Citroen C3: Expert Review

Hatchbacks have long been a popular segment in the Indian automotive market. With a market share of around 30 percent, models like the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10, Baleno, Swift and the WagonR rule the top sales chart month-on-month. But over the last decade, the deteriorating condition of our roads coupled with the tall driving position and the high ground clearance has led to the growth of the SUV segment. Commanding over 50 percent market share in the passenger vehicle segment, these models are now the crowd favourite and regulars in the top-selling charts.

Capitalising on this popularity, premier French car manufacturer Citroen Cars has introduced the C3 in the country. The New Citroen C3 is a compact car that blurs the lines between a hatchback and a SUV. Aiming to offer the best of both worlds this is the brands first mass-market approach at claiming a share of the competitive Indian car market. Priced at Rs 6.16 lakh (ex-showroom), the 2023 Citroen C3 faces stiff competition from the likes of the Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS, Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Tata Tiago, while targeting models like the Tata Altroz, Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Hyundai i20. In this story we will delve into what makes the C3 a unique proposition and if it’s a worthy buy in today’s market.

Citroen C3: Designed to Stand Out

Showcasing a radical approach towards car design, Citroen C3 has been made to stand out from the crowd. The New C3 is built on the same principles as the company’s first model, the Citroen C5 Aircross and borrows several design cues from the larger model.

Upfront we find the typical Citroen nose with the chrome double chevron logo at the top and a large hexagonal plastic grille at the bottom. The logo unit flows cleanly into the X shaped LED DRLs which form a part of the split headlamp setup with the DRLs up top and the halogen main beam unit at the bottom, while the fog lamp unit is its own separate element.

In profile, one can clearly see the SUV intent of the Citroen C3, thanks to the upright shape of the passenger cabin. Riding on 15-inch steel wheels or 15-inch alloy wheels, the new model offers a high ground clearance of 180 mm along with new roof rails and thick black plastic cladding all around. While the overall design talks of eccentricity to trick your brain into believing this is not a barebones car, the lift-type door hands and the old school exposed steel locks tell a different story.

Customisation is a big talking point on the C3. Customers can choose between 3 styling packs with highlights either in Burnt Orange, Chrome or Platinum Grey. The car we tested was offered with the optional vibe pack which added orange highlights around the fog lamp housing, mirror covers, door base flourish and the rear bumper reflector while the orange roof can be spec’d separately as part of the dual-tone paint option.

Overall, customers will enjoy making the new Citroen C3 their own with over 56 customisation options and 70 dealer level accessories.

Citroen C3: Funky Yet Functional Interior

Step in and you can clearly see the funky and wackiness carried forward into the cabin. The overall design of the dashboard is inspired from the larger Citroen C5 Aircross but has been scaled down to match the budget point. The almost vertical waterfall-like dashboard features a host of materials including dimpled texture on the upper half and a metal like plastic piece below it. Taking centre stage on the new dashboard is the large 10-inch touchscreen infotainment unit that comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is slick to use and offers good resolution for the display.

While the large touchscreen and the good plastic quality enhance the premium appeal of the cabin, one can clearly see signs of cost-cutting with the tiny 3.5-inch digital display for the instrument cluster. This unit skips a tachometer and uses old-school graphics to display essential information. Other not so good elements include manual stalk for wing mirror adjustment, centre power window switches for the rear passengers, lack of any soft touch materials on all interactive surfaces, empty shells for the tweeter in the A-pillar, basic headliner and fixed headrests for the seats. Customers will also find no wireless charger or reverse parking camera on the model. To keep costs in check, the company has decided to skip automatic climate control altogether and instead offer individual rotary knobs for temperature and fan speed control.

While the overall cabin feels dull and boring, the dash of orange on the top of the dashboard and contrast seat stitching bring some life to the interior. On the whole, the 2023 Citroen C3’s cabin is a mix of some hits and many misses.

Citroen C3: SUV Like Space

The New Citroen C3 is a large car compared to all the other hatchback cars in its segment. Measuring 3,981 mm in length, 1,733 mm in width and 1,586 mm in height, the new model is significantly taller than its rivals. Citroen claims that its hatchback with a twist offers the best-in-class shoulder room and theatre seating for the second row. But in our test, we found that while it is possible to squeeze three abreast in the rear seat, passenger comfort is compromised thanks to the high transmission tunnel. The middle passenger will constantly struggle for foot space with the other passengers and also misses out on headrest of any sort.

But seating four should be relatively easy thanks to the large 2,540 mm wheelbase and the well cushioned seats at both the front and the rear. Additionally, the rear seats are angled well and offer sufficient under thigh support which is missing on other hatchbacks in this segment. The window area is large and lets sufficient light inside while the driver seat is upright and offers a commanding view out in front. In terms of luggage space, customers will find the 315-litres boot space plenty for a weekend getaway but it’s nothing to talk home about. Inside the cabin, we find plenty of storage options in the central tunnel and on the doors.

Citroen C3: Calm Engines and Engaging Performance

For the Indian market, the Citroen C3 is being offered with two all-new made-in-India petrol engine options. The first is the popular 1.2-litre N/A unit that produces around 81 bhp and 119 Nm of peak torque while the other is a more powerful 1.2-litre turbo petrol mill that makes 109 bhp and 190 Nm of torque. Both engines are offered with only a manual gearbox option (5-speed on the N/A and 6-speed on the turbo), while automatics are set to join the line-up from 2024.

We first test drove the 1.2-litre N/A petrol engine and found the performance to be lack luster. Out on the highway, it struggles to keep pace with other hatchbacks and requires constant down shifts to keep itself in the meat of the powerband. While the shifter action was short, slotting the gear into position was difficult at times and the new shift knob design was polarising. The motor is well suited for city traffic and offers an excellent fuel economy of 19.8 kmpl.

After our drive with the N/A engine we got into the turbo petrol with muted expectations and were wowed instantly. The 109 bhp felt plenty and the car felt quick in a straight line. The combination of the low kerb weight (1035 kgs) and the peak torque being delivered early in the rev range makes for a punch driving experience both within the city and out on the highway. The turbo lag on the engine is minimal and the gear shifts are slick with a short clutch and gear lever action. Despite offering more power, Citroen has promised an excellent fuel efficiency of 19.4 kmpl while we received 14.5 kmpl during our test.

In terms of ride quality, the C3 is a Citroen in every sense. Known for its ‘flying carpet ride’, the new C3 soaks in bumps, potholes and undulations on the road with ease. The soft suspension and the well cushioned seats transmit very little shocks into the cabin even when going over the worst stuff.

While the ride is plush, passengers inside the cabin are pushed from side to side when driving in anger thanks to the high body roll. Due to its tall body design and lack of anti-roll bars, the C3 offers significant body roll and loves to understeer. While the steering is a good balance between slow speed manoeuvrability and high-speed stability it does not like to push into corners.

Citroen C3: Should You Buy?

So, the Citroen C3 is a new take on how to make a car. And we believe that Citroen India has done an excellent job at delivering on its promise. While the car lacks some vital features, it makes up for it with a punchy engine and supple ride.

Ranging between Rs 6.16 lakh and Rs 8.92 lakh, we would suggest the Citroen C3 as an excellent new car choice at that budget. For more details and deals on your next new car purchase head to CarLelo.com