Citroen C3 2021 review
Content
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 6/10
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
- How practical is the interior space? 7/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
- What is it like to drive? 8/10
- Verdict
Sometimes a car lands on a car dealership booth (remember those?) and immediately takes the breath away from the world. Citroen used to do this regularly, but after a period of timidity, they abandoned the C4 Cactus.
Nothing else was like this very French, very wacky SUV. It had its detractors, but like the Bangle BMW, it had a huge impact, especially on the Korean peninsula.
Unfortunately - in fact, I find it bordering on a crime - the Cactus didn't do well in Australia, despite having everything we love about SUVs - a good engine, plenty of room (okay, a pop-up rear window). was pretty stupid). ) and individual appearance.
People, for some reason, couldn't get past the innovative Airbumps on the side either.
The Cactus has left our shores, but the C3 is a worthy bearer of its stylish torch. Smaller, cheaper (at least on paper) and as close as possible to a compact SUV, though not really, the C3 has been around since 2016 and has just been updated for 2021.
| 3 Citroen C2021: Shine 1.2 Pure Tech 82 | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | |
| engine's type | 1.2 L turbo |
| fuel type | Regular unleaded gasoline |
| Fuel efficiency | 4.9l / 100km |
| Landing | 5 Places |
| Price from | $22,400 |
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 6/10
The C3 with automatic transmission costs $28,990. It's a burden because it's a lot of money for a small hatchback that outshines just about everything in its segment from Mazda, Kia and Suzuki. The only car more expensive is the Swift Sport auto.
The C3 with automatic transmission costs $28,990, which is a lot for a small hatchback.
As I have said several times, you don't come to a Citroen dealer by chance, you are looking for something specific, not an ordinary hatchback.
This is not price protection, but the volumes of the French manufacturer are small here, so it's just nice to have them with you.
You get 16-inch alloy wheels, a six-speaker stereo, climate control, keyless entry and start, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, automatic LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, sat nav, automatic wipers, leather shifter gear and steering wheel. , power folding mirrors and a compact spare tire.
8.0 inch touch screen supports Android Auto and Apple Car Play.
The 8.0-inch touchscreen is pretty basic and has everything crammed into it, which creates some tense moments when you just want to change the fan speed or something equally innocuous.
It has digital radio and satellite navigation, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, neither of which is wireless.
Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
Why is C3 not interesting? The disinterest of Australians in Cactus is criminal because as a car writer I hear one of the main complaints: "All cars look the same."
That's not entirely true at the moment, the industry is in pretty good shape as far as styling is concerned, but the Cactus and now the C3 certainly have their own distinct flair.
As I mentioned, this is an influential design given its obvious resemblance to the Cactus - thin LED high beam headlights sitting on top of large headlights with a rather sharp vertical front end.
This is an influential design given its obvious resemblance to a cactus.
It is clear that this will become something of a cult classic. It looks like Citroen is doomed to that status here in Australia.
On the sides, you have Citroen's signature "Airbumps" that act as side bumpers. Though, ironically, the Aircross version doesn't have them despite a more rugged look.
I don't know what's going on in Citroen design, but I won't complain because I kind of like the way the C3 looks.
The C3 has 16-inch alloy wheels.
The 2021 C3 has new alloys, two new body colors ("Spring Blue" and "Arctic Steel") and a new roof color ("Emerald").
The interior is a tale of two halves, especially the dashboard design. The top half is a bit retro with rectangular vents and body-coloured stripes.
A surprisingly conventional steering wheel flanks an old-fashioned instrument cluster, but it all looks pretty good and works well.
Below the midline is all flimsy gray plastic and dark, dirty, impractical spaces that aren't interesting at all. However, those whimsical 1960s suitcase-style doorknobs are present and correct.
How practical is the interior space? 7/10
Because this car was around before the French had abandoned their strident opposition to reasonably sized coasters (or none at all), the drink limit situation is…bad. The front two are too small to hold anything but a can of Red Bull, and the single rear seat cupholder is too small to be used while the car is in motion.
The front seats are arguably the most comfortable front seats in business class.
The front seats more than make up for it. Seat evolution I've said time and time again that the front seats are the most comfortable in the business, and now they're even better, according to Citroen.
I don't know why they are better, but they look a little more slender. They are still extremely comfortable and you can sit in them all day long and never feel pinched.
The luggage compartment is flexible thanks to the sliding rear seats.
Perhaps in a quest for redemption, every door has a pocket, and a place for a bottle has been carved into the front. You can also put bottles in the rear door pockets and they will be fine.
For such a small car, the 300 liter boot (VDA) with the seats installed is quite decent. Fold the 60/40 split back and you have 922 liters. There's a slight drop as you pass the high loading edge and the floor is definitely not flat with the seats down, but that's not unusual at this level.
For such a small car, the 300-litre (VDA) trunk is quite decent.
When you move up to Aircross, you get between 410 and 520 liters thanks to the sliding rear seat, and the total boot capacity with the seats folded down is 1289 liters.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10
The tall, flat hood of the C3 hides one of my favorite engines of all time, a 04-litre three-cylinder HN1.2 turbo engine. In the C3, it's effectively tuned to 81kW/205Nm. The six-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels only.
C3 weighs only 1090 kg. While 10.9-100 km/h in XNUMX seconds feels leisurely, it never feels so slow, especially in gears.
The C3 is equipped with a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
The official combined cycle figure for the C3 is a meager 5.2L/100km on premium unleaded petrol.
After a week of riding the little Citroen, covering mostly commuter and city miles, the trip computer told me that I had used up 7.9 l/100 km, which is quite far but unexpected given the hellish humidity and heat of the week I rode it.
I should also note that the C3 I had was just off the boat, so it probably needed to loosen up a bit.
Based on my figure, which you will likely improve, you will be able to drive 560 km between fillings.
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10
The C3 comes with six airbags, ABS, Stability and Traction Control, Forward Collision Warning, Low Speed AEB, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Monitoring and Driver Attention Detection.
For the little ones, there are two ISOFIX points and three top cable attachments for baby capsules and/or child seats.
Last rated by ANCAP in 2017, the C3 received four out of five possible stars.
Unfortunately, the C3 lacks high-speed AEB and rear cross-traffic alert.
Last rated by ANCAP in 2017, the C3 received four out of five possible stars but did not have AEB in testing.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
5 years / unlimited mileage
guarantee
ANCAP Safety Rating
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
Citroen offers a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty as well as lifetime roadside assistance.
Service is available at 12-month/15,0000 intervals with a five-year "Service Price Promise" or Limited Cost Service for you and me.
Unfortunately it's not that easy to find on the website, but we have service prices right here.
The minimum you'll pay is a hefty $415, and the biggest is a rather attractive $718, which isn't cheap for a small car, but at least now you know what you're getting into. The total cost over five years is $2736.17, or just over $547 per service.
At the time of writing, Citroen was offering free service for five years on MY20 models.
What is it like to drive? 8/10
There's a lot to like about the way the C3 goes about its business. Citroen has returned to its roots with a recent lineup of hatchbacks and compact SUVs with an unabashed pursuit of comfort and driving convenience.
The driving performance of the C3 should be best in class, with a plush, much larger car on smooth and bumpy roads. It feels almost completely unruffled, and even in corners, er, enthusiastically, the body remains well controlled.
The ride quality of the C3 should be best in class.
It's also very quiet, and the only things that unsettle the rear torsion beams are nasty mid-corner bumps or those awful rubber speed bumps in car parks.
The 1.2-liter engine is nonsense. While the numbers aren't huge, the torque curve is nice and steep, making the C3 surprisingly good on the freeway, briskly climbing hills and overtaking with little fuss.
My only complaint is the odd shifting in first gear. I feel like the C3 makes me think it has a dual clutch, but it's a normal torque converter car.
It can wobble a little, especially when it coughs when the stop-start system is activated, and that's the only thing that reminds me that it's a tiny three-cylinder hatchback.
In motion, the steering is very light and ideally suited for maneuverability in the city and suburbs. It's a lot of fun to make your way through the narrow city streets when you're sitting a little higher than, say, the Kia Rio GT-Line.
Parking is also easy, especially now that the front parking sensors have been reinstalled.
Verdict
Considering only one Citroen C3, this is largely a yes or no decision. I think it's a shame the price is so high, because just a few pieces can lure a few curious shoppers through the door. Maybe Citroen is missing an opportunity here too, as there are so few small hatches left, and even fewer under twenty thousand, meaning the package is tightly bundled for less than $26,000.
It's a fun, quirky, and individual car, but not in the traditional "will it start?" car. way. I think it looks great and people say it's the kind of automotive art they crave before they buy something pretty but harmless. It would have been an even better car with a bit more advanced safety gear and if that step out of the way was resolved. I'm not sure I'd spend all that money on a C3, but I'd be tempted to.
