2018 Citroen C3 Overseas Preview Drive | High-Level Individuality In A More Mainstream Package
As the most recent car to benefit from Citroen’s design resurgence, the new Citroen C3 light hatch ought to be a massive recipe for success for the French brand. Packed full of youthful touches, with a hint of SUV from some angles the new C3 is a charming little looker.
Looks alone won’t be all Citroen needs to stand out in Australia’s ultra-competitive market though where perhaps two of the blandest competitors available, the Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris, dominate the market.
But freed from the ungainly bubble-roofed awkwardness of previous generations, this latest C3’s funky form leads an engineering package that’s more conventional, and most importantly, more likely to appeal to Aussie customers.
While the new model is due in Australia in less than a month, Citroen invited TMR to sample the new C3 hatch on its home turf, touring the streets of Paris as the brand prepares to introduce its most compelling light car yet.
Vehicle Style: Light hatch
Price: $22,990 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans: 81kW/205Nm 1.2-litre 3cyl turbo petrol | 6sp automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 4.9 l/100km | Tested: 7.1 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Australia will take the C3 in a single Shine model-grade packed with standard features. That means we’ll miss out on the lower-grade variants offered overseas, but that's not such a bad move with slightly creepy names like Touch and Feel (although the French Live base model isn't as cringeworthy).
Under the bonnet you’ll find a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 81kW of power and 205Nm of torque, shared with other models from the Peugeot Citroen family, like the 208 hatch and C4 Cactus small SUV.
The engine isn't the drawcard though - it’s the exquisite detailing, like the bold interior available with tactile fabric inserts, door pulls inspired by old-school travel cases, big 17-inch machined-face alloy wheels, contrasting roof paint, and of course Citroen’s AirBump door panelling, which makes an iconic feature out of something as utilitarian as a bump strip.
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