours including Polar White, Arctic Steel, Elixir Red, Spring Blue and Perla Nera Black.

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

Designed primarily as a city car from a manufacturer that is well-versed in the virtues of a compact and agile platform, the Citroen C3 is a great companion to drive around town.

Power comes supplied by a tiny little 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with a turbocharger that pushes out 81kW of power and 205Nm of torque, which is thrown to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

While the 0-100km/h sprint takes a very leisurely 10.9 seconds, the C3 offers up enough power to get moving in the majority of situations, and its lightweight construction means it’s quite nimble on its feet, too.

The steering is incredibly lightweight and makes it easy to manoeuvre the front wheels in carparks and tight traffic situations, while offering a decent amount of feedback as you pick up speed.

To give you an idea of just how well-suited the C3 is for the city, the door bumpers come fitted with a heavy-duty plastic finish that is designed to take small impacts from doors in car parks, for example, without any damage to the paintwork.

Small touches like these make the C3 a charming and very adept companion for those living in and around the city looking for a charismatic commuter.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Stepping inside the cabin greets the driver and front passenger with a very unique and funky cockpit that you’ll struggle to find anywhere else on the market.

Everything from the door sills to the seatbacks, air vents and the dashboard each receive a special pattern and colour finish, which makes the C3 feel far more special inside than the majority of its rivals.

Up front, the driver has a decent amount of space and the cabin is accommodating for tall drivers without a problem, although the cockpit does lack some practical elements when compared to its major rivals.

In the front of the cabin, you’ll find a small storage area behind the hand brake, as well as a set of cup holders and a small storage tray above the USB chargers in the dashboard.

Move to the second row of the cabin and you’ll find that the C3 is far more suited to children than it is adult rear passengers whose knees can find themselves up against the front seats quite easily.

Having said that, though, there’s a set of ISOFIX anchors on each of the outside seats and a boot measuring in at 300L which can expand to 900L with the rear seats folded down that give the C3 platform some practicality credentials.

Is it Safe?

The Citroen C3 has been awarded a four-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 88 per cent for adult protection, 83 per cent for child protection, 59 per cent for pedestrian protection and 58 per cent for safety assist.

As standard, the Citroen C3 comes packaged with autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warnings, driver attention monitoring, and traffic sign recognition atop the rear-view camera, parking sensors and six airbags throughout the cabin.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Fuel economy is one of the strong points of opting for the C3, with its pint-sized turbocharged three-cylinder rated at 5.2L per 100km on a combined cycle, making for a very economical city car.

Our Verdict: Is the Citroen C3 Worth it?

The Citroen C3 is a great addition to any garage if you’re looking for a comfortable and charming city car, so long as you’re aware of its limits, like many city-dwelling small hatchbacks.

While the space in the second row leaves much to be desired, the C3 seemingly makes up for this with a very decent amount of boot storage, and one of the most charismatic styling packages inside and out you’ll find anywhere on the market.

As a result, we can’t help but recommend that you add the C3 to your shortlist while shopping around for a small car. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited KM warranty

2. Four-star ANCAP safety rating

3. 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder produces 81kW/205Nm

4. Fuel economy rated at 5.2L/100km on a combined cycle

5. 300L boot expands to 900L with rear seats folded

Pros

• Impressive fuel economy

• Funky and charismatic styling inside & out

• Plastic bumpers curb the fear of bumps while parking

Cons

• Lacks some storage options up front

• Limited second-row legroom

• Four-star ANCAP safety rating

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Citroen C3 Competition