Citroen C3 1.6 16v VTi Exclusive 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Citroen C3 1.6 16V VTi's engine produces 120bhp at 6000rpm and 118lb-ft of torque. offers great performance for a small family car. The top speed of 118 mph is more than enough for family use and quick acceleration means the car reaches 0-62 mph in 8.9 seconds – much faster than the 14.2 seconds taken by the 1.4i 8v model.

All round visibility is excellent and the suspension does a fine job of ironing out bumps and potholes in the road. The handling is smooth and responsive thanks to light and fluid steering which makes the Citroen a lot of fun to drive.

Inside the cabin, the advanced trim level means that there is a decent level of standard equipment. Power steering, central locking, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, an advanced stereo with MP3 connectivity and an immobiliser are all fitted as standard. Alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity are also standard features and those willing to make a larger investment can pay to enhance their model even further. A built-in sat nav, leather seats and rear parking sensors are offered, costing £950, £400 and £270 respectively.

A metallic paint finish on the exterior costs the same as in the basic 1.4i (£440) but stability control is much cheaper in the 1.6 – costing £330 instead of £740.

As a five door model, access to this family car is good and the high level of visibility within the cabin means drivers feel safe and in control at all times. There is adequate space within the cabin for passengers although the rear seats are more designed for children than adults. That being said, short journeys will not be too uncomfortable and leg room in the front is more than ample.

The boot capacity is decent for a family car and there is plenty of room for passengers and luggage thanks to the 300 litre capacity when the seats are in place. A large lip on the boot does mean that loading can be troublesome and other internal storage facilities, such as the glove compartment, are a little on the small side.

Reliability is fairly strong but some of the internal controls feel a little flimsy – which could be a problem. The front windscreen also lacks the high quality finish which is expected and can be a cause for concern to some drivers.

In terms of safety, the car scored an overall rating of four out of five in the NCAP crash tests and comes fitted with driver, passenger and front side airbags as standard. An immobiliser helps to deter thieves and this model benefits from a fitted alarm as a standard feature to improve safety.

Priced at £15,290 the C3 1.6 16v VTi offers reasonable value for money. Fuel economy is decent for a family car and the performance levels are high, making this a powerful and reliable vehicle. Improved interior kit at this trim level offers buyers more options but with some of these still incurring additional costs some buyers may struggle to justify the outlay.

Running costs will be reasonable but insurance premiums are much higher than on the standard 1.4i – jumping from group 6 to group 15.

Efficiency is also marginally improved from the 1.4i 8v model, offering 47.9 mpg to the 1.4i’s 47.1 mpg. The green credentials are perfectly adequate and CO2 emissions of 139g/km put the C3 under tax band E.