The C3 is a small family car from Citroen, available as a 5-door hatchback. There is a very good range of engines available. In total there are four petrol units and 3 diesel engines on offer. The two 1.4 litre petrol units are shared with BMW and offer the quality performance you would expect from the German manufacturer. There are also a 1.1 litre and 1.6 litre petrol engines available. The diesel options are a 1.4 litre and two 1.6 litre units.
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Latest Citroen C3 Car Reviews:
The C3 may just be what French manufacturer Citroen needed to compete with Britain’s top superminis. This particular model, the 1.1i 8v VT, is sleek, comfortable and spacious. The engine is not ove...
For a small family hatchback, the Citroen C3 1.4i 8v VT performs fairly well and the acceleration and top speed are more than adequate for the average driver. Overall, it is a decent car for the pr...
The ‘Zenith’ windscreen on the C3 is certainly an innovative feature that is clear to see for anyone looking at the vehicle, but it is just one part of what is generally quite a good car. The VTR+...
The C3 1.4 HDi 16v VTR+ 5dr is a realistic alternative to the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo. Although performance is distinctly average in the Citroen, refinement is good and a smooth ride makes the C3 f...
The Citroen C3 1.6 16v delivers good performance figures with a top speed of 118 mph. Carbon emissions are not the best but fuel economy is fairly decent and this means that running costs should be...
Citroen C3 Overview
Citroens of the past are well known for the quality of the ride they provide, and their ability to glide over lumps and bumps in the road. The C3 stands by this and offers a very comfortable ride, although the soft suspension may have a little impact on the quality of the handling. The C3 is also well refined, with little to no wind or road noise being heard in the cabin, even at motorway speeds. The lack of noise and excellent ride comfort makes this a brilliant long distance car.
The cabin provides ample space for four adults, with a decent amount of both head and legroom, but as is often the case with cars in the class; a taller front passenger would limit rear legroom significantly. The boot is of a decent size at 300, larger than most of the competition, and folding rear seats allows you to extend the carrying capacity further.
The interior, like the exterior, is well styled and it has a more upmarket feel than previous models. The dash is both stylish and sensibly laid out and the quality of the materials used gives a somewhat luxurious feel. On the VTR+ models and above, the panoramic windscreen allows light to flood into the car, giving it an airy feel but the roof lining can slide down to allow the use of sun visors on particularly sunny days.
Background
The C3 is a small family car that first appeared in 2002 as a replacement for the Saxo. Due to an agreement with Peugeot, through PSA Peugeot Citroen, the chassis of the C3 was used in the Peugeot 207 and 1007, and shared many components with the old 206. In 2006 the C3 received a facelift which featured, among others, a redesigned grille and front bumped.
In 2009 the second generation of the C3 was released after an appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier that same year. The most prominent change, aside from some restyling of the body, was the introduction of a panoramic windscreen on a number of models.
Summary
The focus of the C3 on ride quality and refinement may be what separates it from the competition in the class. In addition the panoramic windscreen gives an airy feeling, and sense of space, in a car that is not particularly big.
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