- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.2T, 3 cyl.
- Engine Power
81kW, 205Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 4.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
4/5 star (2017)
2018 Citroen C3 Shine new car review
- Head-turning looks.
- Stylish and spacious cabin.
- Peppy engine.
- Expensive for a city car.
- No autonomous emergency braking.
- Four-star crash test rating.
What is it?
France’s answer to the Mini Cooper. Citroen Australia is trying to push the brand more upmarket, relying on its European flair to do so. The C3 is only available in a single specification - called Shine - which starts with a price above your average city car, but below the likes of the more premium Mini.
How much does it cost and what do you get?
The C3 starts at $23,490 plus on-road costs and at the time of publication Citroen was offering it at $26,990 drive-away.
That’s obviously at the top end of the mainstream city car price range, but you do get a stylish machine. It comes equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and a speed limit recognition system; something the brand claims is a city car first.
You can also add a panoramic sunroof for $600 for another nice touch.
But there are some glaring omissions from the standard equipment list for such a pricey runabout though. The most notable is autonomous emergency braking, but more on that later.
What’s under the bonnet?
A small car only needs a small engine and the C3 is powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit. It produces 81kW of power and 205Nm of torque which is good for a city car.
It’s a charming little engine, with decent pulling power off the mark and a sweet three-cylinder soundtrack.
The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the old model’s terrible robotized manual. But while the return to a conventional torque converter automatic should be cause for celebration, unfortunately Citroen’s engineers still need to work on their transmission tuning skills.
In every C3 we have driven there has been low speed shuddering, similar to what you feel with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. Some of our test cars have been better than others but it simply doesn’t feel right to us. However, like any dual-clutch car we’ve driven we wouldn’t call the slow speed issues bad enough to cross this off our consideration list.
What’s it like to drive?
The C3 is selling itself as a premium city car, rather than a sporty one, so the suspension feels soft which makes for a comfortable and compliant ride, rather than a firmer, more responsive one.
Still, Citroen has tuned the steering well enough that it reacts sharply to inputs which does add to the enjoyment factor of driving it. Ultimately this is a fun and comfy city car that does live up to the image Citroen is pushing.
What’s it like inside?
This is where the C3 Shine really, um, shines. Citroen has produced arguably the nicest interior of any city car, with both modern and retro touches.
For the former there’s the tablet-style infotainment screen that sits proudly in the centre of the dashboard. Then there’s the attache-case style leather door handles that add a hint of years past and a variety of textured materials for a more upmarket look and feel.
It’s a thoughtfully designed cabin too, with the passenger side of the dashboard sculpted back to allow for good rear seat space for a city car.
As for the seats themselves, they are arguably the best thing in the cabin. They have been designed to feel soft and comfortable like a couch but still provide you with plenty of support.
Is it safe?
Yes, but it could be safer. As mentioned earlier the C3 misses out on autonomous emergency braking (AEB), which is part of the reason why it only scores a four-star European NCAP crash test rating.
It’s also disappointing given the asking price, which at this end of the city car market you should reasonably expect AEB, blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning to be at least be available, if not standard fit.
Having said all that, on the plus side, Citroen has become the first car maker in the world to offer a factory-fitted dashcam. Dubbed ConnectedCam it fits into the space around the rear-view mirror seamlessly and allows you to record any accidents you might unfortunately have.
As an added bonus you can also take photos or videos of your road trips and download them via the system’s smartphone app. However, it doesn’t come cheap as it costs $600 extra.
Would I buy it?
It’s a well presented city car and for those that value style and making a statement then it’s worth strong consideration. It drives nicely, has a peppy engine and a beautiful cabin.
But the poor value, questionable safety and the jerky transmission outweigh its strengths if you look at it rationally.
What else should I consider?
There are plenty of good city cars to choose from at the moment. The new Volkswagen Polo, Suzuki Swift Turbo, Skoda Fabia and the venerable Mazda2 all deserve strong consideration.
2018 Citroen C3 Shine pricing and specifications
Price: From $23,490 plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 81kW at 5500rpm
Torque: 205Nm at 1500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Fuel use: 4.9L/100km