Citroen C3 2019 review
Content
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 6/10
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10
- How practical is the interior space? 7/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
- What is it like to drive? 8/10
- Verdict
- Would you consider C3 now that he has better defensive gear? Or is this wacky appearance too much for you?
Really small cars are no longer what they used to be, and for a number of reasons. First, compared to what it was five years ago, no one buys them. The world of small hatchbacks is a shadow of itself, mainly because there is so much money in Australia that we buy a class up and often an SUV rather than a hatch.
As usual, Citroen is going down the less beaten path. There's no denying the fact that the C3 hatch has always been a bold choice - there are still a few original arched-roof versions out there, a car that I really liked despite not being very good.
For 2019, Citroen addressed a couple of glaring issues with the C3, namely the lack of protective gear that contributed to the four-star ANCAP safety rating, and a couple of minor dramas that marred an otherwise impressive package.
| 3 Citroen C2019: 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 | $17,500 |
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 6/10
Potential C3 buyers will have to contend with a solid price hike for an old car that cost $23,480 just over a year ago before hitting the roads. The 2019 car costs $26,990, but its overall performance is significantly higher.
The 2019 car costs $26,990.
As before, you get cloth trim, a reversing camera, automatic headlights and wipers, a leather steering wheel, trip computer, climate control, rear parking sensors, cruise control, power windows all around, speed limit detection and a compact spare tire. .
The 2019 car reduces the wheel size per inch to 16 inches but adds AEB, blind spot monitoring, keyless entry and start, satellite navigation and DAB.
The 2019 car reduces wheel size per inch to 16 inches.
The 7.0-inch touchscreen remains unchanged and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These are nice additions, although the basic software is fine on its own. Like other Citroëns and Peugeot siblings, most of the car's functions are housed on the screen, making taking apart the air conditioner a bit of a memory game.
Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10
Outwardly, little has changed, which is good. While the C3 isn't to everyone's taste, it's definitely a Citroen. The car is largely based on the bold Cactus, which I sincerely consider to be one of the greatest examples of automotive design, especially for a production car. Quirky and, as it turns out, quite influential - take a look at the Kona and Santa Fe. The only real differences are the colored door handles with chrome strips.
Outwardly, little has changed, which is good.
All that is real and right is the rubber Airbumps at the bottom of the doors, the headlights folded down and the DRL placement being the "wrong" way. It's chunky and very aimed at the compact SUV crowd.
The cockpit is basically the same and still amazing. Again, there's plenty of Cactus here, including two of the best front seats in the business. The dashboard design is a stark departure from the rest of the planet, with lots of rounded rectangles and a consistent design from Cactus and other Citroens. The materials are mostly decent, but the center console is a bit clunky and sparse.
How practical is the interior space? 7/10
The strange French take on cup holders continues in the C3. Perhaps to match the name, there are three of them - two in the front and one in the back at the rear of the center console. Each door holds a medium sized bottle, four in total.
Rear seat space is acceptable, with enough knee room for adults up to 180 cm tall. I was traveling in the back and was perfectly happy behind my lanky son lounging in the front seat. Overhead is very good front and back as it is quite upright.
Trunk space is not bad for a car of this size, starting at 300 liters with the seats installed and 922 liters with the seats folded down. With the seats down, the floor is quite a big step. The floor is also not flush with the loading lip, but it releases a few liters, so it doesn't really matter.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
Citroen's superb 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine remains under the hood, delivering 81kW and 205Nm. A six-speed automatic sends power to the front wheels. Weighing only 1090 kg, it accelerates from 100 to 10.9 km/h in XNUMX seconds.
Citroen's superb 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine remains under the hood.
How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
Citroen claims combined fuel consumption of 4.9 l/100 km, aided by stop-start when you're in town. My week with the brave Parisian returned the claimed 6.1 l / 100 km, but I had fun.
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
The C3 comes with six airbags, ABS, stability and traction control, lane departure warning, speed sign recognition as standard. New for the 2019 model year are front AEB and blind spot monitoring.
There are also three top seat belts and two ISOFIX points in the back.
ANCAP gave the C3 just four stars in November 2017, and at the car's launch, the company expressed disappointment at the low score it believed was the result of AEB's absence.
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 provides a five-year unlimited mileage warranty as well as five years of roadside assistance. Your dealer expects a visit every 12 months or 15,000 km.
Prices for services are limited under the Citroen Confidence program. However, you will be sure to pay a decent amount. Maintenance costs start at $381 for the first service, go up to $621 for the third, and continue through the fifth year.
What is it like to drive? 8/10
Three things work together to make the C3 (see what I did there?) a great little car.
C3 can't hold on to corners.
The first is a brilliant 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine. This is such a cool engine. It's not the quietest and it's not the smoothest, but once you have something spinning, it's cool and makes you move really well.
In my previous C3 rides, I've noticed a tendency for the transmission to engage too much, especially after waking up from a stop-start. Now there seems to have been a slight calibration update that has smoothed things out a lot. To be honest, it doesn't feel as slow as its 0-100 km/h figure suggests.
Secondly, it is incredibly convenient for a small car. Even at launch I was impressed with the ride on 17-inch wheels, but now on 16-inch wheels with higher profile tires I am even more relaxed. The C3 can't spin in corners, with little body roll and comfort-focused spring and damper settings, but it doesn't understeer either. Only sharp lateral bumps upset the rear end (nasty mall rubber speed bumps, I'm looking at you) and most of the time it feels like a much bigger and generously sprung car.
These two vehicles form the basis of a package that is equally comfortable in the city and on the highway. It's something.
Thirdly, it clearly balances between a compact SUV and a small hatchback. Conventional wisdom suggests sticking to one lane, but successful blurring of the lines means you get most of the visual and practical elements of this class, and also don't pay for, say, the C3 Aircross, which is no-compromise. compact SUV. Strange marketing game, but "What is it?" conversations in shopping center parking lots were not stormy.
Obviously this is not ideal. When you get to 60 km/h, it becomes quite sluggish and the grip is on point. Cruise control still requires too much attention to activate, and the touchscreen has too many features and is also a bit slow. Lack of AM radio fixed by adding DAB.
Verdict
As you've probably already figured out, the C3 is a fun little car with a lot of personality. Obviously, it's not cheap - Japanese, German and Korean competitors are cheaper - but none of them are as individual as the C3.
And this, perhaps, is its strength and weakness. Views are polarized - you'll be spending all your time with the car explaining Airbumps to puzzled onlookers. The updated safety package helps a lot to make the C3 more competitive on a performance level, but the entry price is still high - Citroen knows its market.
Would I have one? Definitely, and I would like to try one in manual mode too.
Would you consider C3 now that he has better defensive gear? Or is this wacky appearance too much for you?
