Citroën C3 is more than an urban fashionista hatch
French alternative has a not-so-obvious ace up its sleeve, writes Phuti Mpyane
09 September 2021 - 05:08
byPhuti Mpyane
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The C3 is among the best-looking of many urban hatch alternatives.
Picture: PHUTI MPYANE
Visually, I don’t think there’s anything else in the class quite like the new Citroën C3 hatch. It is not subtle thanks to a stack of large and squinty lights you will notice in a crowd. A recent update stylistically aligned it to its larger C3 Aircross and C5 Aircross cousins.
While its brethren are perched on higher suspensions for family-focused applications that may include off-road travel, the C3 is designed to latch on to a younger, more vibrantly fashion-conscious urban customer.
Citroën plays visual tricks with the design because the C3 actually has a lofty driving position like a squat little crossover instead of a traditional hatch, and there are oodles of space front and back, and a 300l boot.
The C3 hatch is also emblematic of the company’s soft but hardy seat material choice, digital layout and ergonomic brilliance. The ease of finding the best driving position and its light operation keeps driving fatigue at bay but there is no quirky feature. The equipment is all conventionally laid out, but the interior styling is a bit dull, which will disappoint true friends of the brand.
Among many of the C3’s rivals are group cousins the Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa, the latter recently having being a subject of a Motor News road test. I was concerned they would feel similar as they are virtually twinned and share a turbocharged 1.2l three-cylinder motor, a six-speed automatic transmission and are built atop a similar chassis.
The 1.2T Shine test unit has smaller outputs of 81kW and 205Nm vs the Corsa’s 96kW and 230Nm.
It’s quite spacious inside and has plenty of kit for the price.
Picture: PHUTI MPYANE
They may be crafted from the same ingredients but there is a real difference in their taste and texture. The Opel is speedier and quieter with a lower ride height and sharper handling around bends.
Keep the throttle pedal pinned in the Citroën C3 and it has an enjoyable buzzy crescendo as the three-pot motor pushes it past 100km/h from standstill in 9.4 seconds and onto a top speed of 201km/h, both which are not too shabby.
The transmission is another source of joy when you are being bullish. There are no mode buttons but intelligent software detects eager throttle inputs and delays up changes with a satisfying and head-bobbing click-action when snatching the next gear. You can drive it in a hurry if you need to.
The small motor has the benefit of fuel economy, which was 6.9l/100km in a week’s urban driving and on one or two spirited jaunts on rural roads.
It is a car that is set up for cushy urban travel rather than sporty exuberance but it is livelier than you would think. Post it into a series of bends and the grip from the front-wheel drive car is ample. You can judge it well enough to scythe through bends and it resists understeer.
It also takes its refinement towards mild off-road situations.
As a hatch it meets specific criteria, which is to be an affordable, safe, practical and funky set of wheels for the urban masses, but its maker has tweaked the recipe a little to include a slightly jacked up suspension to not limit owners who want to explore a bit further. This and the bold and striking exterior looks are the clincher.
It's not a crossover but you can take it on gravel jaunts if you want.
Picture: PHUTI MPYANE
Park distance control rear, LED headlights, Multifunction steering wheel controls, USB port, auto on/off lights, cruise control, front fog lights, high beam assist, auxiliary input, Bluetooth connectivity, cloth upholstery, climate control, aircon, rain sensor wipers, remote central locking, electric folding mirrors, ABS, brake assist, stability control, traction control, EBD, six-airbags
COST OF OWNERSHIP
Warranty: Five years/100,000km
Service Plan: Three years/60,000km
Price: R324,900
Lease*: R6,997 per month* at 10% interest over 60 months no deposit
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Road Test
Citroën C3 is more than an urban fashionista hatch
French alternative has a not-so-obvious ace up its sleeve, writes Phuti Mpyane
Visually, I don’t think there’s anything else in the class quite like the new Citroën C3 hatch. It is not subtle thanks to a stack of large and squinty lights you will notice in a crowd. A recent update stylistically aligned it to its larger C3 Aircross and C5 Aircross cousins.
While its brethren are perched on higher suspensions for family-focused applications that may include off-road travel, the C3 is designed to latch on to a younger, more vibrantly fashion-conscious urban customer.
Citroën plays visual tricks with the design because the C3 actually has a lofty driving position like a squat little crossover instead of a traditional hatch, and there are oodles of space front and back, and a 300l boot.
The C3 hatch is also emblematic of the company’s soft but hardy seat material choice, digital layout and ergonomic brilliance. The ease of finding the best driving position and its light operation keeps driving fatigue at bay but there is no quirky feature. The equipment is all conventionally laid out, but the interior styling is a bit dull, which will disappoint true friends of the brand.
Among many of the C3’s rivals are group cousins the Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa, the latter recently having being a subject of a Motor News road test. I was concerned they would feel similar as they are virtually twinned and share a turbocharged 1.2l three-cylinder motor, a six-speed automatic transmission and are built atop a similar chassis.
The 1.2T Shine test unit has smaller outputs of 81kW and 205Nm vs the Corsa’s 96kW and 230Nm.
They may be crafted from the same ingredients but there is a real difference in their taste and texture. The Opel is speedier and quieter with a lower ride height and sharper handling around bends.
Keep the throttle pedal pinned in the Citroën C3 and it has an enjoyable buzzy crescendo as the three-pot motor pushes it past 100km/h from standstill in 9.4 seconds and onto a top speed of 201km/h, both which are not too shabby.
The transmission is another source of joy when you are being bullish. There are no mode buttons but intelligent software detects eager throttle inputs and delays up changes with a satisfying and head-bobbing click-action when snatching the next gear. You can drive it in a hurry if you need to.
The small motor has the benefit of fuel economy, which was 6.9l/100km in a week’s urban driving and on one or two spirited jaunts on rural roads.
It is a car that is set up for cushy urban travel rather than sporty exuberance but it is livelier than you would think. Post it into a series of bends and the grip from the front-wheel drive car is ample. You can judge it well enough to scythe through bends and it resists understeer.
It also takes its refinement towards mild off-road situations.
As a hatch it meets specific criteria, which is to be an affordable, safe, practical and funky set of wheels for the urban masses, but its maker has tweaked the recipe a little to include a slightly jacked up suspension to not limit owners who want to explore a bit further. This and the bold and striking exterior looks are the clincher.
Tech Specs
ENGINE
Type: Three-cylinder
Capacity: 1.2l
Power: 81kW
Torque: 205Nm
TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed auto
DRIVE TRAIN
Type: Front-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE
Top speed: 194km/h
0-100km/h: 9.4 sec (as claimed)
Fuel consumption: 6.0l/100km (as claimed), 6.9l/100km (as tested)
Emissions: 137g/km
STANDARD FEATURES
Park distance control rear, LED headlights, Multifunction steering wheel controls, USB port, auto on/off lights, cruise control, front fog lights, high beam assist, auxiliary input, Bluetooth connectivity, cloth upholstery, climate control, aircon, rain sensor wipers, remote central locking, electric folding mirrors, ABS, brake assist, stability control, traction control, EBD, six-airbags
COST OF OWNERSHIP
Warranty: Five years/100,000km
Service Plan: Three years/60,000km
Price: R324,900
Lease*: R6,997 per month* at 10% interest over 60 months no deposit
Citroën C3 1.2T Shine
WE LIKE:
Looks, features, price
WE DISLIKE:
Interior styling is a little drab
VERDICT:
A hatch for discerning urbanites
MOTOR NEWS
Star rating
*****Design
****Performance
****Economy
*****Ride
****Handling
*****Safety
*****Value For Money
*****Overall
Competition
Honda Fit 1.5 Elegance, 89kW/145Nm — R359,900
Hyundai i20 1.0T Fluid Auto, 73kW/133Nm — R355,900
Fiat Tipo 1.6 Pop, 81kW/152Nm — R349,900
Ford Fiesta 1.0T Trend Auto, 74kW/170Nm — R351,500
Kia Rio 1.4 LX Auto,73kW/135Nm — R326,995
Mazda2 1.5 Individual Auto, 85kW/148Nm — R343,500
Opel Corsa 1.2T Elegance, 96kW/230Nm — R386,900
Suzuki Swift Sport 1.4T Auto, 103kW/230Nm — R369,900
Volkswagen Polo 1.0TSI Comfortline auto, 85kW/200Nm — R347,300
Hyundai i20 has the edge to challenge segment doyens
New Honda is Fit to fight in the compact segment
Sassy new Peugeot 208 arrives
Opel Corsa grows up gracefully
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