What they said when the Citroen C3 was new… (Apr 17 2002)
THE final part of this year's supermini saga is ready to roll and, as they say, the best is always worth waiting for.
Citroen may be a newcomer to this part of the market but it has come up trumps with the C3. This five door only hatch will slot into the Citroen line up between its popular Saxo and its Ford Focus rival the Xsara and will go head to head with the likes of the new Fiesta, the VW Polo and the latest Seat Ibiza.
Not only is the C3 distinctive to look at - there is more than a bit of the old Citroen Dyane in its styling - but it has an interior that is wonderfully refreshing.
This little big car has a host of clever touches that make it the pick of the crop when compared to the other newcomers. Its curvy lines mean there is plenty of room inside and the feeling of space is enhanced by bright coloured trim and large windows.
But that is just the beginning of the feel good factor that enables anyone to be at home with this car in a matter of minutes. A combination of a fully adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable front seats, remote control switches for the stereo system, a sensor that switches on the hazard warning lamps under emergency braking and an over speed warning system make this a class leader in no uncertain fashion.
All models in the seven version line up also come with advanced braking systems, remote control central locking with deadlocks, four airbags and a device which automatically locks the boot as you pull away. There are also some 30 storage areas in and around the cabin including under seat trays, large door bins and twin glove boxes - although one is shaped in such a way that gloves would be about all you could get in.
With the family in mind there is also a switch on the dash to operate the rear door child locks - and in the coming months rear seat trays and an additional mirror so you can keep your eyes on what is happening in the back will be available too. That array of well thought-out features knocks any of the new breed of superminis for six - and that is before you know how the C3 performs or how much it costs.
On sale as of May 1 the C3 will start at £8,995 for a basic LX 1.4 litre with the range topping 1.6 litre Exclusive model coming in at £11,995. Diesels - and Citroen is using the new PSA 1.4 litre common rail engine - cost £1,000 more with the exception of the top of the range version which is priced the same as the petrol.
That entry level price is £500 below a five door Fiesta which means that the C3 is going to provide stiff competition in the volume sectors of the market.
But the trick up the C3's sleeve is its combination of traditional and high tech technology. The instrumentation is made up of conventional and digital displays in front of the driver and in the centre of the dash - although the rev counter looks more like the sort of read out you would expect on a set of kitchen scales your gran would own.
On the road there are few complaints. The C3 exhibits no bad habits and all the engines are more than adequate. The 1.4 has a claimed top speed of 104mph, accelerating from 0 to 60 in 12.4 seconds while averaging 45.6 mpg according to Citroen, while the 1.6 has an acceleration time of 9.7 seconds, a top speed of 123mph and is still capable of returning in excess of 43 to the gallon.
The real eye opener is the diesel which uses the same engine as the new Fiesta. However the C3 is slightly lighter and that has made a noticeable difference. Top speed here is 103mph with a 13.4 seconds acceleration time but it is capable of averaging an incredible 67.3 mpg - much better than the Ford.
With manual transmissions all but the 1.6 fall into the lowest car tax bracket for private use and even the 1.6 qualifies for a discount.
However air conditioning is not standard on the base models and arrives on the mid range SX versions which start at £9,995. Climate control is standard on the Exclusive.
In terms of cargo capacity the boot, at around 10 cu ft, is about par for the course but it does feature a cunning platform which Citroen calls a Moduboard. Really it is a flexible shelf that can be used to separate the boot space to enable wet and muddy clothing, for example, to be stowed away from other items. It is easy to use and folding away takes only a few seconds. Maximum luggage capacity with rear seats dropped down is 41 cu ft which again is fairly standard for this size of car.
Citroen is enjoying considerable success in the UK at the moment and it knows that if it sells its cars at sensible prices they go like hot cakes. The C3 is no different in that respect but what it has got is a flair of its own which, at the moment, nothing else can touch.
Words: Chris Russon
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