Citroen C3 Hatchback Test Drive Review [With Video]

• C3 was launched in India in July 2022
• Prices now start from 5.98 lakh, 3 versions on offer
• 2 Petrol engine - non turbo & turbo

Pros : What we like!

• Extremely comfortable ride quality
• Spacious and well laid out interiors
• Turbo petrol offers excellent performance
• Unconventional design, great colour combinations
• Easy to use screen with wireless connectivity
• Ample custom packs & official accessories
• High off the ground - 180 mm

Cons : What we don't!

• No automatic on offer
• Lack of basic features like a rear wiper
• Only two versions on offer - LIVE and FEEL
• Not the roomiest of back seats for the price
• Citroen's limited showroom & workshop network

Who is Citroen?

The brand is over 100 years old and has 14 factories across the globe. This French maker is well known for two important things - design language and segment leading comfort levels. We have seen these two factors in both the C5 AirCross as well as eC3 hatchback. Their Indian innings started in 2021 and by the end of 2023, they will have a total of four products on sale. The company is in rapid expansion mode and will have 75 showrooms before the end of 2023.

The brand also updated its logo recently - the latest version is as seen above.

What is the C3 all about?

This hatchback is based on a common modular platform and during the initial days of being developed, the company was also working on its electric version, the eC3. The C3 is cleverly position in the premium hatchback segment and Citroen, unlike other car makers, is not calling it an SUV. They are sticking to the hatchback term even though the ground clearance is high and so is the seating position. It is priced between Rs 5.98 - Rs 8.25 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi.

Citroen C3 Exteriors

• Looks unconventional, in a good way
• 4 Monotone and 6 Dualtone colour options
• Stance of a micro-SUV works well

In terms of dimensions, the C3 is longer than both the Punch and the Ignis and just 10mm short of length as compared to the Kiger. Likewise, at 1733mm wide, while it is wider than the Ignis, it is narrower than the Punch, Kiger and Magnite. The 1586mm height is more than the Magnite but lower than all other cars discussed here.

The C3 does look unconventional but in a good way. It resembles the bigger C5 from up front and this does work well to attract eye balls. I had the car with me for a week sometime back and the attention on the road for a car of this segment was pretty high. Like some of the other modern day cars, the headlamp is placed independently from the slim DRLs. The honey comb grille up front looks great as well.

This new Citroen is a smart looking vehicle and inspite of it not getting alloy wheels for the top spec version, the profile looks good enough. The tyres are large (185/65 R15), the C3 sits high up from the ground and the rear is rather cute with the C form tail lights. What gives it a unique identity is the striking dual tone colour option with contrasting finish for the roof, side mirrors, fog lamp housing and side body cladding. For some, this might be loud but for others, the C3 might fit in like a glove into their personality

And then there are the custom pack and list of accessories that customers can pick from the showroom level - this is work done pretty well in our opinion. As of Feb 2023, the C3 is being sold in four monotone colours, 6 dual tone options and 3 custom packs. The overall build quality also feels nice and not many know that it weighs almost as much as the Punch.

Citroen C3 Interiors

• Practical cabin with good storage spaces
• Getting in and out is easier than hatchbacks
• Good space for 4 adults and a kid

We Indians love to carry our family / world with us. Can the C3 deliver on this account? For starters, it has an airy cabin on the inside and the unconventionaltheme continues here as well. This is something we first saw in the Ignis and I personally love such design experiments. The models with a contrast finish for the fascia (orange, again!) looks bling and you do get a feelgood factor once you step inside.

The flat bottom steering has the right size and design elements like the air-con vents look fab. These simple add so much flair on the inside, no? Yes some features have been a miss including a climate control or a front arm-rest or even power adjustment for the outside mirrors. I was also surprised with the lack of a grab handle (on the roof) for the co-passenger as well. Likewise, the speedometer console's LCD looks basic.

But the cabin is all about being practical and usable. Ergonomics are great and so is the visibility factor. However, there is no dead pedal in the floor board - something that does come handy on a daily basis. There are lot of storage spaces including generous door pads that can swallow in a one litre bottle easily. Likewise, you can keep two phones on the individual small trays below the air-con controls.

Front seats were comfortable during my long driving experience but the non-adjustable headrests will not go down well with owners, including tall people. I do want to mention that getting into the car is easy, thanks to a seating arrangement that is higher than all other hatchbacks around. The plastics also feel well made and should last pretty long.

At the back, space is good enough. With the front seat positioned for a 6 feet tall driver, an equally tall passenger can sit at the back without any issues. However, the C3 feels like a proper 4 seater than a 5.

By moving the power window switches behind the hand brake, designers have cleverly tried to liberate some amount of extra elbow space. As you are seated an inche higher than the front seats, visibility also remains good, something that your kids will love.

You also get two USB charging outlets along with a cup holder for rear passengers - these are placed behind the hand brake. But like the front seats, the rear ones also don't get adjustable head rests. This can be a safety concern for tall passengers who will not be getting any support for their necks incase of a hit from the back.

At 315 litres, the boot space of the Citroen C3 is good enough. We tried fitting in couple of over night strollers, a big camera bag, few boxes of snacks, a tripod and the yet there was space left for more. Although the rear seats don't offer a 60:40 split, the bench does fold down, thus liberating more space on the inside.

Citroen C3 Engine

• No diesel or CNG or automatic on offer
• Non-turbo is good for city runs
• Turbo petrol offers excellent performance

The C3 is offered with a choice of two petrol engine options. These include a non-turbo and a turbo unit. The former is called the Puretech 82 and offers a displacement of 1198cc along with max power of 82 PS and peak torque of 115 Nm. It comes mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox. The output figures are respectable for the segment and give the C3 brisk performance. There is no optional automatic and the ARAI rated economy stands at 19.8 kmpl. For those not looking at thrills, this option makes for a good bet. It also helps you save about Rs 1.35 lakh over the turbo unit.

Talking of which, the turbo petrol engine is the Puretech 110 and as the name suggests, it puts out 110 PS of power, about 34% more than the Puretech 82 engine. Likewise, peak torque stands at 190 Nm, a whooping 60% higher than what the non-turbo unit offers. More importantly, all this peak torque comes in at just 1750rpm, thereby offering you locomotive type pull from lower engine speeds. This engine comes with a 6 speed gearbox and like the non-turbo unit, does not offer an optional automatic.

If you seek performance, this is the engine variant to go for. Not only it is surprisingly very quick, the oodles of torque lower in the rev range makes urban drives an easy affair. Overtaking slower moving traffic can be done most of the times without having a need to downshift. And if you are light on the right pedal, it will deliver great numbers in terms of mileage. While the rated economy stands at 19.4 kmpl, we managed 16 kmpl in Goa during our review - this was on a tankful to tankful basis in mixed driving conditions. The video for reference is below, at the end of the article.

Citroen C3 Ride & Handling

• One of the most comfortable cars under 10 lakh
• Sorted suspension, offers great dynamics too
• High clearance helpful

This brand is known to make some of the most comfortable cars and this started right from the 2CV model that was launched in 1948! The C5 Aircross impressed us with its ride quality and the C3 is no different. For the price and segment, the C3 has to be one of the most comfortable cars in terms of the suspension tuning and seat materials. Infact, the faster you go, the better this car feels. Drive the C3 over pot holes and undulations and you would be surprised on how good it feels.

At city speeds, the steering wheel is light enough and this along with good visibility makes this an apt tool for city stints. Thrill seekers will be happy to know that the C3 also delivers in terms of dynamics. Inspite of the suspension offering high levels of comfort, it isn't soft enough to hamper the handling parameter. The C3 is a joy to drive around winding roads and responds well to driver's inputs.

That said, for the turbo petrol version, we would have loved to see driver aids coming in - for example electronic stability control.

Citroen C3 Features

This is where the C3 will disappoint potential buyers. Citroen is offering the hatchback in just 2 versions of LIVE and FEEL and these aren't feature rich at all. From basic features like a rear wash wiper to a climate control system, every single rival or an offering in this price bracket surpasses the C3 in terms of features. If you are someone who likes getting pampered with technology, look else where.
In terms of safety, it gets the usual kit of dual airbags, ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors etc.

Citroen C3 Rivals

While the company rightly calls it a hatchback, the stance and design makes it more of a micro SUV. This means it has the Maruti Ignis and Tata Punch as the main rivals. At the same price, Citroen is also eyeing customers who have the Baleno and i20 in their mind as a new car. The turbo petrol version also is a good alternative to the performance oriented i20 N Line and even the upcoming turbo petrol Fronx.

Verdict

The C3 comes across a good all rounder in our books. It looks unconventional, has numerous colour options & accessory packs, offers an excellent ride quality with comfortable interiors and turbo petrol unit is a joy to drive for enthusiasts. The C3 does everything right apart from spoiling you with features. If you can live with this shortcoming, there is no reason why we at 91Wheels will not recommend this to you!

Citroen C3 Videos

We do have multiple videos of the C3 and all of them are listed below. Do have a look and we are sure your time spent will be worth it!