CITROEN

FRENCH ECONOMY LOOKING GOOD Citroen Has Built Its UK Success Story On Offering The Motorist Keen Value For Money. The Latest C3 HDi Certainly Diesels Aren’t About To Batter The Balance Too Badly. Andy Enright Reports On The 8-Valve Version

Citroen have managed to tap into the psychology of the UK market probably better than any other car manufacturer of late. Their formula has been to catch ‘em young, tempting buyers with a credible badge that, with cashback, discounts and free insurance policies, make the cars as affordable as bargain basement Koreans. This tactic has been spectacularly effective, twenty something C2 buyers often maturing into not-so-young C4 buyers and so on. Tapping into these buyers' sense of value is the Citroen C3 HDi diesel range, a set of supermini-sized cars that are as easy on the eye as they are on the pocket.

There are four diesel engines from which to choose developing 70, 92 and 110bhp respectively. The least powerful unit is a 1.4 and it’s the two 16-valve 1.6-litre capacity powerplants that make-up the top end of the range. It’s the eight-valve 1.4 versions we look at here, priced from £10,695 and offering economy of around 66mpg. The diesel engine certainly suits the personality of the C3. In the C2, Citroen retain a small car that begs to be taken by the scruff of the neck and flung at the nearest corner, but as its bigger brother, the C3 is a little more restrained. The car has been sharpened up dynamically but the tauter suspension and enhanced steering feel stop well shy of the sportiness threshold. Buyers of the current car should also appreciate the restyled nose with bigger air intake, more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. More important are the alterations inside which include revised and markedly higher-quality dashboard and door panels. The stereo and ventilation controls look tidier and there’s a more grown-up feel about the interior generally. The effect is still not class-leading but it’s much more like it.

"The 70bhp 1.4-litre diesel unit endows the C3 with enough muscle to effortlessly undertake motorway overtaking maneuvers."

The upright seating position gives the first clue as to the C3’s intent. Fire up the engine and you’ll be greeted by an initial muted hacking which almost instantaneously settles down into a low-key thrum. Citroen having excelled themselves in insulating the powerplant to such an extent that when out on the open road, only the punchy swell of torque gives the game away. The all-alloy 1.4-litre direct injection diesel may well seem familiar to some and it is indeed the same engine used by Peugeot and Ford – at least in the eight-valve guise featured here. The reason for its popularity is because it’s a fine engine, built around the almost obligatory common rail architecture and given respectable performance by the fitment of a small turbocharger. All-in, the engine generates 70bhp and when combined with the C3’s lighter overall weight and longer gearing, it manages not only to return better economy figures than a similarly-powered Fiesta, but also manages to outsprint the little Ford. True, you won’t buy a C3 1.4 HDi for its performance, but the eight-valve engine’s sprint to 60mph in 13.4 seconds is perfectly adequate, as is its top speed of 103mph. These figures probably won’t set your trousers alight, but this engine has 25% more torque than the 1.4-litre petrol unit and endows the C3 with enough muscle to effortlessly undertake motorway overtaking manoeuvres without recourse to anything as undignified as a downchange. Although the 10,695 sticker price is a bit steeper than the comparable Fiesta, Citroen dealers will no doubt pull some sort of financial rabbit out of their hats to sweeten the deal. On top of that, the Citroen is notably better equipped. Clever safety-conscious electronic features have been borrowed from the larger C5 – things such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers with rain sensing activation, hazard lights that deploy automatically under severe braking as well as side airbags, ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist and comprehensive pedestrian safety features. The interior is adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. The digital instrumentation is clear and easy to read and has a Saab-style ‘black panel’ that turns all but the most important functions off if you don’t want to be distracted by them at night. The rev counter that arches across the top of the digital speedometer is a classic Citroen design cue and one that fits well with the novel design philosophy. The innovation certainly doesn’t stop there. Citroen’s Moduboard system is a load bay dividing system that helps protect soft items from hard, clean from grubby and prevent bulky objects from racing across the load bay during spirited driving. The C3 1.4 HDi certainly hasn’t ducked the challenge of taking on some tough rivals. Accomplished cars such as the SEAT Ibiza, the Ford Fiesta, the Toyota Yaris and the Volkswagen Polo all mix it pretty well with the baby Citroen dynamically. Which means that if you then figure in the value equation, it’s possible that the Citroen may emerge on top in the long run. We certainly wouldn’t bet against it.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 1.4 HDi 8V range PRICES: £10,695 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 3 CO2 EMISSIONS: 110g/km PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 103mph / 0-60mph 13.4s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 55.4mpg / (extra urban) 74.3mpg / (combined) 67.3mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

AHEAD OF THE CURVE The Citroen C3 1.1iL Offers A Credible Modern Supermini For Less Than You Might Think. Andy Enright Reports…

The C3 has made quite an impact for Citroen. In offering a spacious, unthreatening supermini at reasonable prices, the French company has latched straight into a winning formula. Originally, the problem was that the range opened with technically sophisticated 1.4-litre models. Where was the budget version that could take the battle to cars like the Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 or the Toyota Yaris 1.0? Noticeable by its absence, that’s where. That changed with the introduction of the C3 1.1iL, a car that now in facelifted form offers an easy leg-up into C3 ownership from just £9,395.

Citroen being Citroen, they will possibly be able to sweeten the deal further with one of their seasonal cashback/free insurance deals, but even at the RRP of £9,395, the C3 1.1iL looks a sound bet. True, there’s not a great deal of engine on offer, but that goes with the territory here. Cars in this sector are all about fuel economy, miserly emissions and urban desirability, three areas where the bulbous Citroen scores highly. The car has undergone a bout of cosmetic surgery since it first arrived on the scene and the current 1.1iL can be distinguished from its forebears by means of its restyled nose with bigger air intake, more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. More important are the alterations inside which include revised and markedly higher-quality dashboard and door panels. The stereo and ventilation controls look tidier and there’s a more grown-up feel about the interior generally. The effect is still not class-leading but it’s much more like it. The 60bhp 1.1-litre engine averages 47mpg with nearly 60mpg possible on a gentle run whilst at the same time emitting a mere 143 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre. Performance is predictably laid back, the C3 breaching 60mph in just under 16 seconds on the way to a top speed of 99mph. You’ll need to work the engine a little harder than you will in a 1.4, and given the price differential between the 1.1iL and the better specified £11,195 1.4 SX, those who are looking to cover higher mileages would be advised to opt for the larger engined car. Equipment levels for the C3 1.1iL are modest, although it’s good to see that Citroen haven’t cut too many corners regarding safety provision. As well as variable electric power steering, the C3 is fitted with twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist and comprehensive pedestrian safety features, making it one of the safer options in its class. Remote central locking is also standard.

"The C3 1.1iL, like many Citroens, is priced aggressively…"

In making the C3 subtly different to what we’d come to expect as a blueprint supermini, Citroen have created a car that’s more faithful to their old tradition as manufacturers of supreme lateral thinking. They claim that it’s a very different take on the supermini concept: three-door versions for example, will never be made. Instead, that niche is being covered by the C2. The C3 will instead offer spacious family motoring for those that aren’t particularly interested in lift-off oversteer or any such lairy antics. Indeed, the suspension and steering tweaks brought in on the current model add a little extra driver involvement but stop well short of anything that you could call sporty. That would be to impinge on C2 territory. The C3 1.1iL, like many Citroens, is priced aggressively, evidence of Citroen’s success at tapping into the psychology of the UK market probably better than any other car manufacturer of late. Their formula has been to catch ‘em young, tempting buyers with a credible badge that, with cashback, discounts and free insurance policies, make the cars as affordable as bargain basement Koreans. This tactic has been spectacularly effective, twenty something C3 buyers often maturing into not-so-young Xsara buyers and so on. This policy has given Citroen such remarkable year on year sales growth. Combine that with the fact that this supermini market has increased by some 30% over the past five years and the C3 looks set fair for success. Only the small matter of the Ford Fiesta, the Renault Clio, the SEAT Ibiza, the Vauxhall Corsa, the Skoda Fabia, the Honda Jazz and others come between the C3 and number one spot on the podium. The supermini sector is a tough battleground but at least the C3 is equipped for the fight. Like all C3 models, the interior is also adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. Citroen’s Moduboard system is a load bay dividing system that helps protect soft items from hard, clean from grubby and prevent bulky objects from racing across the load bay during spirited driving. Clever safety-conscious electronic features have been borrowed from the larger C5 – things such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers with rain sensing activation, hazard lights that deploy automatically under severe braking. The C3 1.1iL would be a surefire winner if it were permanently priced £500 lower. Unfortunately this is something that Citroen dealers only periodically do, making the C31.1iL look a poor bet on paper compared to more powerful 1.4-litre versions. Nevertheless, keep tabs on your Citroen dealership and you could land yourself with a bargain.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 1.1iL PRICES: £9,395 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 2 CO2 EMISSIONS: 143g/km PERFORMANCE:0-60 15.8s Top Speed 99mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (extra urban) 56mpg / (combined) 47mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

CITROEN PUMP UP THE VOLUMES Buy a car and get a free iPod! That’s about the size of Citroen’s C3 Airplay+ special edition. Steve Walker reports…

In many circles, particularly those moved in by younger, trendier members of society, it’s almost as though Apple’s iPod has become the essential companion to modern life. From the car manufacturer’s perspective, this youthful element - the ones with the glazed expressions, the nodding heads and the slender white cables trailing from their ears – represent a rich untapped seem of potential sales. The problem is that it’s notoriously difficult to get through to them. The C3 Airplay+ is Citroen’s attempt at doing just that.

Bombarded by media messages almost since birth, the iPod generation have a keenly-developed sense of cynicism and distrust where advertising is concerned. They’ve also got Arctic Monkeys going ten to the dozen in their ears for 80 per cent of the time and so are unlikely to hear anything you say to them. So what’s a poor car manufacturer to do if it wants to exploit this sector of the market? Citroen has hit on a solution that seems likely to work: giving away free iPods with its youth-orientated Airplay+ range of models. One iPod is probably enough for anyone but the ones Citroen are pedalling are 4 gigabyte iPod Nanos. These are hardly the Rolls Royce of iPods but the Airplay+ models come with an integrated docking station that charges the device and allows the collection of over 1,000 tracks that it stores to be played through the car stereo. The C3 Airplay+ is also offered in a range of colour schemes - red, blue or silver - that match the finishes on the iPods themselves. There’s even a CD stereo in case you leave your iPod at home. There’s more to the Citroen C3 Airplay+ than the portable music storage system that accompanies it. The car comes with a 1.1-litre engine that’s very young driver-friendly by virtue of its 47mpg economy figure and group two insurance. The 143g/km CO2 emissions are class competitive and won’t give you too much of a headache when the time comes to renew that road tax.

"Your entry ticket into the iPod generation could see you luck into a very nice little supermini as well"

Standard equipment levels for the C3 1.1iL which forms the basis of the Airplay+ are modest, although it’s good to see that Citroen haven’t cut too many corners regarding safety provision. As well as variable electric power steering, the C3 is fitted with twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist and comprehensive pedestrian safety features, making it one of the safer options in its class. Remote central locking is also standard. In making the C3 subtly different to what we’d come to expect as a blueprint supermini, Citroen have created a car that’s more faithful to their old tradition as manufacturers of supreme lateral thinking. They claim that it’s a very different take on the supermini concept: three-door versions for example, will never be made. Instead, that niche is being covered by the C2. The C3 will instead offer spacious family motoring for those that aren’t particularly interested in lift-off oversteer or any such lairy antics. Indeed, the suspension and steering tweaks brought in on the current model add a little extra driver involvement but stop well short of anything that you could call sporty. That would be to impinge on C2 territory. The C3 Airplay+, like many Citroens, is priced aggressively, evidence of Citroen’s success at tapping into the psychology of the UK market probably better than any other car manufacturer of late. It’s available from just £7,995 with all the bells and whistles associated with this special edition model. This policy has given Citroen such remarkable year on year sales growth. Combine that with the fact that this supermini market has increased by some 30% over the past five years and the C3 looks set fair for success. Only the small matter of the Ford Fiesta, the Renault Clio, the SEAT Ibiza, the Vauxhall Corsa, the Skoda Fabia, the Honda Jazz and others come between the C3 and number one spot on the podium. The supermini sector is a tough battleground but at least the C3 is equipped for the fight. Like all C3 models, the interior is also adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. Citroen’s Moduboard system is a load bay dividing system that helps protect soft items from hard, clean from grubby and prevent bulky objects from racing across the load bay during spirited driving. Clever safety-conscious electronic features have been borrowed from the larger C5 – things such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers with rain sensing activation, hazard lights that deploy automatically under severe braking. Using iPods to sell cars might strike you as a bit of a gimmick but the Citroen marketing department is one of the most efficient in the industry and it’s a safe bet that they know what their doing, not only with the C3 Airplay+ but with the C1 and C2 versions as well. Your entry ticket into the iPod generation could see you luck into a very nice little supermini as well.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 Airplay + PRICE: £7,995 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 2 CO2 EMISSIONS: 143g/km PERFORMANCE:0-60 15.8s Top Speed 99mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (extra urban) 56mpg / (combined) 47mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

PLUMP UP THE VOLUMES The Citroen C3 Represents A Stylish Way Into The Supermini Club. The 1.4-Litre Petrol Versions Are Some Of The Most Cost-Effective Entry Points. Andy Enright Reports…

At first we were all a little confused by Citroen’s C3. Very nice. Big face. Five doors. But where was the three-door version, the sporty one that would take over the mantle from the much-loved Saxo? It seems Citroen had other plans and slotted the C3 betwixt Saxo (now replaced by the C2) and Xsara (now replaced by the C4), billing it as their ‘little big car’. Aside from the grim tweeness of that title, the C3 has a lot going for it and the 1.4-litre petrol versions represent a cost effective way into club C3.

In making the C3 subtly different to what we’d come to expect as a blueprint supermini, Citroen have created a car that’s more faithful to their old tradition as manufacturers of supreme lateral thinking. They claim that it’s a very different take on the supermini concept: three-door versions for example, will never be made. Instead, that niche is being covered by the sporty C2 citycar. The C3 will offer spacious family motoring for those that aren’t particularly interested in lift-off oversteer or any such lairy antics. The car has been sharpened up dynamically but the tauter suspension and enhanced steering feel stop well shy of the sportiness threshold. Buyers of the current car should also appreciate the restyled nose with bigger air intake, more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. More important are the alterations inside which include revised and markedly higher-quality dashboard and door panels. The stereo and ventilation controls look tidier and there’s a more grown-up feel about the interior generally. The effect is still not class-leading but it’s much more like it. The 1.4-litre petrol versions of the C3 are priced aggressively, exemplars of Citroen’s success at tapping into the psychology of the UK market probably better than any other car manufacturer of late. Their formula has been to catch ‘em young, tempting buyers with a credible badge that, with cashback, discounts and free insurance policies, make the cars as affordable as bargain basement Koreans. This tactic has been spectacularly effective, twenty something C2 buyers often maturing into not-so-young C4 buyers and so on. The 1.4-litre range opens at £11,195 for the 75bhp 1.4i SX, and if you needed any further illustration as to the sheer scale of Citroen’s financial assault the fact that this is over £1,000 less than an equivalent Volkswagen Polo should suffice.

"It’s too friendly to frighten."

Pay £11,795 and you could be driving the 90bhp 16-valve version with standard SensoDrive gearbox in economical Stop & Start form. Alongside the CD-player equipped Desire version there’s the SX trim level that adds digital air-conditioning amongst other things. SX is offered in manual or automatic guises while the more powerful 1.4-litre 16-valve engine is available only with the SensoDrive transmission as a Stop & Start. The automatic is interesting, being a four-speed sequential ‘box. This system boasts advanced electronics that attempt to learn different driving styles whilst a flick of the lever allows the driver to make ‘manual’ changes without the need for a clutch pedal. Three different programs (Normal, Sport & Snow) are selectable as well as a fully automatic mode. Yes, it saps performance a little, but the C3 1.4 was never about serious oomph. It’s too friendly to frighten. The SensoDrive performs a similar clutchless function but adds steering column-mounted paddles to do the shifting. On the current car these feel sturdier than before and the shift lever slots into place like a conventional auto ‘box rather than centring itself after a mode has been selected. With 75bhp on tap the C3 1.4’s performance can best be described as unhurried, reaching 62mph in 12.4 seconds and a top speed of 104mph. The average fuel economy figure of 45mpg is above average in class. The SensoDrive gearbox slows the 90bhp 16-valve engine to a 13s 0-62mph time but the 112mph top speed is more respectable and the economy improved to 47mpg. Many customers will feel tempted by the 67mpg 1.4 HDi diesel version. All things considered it looks to be the more astute purchase. Still there are still many who don’t like diesel and if you count yourself amongst them, you won’t feel hard done by a petrol model. Like all C3 models the interior is adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. Citroen’s Moduboard system is a load bay dividing system that helps protect soft items from hard, clean from grubby and prevent bulky objects from racing across the load bay during spirited driving. Clever safety-conscious electronic features have been borrowed from the larger C5 – things such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers with rain sensing activation, hazard lights that deploy automatically under severe braking as well as side airbags, ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist and comprehensive pedestrian safety features. Given that the bulk of Citroen’s profitability is accounted for by aggressively priced budget models the C3 1.4-litre petrol derivatives look like sure-fire winners. The actualite is less clear-cut. With the Honda Jazz reigning supreme over this end of the market, the 1.4-litre petrol models are more difficult to make a case for than the diesels or the upspec 1.6-litre versions. Having said that, I never tipped Citroen to be the big postmillennial success story they are. You pays your money…

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 1.4 petrol range PRICES: £11,195-£11,795 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 3 CO2 EMISSIONS: 148g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.4s / Top Speed 104mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 34.4mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 45.6mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS [exc LX] WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

POWER PUNCH If You Thought Of Citroen’s C3 As A Cute But Toothless Supermini, It’s Time To Revise Your Opinion. Andy Enright Reports On The Latest HDi 110 VTR Version

Details count. Even when you’re talking about a fairly inexpensive supermini, it’s important to create an impression of quality. I was never a fan of the original Citroen C3, feeling that here were a bunch of great engines wrapped in a package that lacked that crucial last few per cent of finish. Citroen obviously agreed because the facelifted C3 feels a lot better screwed together and even if the impression is largely cosmetic, it’ll play well with customers. The addition of a powerful 110bhp HDi diesel engine also addresses the complaint that the C3 range was an area largely devoid of interest for those who enjoyed driving.

Next time you jump into a modern car, take a close look at how manufacturers go about creating the impression of quality. The parts that you physically touch – the steering wheel, door pulls, gear knob and fascia controls – should all have had some serious investment. The dash top and door panel bolsters are often made of soft touch plastics with cheaper, brittler materials being used on the undersides of the dash, away from prying eyes. Weighty soundproofing will be added to the doors to ensure they thunk rather than clang shut. Even apparently trivial details such as the sound of the handbrake ratchet or the indicator click will often have been acoustically tuned to give an improved perception of quality. Diesel engines pose their own challenges. Even modern diesels can’t match up to a petrol engine in terms of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and when a manufacturer has skimped in terms of soundproofing or has cut the budget when it comes to designing smarter engine mounts, you’ll know about it the moment you twist the key. Fortunately, Citroen have invested wisely with the C3 HDi110 and although it’s certainly not the most refined diesel engine you’ll ever experience, the French company have managed a very well-judged compromise between power, refinement and, inevitably, price.

"The C3 VTR HDi110 offers a punchy diesel engine, good looks, practicality and amazing economy. In short, it barely puts a foot wrong"

Although 110bhp sounds a fairly modest power output, remember that this is a turbo diesel engine we’re talking about here, and when that turbo spools up to speed, it delivers 181lb/ft of torque, which is the same as a Mercedes C230 in a car that tips the scales at a fraction of the Benz’s all up weight. Only one trim level is offered, and it’s the sporty VTR variant, previously derided for being something of a sheep in wolf’s clothing, in C3 guise at least. The reason for this was that the 1.6-litre petrol VTR was mechanically similar to certain other models in the line up and therefore no quicker. Realising that they were potentially damaging the brand, Citroen have since taken steps to rectify this issue. The C3 VTR HDi110 will top out at 118mph and is capable of accelerating to 60mph in 9.6 seconds. To help overtaking, the car also features an overboost facility that delivers an additional 15lb/ft of torque when under hard acceleration. Floor the VTR down a motorway on-ramp and you’ll realise that this is a properly rapid little car, well deserving of the VTR badge. It’s also an efficient car, capable of stretching a gallon of fuel out to almost 63mpg on the combined cycle or over 74miles in motorway conditions. Sure to be popular amongst those looking for a versatile and cost effective company scoot, the C3 will even turn in saintly emissions figures of just 120g/km. It’s also fitted with a diesel particulate filter designed to capture and burn previously unburnt - and potentially carcinogenic - particles. As well as the punchy engine, the C3 VTR weighs in with firmer suspension settings to improve body control and steering response. The front suspension has been beefed up, as have both anti-roll bars, while the damping has been improved to make the C3’s performance on enjoyable but bumpy roads that much more confidence inspiring. The electric power steering system has been retuned to offer better precision at higher speeds and a more natural feel to the wheel. Disc brakes all round – with ventilated discs up front – are teamed with an intelligent anti-lock braking system and electronic stability control. Get a C3 VTR out of shape and you’ll really have been doing well. The latest C3 adopts many of the design cues from the C4 to give a more purposeful look and feel. All models get a restyled nose with a bigger air intake, a more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. Move round to the back of the car and there are redesigned rear light clusters that also look a whole lot sharper. The interior benefits from a rethink as well, with the bulbous design theme giving way to some edgier styling cues. The radio display and the dashboard have been tidied up and the materials used both on the dash top, fascia and door panels are all markedly improved. It’s still not class leading but it’s a good deal better than the somewhat brittle plastics found in the early C3 models. The interior is also adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, styling. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. The Citroen C3 VTR HDi 110 emerges as a far more appealing car tan many will realise. Citroen need to reset buyer perceptions about the C3 in a way that goes beyond the ‘Happy Days’ advertising campaign. The C3 is a vastly improved model and the VTR HDi 110 the finest variant of the lot. It’s not an immediately obvious choice, but here is a car that does everything a modern supermini should and a bit more. It’s well worth checking out.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 HDi 110 VTR PRICE: £13,495 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 5 CO2 EMISSIONS: 120g/km PERFORMANCE: Top Speed 118mph 0-60 9.6s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (extra urban) 74.4mpg / (combined) 62.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

GOING GREEN IN EVERY SENSE Adding a welcome touch of colour to the Citroen C3 Pluriel range, it’s the Kiwi Special Edition. Jonathan Crouch reports…

There’s something quite refreshing about the concept of an affordable little convertible for less than £12,500. Particularly when it comes with air conditioning and black leather upholstery. You might not be surprised to learn that the car in question is a Citroen, the special edition Kiwi version of its C3 Pluriel.

The actual price of this car is £14,695 but a range of current offers should enable you to get your hands on one for just under the £12,500 mark. That sum buys you the aforementioned black upholstery and air conditioning, plus what Citroen call the car’s ‘eye-catching’ yellowy/green metallic ‘Kiwi’ body colour (hence the name), the only hue this car comes in. Additional features include leather trim for the door handles and gearstick, plus alloy wheels. Normal Pluriel features include electric folding door mirrors, variable power steering, remote central locking with deadlocks, four electric windows and a CD player. Moreover, an impressive 4-star Euro NCAP rating ensures that the C3 Pluriel Kiwi not only looks good, but is one of the safest small cars around too. A supermini during the winter months and a convertible during the summer, the C3 Pluriel offers customers real flexibility. With the roof up, the Citroen offers space for four occupants and a generous sized boot, yet the opportunity to choose from a variety of set-ups, including the option of removing the roof arches, ensures that passengers can enjoy real wind-in-the-hair-motoring come the warmer weather. Power comes courtesy of a 75hp 1.4i petrol engine that returns in excess of 52mpg in out-of-town motoring. Don’t expect road-burning performance because you’re not going to get it from this or any C3 Pluriel for that matter. The 0-60mph sprint takes just under 14s and there’s a 99mph top speed but you don’t really notice the lethargic progress when you’re at the wheel because the Pluriel doesn’t encourage spirited driving. The chassis isn’t the stiffest and there’s always the suspicion that if you did hurl it at a corner, you might either topple over or come out the other side minus a few pieces of extraneous trim.

"Want a new convertible supermini on a sub-£12,500 budget? You’re going to be out of luck virtually anywhere but at your local Citroen dealership…."

The Pluriel is at its best being driven sedately with the featherweight steering and the soft suspension making for a suitably relaxing experience. The engine noise is well suppressed too and even wind noise with the roof up isn’t as pronounced as you might imagine, although it’s less hushed with the centre section folded back. Down on the Cote d’Azur, wealthy individuals pay well over £100,000 for high performance supercars and other exotica so they can crawl along the sea front at a snail’s pace in it. With the C3 Pluriel Kiwi, you can get a model that could have been built for exactly this purpose but at a tenth of the cost. It won’t even hit your bank account hard when you’re driving it - buyers can reasonably expect to average over 40mpg even in town and the CO2 emissions are 163g/km. The driving position is unusual due to the fact you sit ducked into the car with the curved windscreen apparently soaring overhead. Equipment levels are about what you would expect, all Pluriel models featuring electric windows all round, electric mirrors, remote central locking a CD player and an electrical operated canvas roof. Safety levels on the C3 Pluriel are equally high, with anti lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, four airbags and four 3-point inertia reel seatbelts, as well as a specially stiffened body shell, reinforced windscreen pillars and roof arches plus strengthened seat backs and headrests. One key drawback of the Pluriel’s design is that the bulky roof rails cannot be stored in the car upon removal, instead residing in their holder in your garage. Therefore, you don’t have the option of pulling over to the roadside and dropping the roof to form a full convertible as you can in most other drop-top models. Once you have left the rails at home, you’re committed to open top motoring for the day, come rain or shine. One suspects we won’t see too many Pluriels plying our roads in full convertible mode. There’s a reasonable amount of space in the back for two, although three would be a tight squeeze as both knee room and shoulder space would be at a premium. The rear screen folds into the spare wheel well, thus signifying a lack of said wheel. Rather than rely on the commonplace - and usually quite useless - puncture repair aerosol, Citroen has done the right thing and fitted the Pluriel with Michelin PAX run flat tyres. Cars stranded on the roadside are never a great advertisement. Quite how the various water seals and roof parts stand up to the wear and tear of real world motoring remains to be seen but at first glance they appear quite well fabricated. There are drawbacks to the C3 Pluriel but these should always be framed within the context of its price. If you want a new convertible supermini on a sub-£12,500 budget, you’re going to be out of luck virtually anywhere but at your local Citroen dealership. The Kiwi special edition model enhances the Pluriel’s case a further notch or two with a desirable set of cosmetic extras that may not be up to French Riviera standards but will cut a dash on your local high street.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 Pluriel Kiwi PRICE: £14,695 [£12,495 including current special offers] - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 4 CO2 EMISSIONS: 163g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60 13.9s Top Speed 99mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 31mpg / (extra urban) 52mpg / (combined) 41.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBA and EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3934/1700/1559mm

A CUTE CASE OF COSMETICS Citroen’s C3 VTR May Wear The Battle Dress But It’s Best Not To Take It Too Seriously. Andy Enright Reports

As makeovers go, turning Citroen’s cutesy C3 into something sporting has to be one of the trickiest. The easiest way to go would be to admit defeat on the styling front, then plumb in a serious engine, brakes and suspension combination and sell it as an understated Q-car. Instead Citroen have decided to leave the oily bits well alone and have attempted to give the C3 a bit of attitude. The resulting VTR model may not be the most convincing sports hatch you’ve ever witnessed, but it is still worth a look.

Taken in isolation there’s not a great deal wrong with the styling parts Citroen have selected for the VTR. It’s just that they’re on a C3. Imagine Natalie Portman cast as lead in an Aliens movie and you probably get the idea. The 16-inch Leopard alloy wheels are augmented by wheelarch extensions, body coloured side rubbing strips and a chromed exhaust pipe finisher. The front end has a revised bumper, a broader air intake and revised fog light housing while the entire bumper assembly at the back is VTR-specific. You have to take your hat off to Citroen. This car could have been a collection of parts from the options list but instead a number of bespoke components have been formulated exclusively for the VTR model. The interior has been given the sports treatment too, with a black leather trimmed steering wheel and gear knob set, bolstered seats and a dark grey trim. All of these styling accoutrements are mounted on the latest post-facelift C3 with its restyled nose with bigger air intake, more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. More important are the alterations inside which include revised and markedly higher-quality dashboard and door panels. The stereo and ventilation controls look tidier and there’s a more grown-up feel about the interior generally. The VTR doesn’t actually do too badly when it comes to motive power, drawing on the excellent 110bhp sixteen-valve engine that’s found beneath the plush C3 Exclusive’s snub nose. It’s one of those engines that barely puts a foot wrong. Punting the VTR to 60mph in 9.7 seconds, it’s a lively partner, quicker to the benchmark sprint than an Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 and as fast as a 1.8-litre Audi A3. No equivalent Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa can get near it, rendering the C3 VTR a car that’s anything but a sheep in wolf’s clothing. The top speed of 123mph is evidence that the VTR has a good deal in reserve when travelling at usual motorway speeds. Refinement at speed is good, the only drawback being some vibration through the gear lever. The average fuel consumption figure of almost 44mpg gives the opposition little hope whilst the 155g/km CO2 emissions are similarly admirable.

"The C3 VTR is better than its slightly confused look would suggest"

To put these figures in perspective, let’s consider what that seminal hot hatch, the Volkswagen Golf GTi, could manage when introduced in 1977. The sportiest drive about was good for 9.6 seconds to 60mph, a top speed of 108mph and an average return of 29mpg. These days the least sporty of all the superminis looks to have that icon licked. How times change. Nobody would put up with thirteen-inch wheels for a start! Air conditioning helps alleviate the unwanted side effects of all the C3 VTR’s glazing, and there’s also variable rate power steering, electric front windows and a CD player with steering wheel mounted controls. The interior is also adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. Safety features such as anti lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic brake assist, and four airbags are all standard. Residing on the VTR option list is ESP with traction control. The digital instrumentation is clear and easy to read and has a Saab-style ‘black panel’ that turns all but the most important functions off if you don’t want to be distracted by them at night. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. ISOFIX child seat mounting points feature strongly and such is the C3’s family orientation that an optional ‘Child Pack’ is available. No, this isn’t a lockable trunk that stows problematic sprogs safely in the boot, it’s a selection of extras that will hopefully offset just such an outcome. A child safety indicator on the dashboard monitors whether seat belts have been unclipped whilst safety locks can be activated or deactivated via a dash-mounted switch. A 12-volt socket at the rear, previously the preserve of MPVs, allows junior to play Gameboys without the ticking time bomb that is a battery failure/high score moment. Aircraft-style trays can be fitted to the back of the front seats with clip-in pen and cup holders and plastic bag hooks. The greatest feature is probably the simplest. A swing down mirror that’s usually stowed behind the standard rear view allows you to keep an eye on the offspring without impeding your forward vision too badly. And the price for this C3 VTR? Competitive at £12,895, though some customers may well be able to shave a significant amount off this by taking advantage of Citroen’s cashback scheme. If you like the idea of a modern supermini with sporting appeal but don’t need big insurance ratings and the constant worry about being GATSOed, the Citroen C3 VTR makes an interesting bet. Just don’t try convincing your more macho friends that it’s a real hot hatch.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 VTR PRICE: £12,895 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 5 CO2 EMISSIONS: 155g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60 9.7s / Top Speed 123mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 32.9mpg / (extra urban) 54.3mpg / (combined) 43.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD and EBA WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

OH HAPPY DAYS Citroen’s C3 Ditches The Cutesy Front End In Favour Of Something A Little More Progressive. Andy Enright Reports

I’m struggling here. How did I ever think that a thirty year old man who hung around a milk bar and tried to impress schoolgirls using "Heeeeyy" as an opening gambit was cool? Still, times change and Citroen can now play the Fonz character with well-judged irony in its advertisements for the latest C3. The car itself has come a long way and although it’s still probably not the sort of car to create a stir at a drive-in, at least it won’t stand accused of having ‘jumped the shark’.

This term, which can be loosely translated as that time whereby something has gone beyond its sell-by date and become naff, stems from Mr Fonzarelli’s appearance in a late Happy Days Hollywood special. Fonzie does indeed jump a shark, on this occasion being towed on water skis while wearing a life preserver over his trademark leather blouson. The changes to the Citroen C3 need no such desperate tactics to generate interest. The previous model had done reasonable business for Citroen but was in danger of becoming overshadowed by the buzz building up around the C2 and, to a lesser extent, the boldly styled C4. The C3 adopts many of the design cues from the C4 to give a more purposeful look and feel. All models get a restyled nose with a bigger air intake, a more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. Move round to the back of the car and there are redesigned rear light clusters that also look a whole lot sharper. The interior benefits from a rethink as well, with the bulbous design theme giving way to some edgier styling cues. The radio display and the dashboard have been tidied up and the materials used both on the dash top, fascia and door panels are all markedly improved. It’s still not class leading but it’s a good deal better than the somewhat brittle plastics found in the early C3 models.

"The C3 looks to have been splashed with a small dose of attitude"

Aside from the styling changes, Citroen have also quietly slipped a rather interesting engine into the C3 line up. It’s a 110bhp 1.6-litre HDi diesel which joins the existing 70bhp 1.4 and 92bhp 1.6-litre diesel engines. It’s unashamedly sporty, being offered in VTR form with the same taut suspension set up as the petrol equivalent, and helps shift the C3’s image a little further towards the dynamic end of the spectrum. Only a little, mind. With just 1,127kg to punt up the road, it’s usefully quick, getting the C3 to 60mph in 9.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 118mph. The torque figure is quoted at 177lb/ft but there is an overboost facility which kicks in under hard acceleration that lifts this figure to 192lb/ft for a short shot of acceleration. The beefed up suspension offers less roll in corners without sacrificing ride quality too badly although the reprogrammed steering offers a little more weight but not much in the way of detailed feedback. C3 prices start from £9,495 for the entry-level 1.1-litre version or £10,995 for the 75bhp 1.4-litre petrol model, rising through 90bhp 1.4-litre SensoDrive petrol (which is available in economical Stop & Start form), 110bhp 1.6-litre petrol found in the sporty VTR and a couple of HDi diesel variants to top out at £13,595. Right plumb in the middle of the small car sector in other words, an area of the market which has increased by some 30% over the last five years. This is Fiesta, Corsa, Clio and Polo territory, though accomplished challengers like Skoda’s Fabia, SEAT’s Ibiza, Honda’s Jazz and Toyota’s Yaris are also making good money here. To stand out from this lot, the Citroen needs to be different and its unique looks are a good start in this respect, through company insiders admit that the orientation here seems to be more towards women than men. There’s even a convertible Pluriel model, though this uses so few C3 body parts it is to all intents and purposes a separate product line. The interior is also adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, styling. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. ISOFIX child seat mounting points feature strongly and such is the C3’s family orientation that an optional ‘Child Pack’ is available. No, this isn’t a lockable trunk that stows problematic sprogs safely in the boot, it’s a selection of extras that will hopefully offset just such an outcome. A child safety indicator on the dashboard monitors whether seat belts have been unclipped whilst safety locks can be activated or deactivated via a dash-mounted switch. A 12-volt socket at the rear, previously the preserve of MPVs, allows junior to play Gameboys without the ticking time bomb that is a battery failure/high score moment. Aircraft-style trays can be fitted to the back of the front seats with clip-in pen and cup holders and plastic bag hooks. The greatest feature is probably the simplest. A swing down mirror that’s usually stowed behind the standard rear view allows you to keep an eye on the offspring without impeding your forward vision too badly. The Citroen C3 may not have changed a great deal materially but the updates do just enough to give it fresh appeal. More importantly, they help it define itself a little better compared to the C2. Better to drive, better to sit in and with an interestingly punchy diesel engine choice, the C3 looks good for a few years yet.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 range PRICES: £9,495-£13,595 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 2-6 CO2 EMISSIONS: 110-170g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.4i] Top Speed 105mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4i] (urban) 34.4mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 45.6mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS [exc LX] WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

PLU SKY THINKING The wacky C3 Pluriel convertible revives the sort of innovative thinking Citroen is Famous for. What’s refreshing is that it isn’t novelty for novelty’s sake. By Andy Enright…

Think Citroen and certain themes rapidly form. There’s the practical genius of the 2CV, the avant-garde brilliance of the DS and the design flair of the CX. It may not have escaped your attention that these cars are all now museum pieces. Citroens have come good of late with winners like the Xsara Picasso, the Saxo and the C3 but the intervening years weren’t such a stellar period. The C3 Pluriel shows that the spirit of innovation is alive and well at Citroen. It appears that the good old days are back again.

Innovation and versatility are the key attributes of the Pluriel. How many other cars offer supermini utility backed up with the fun factor of a full convertible, the convenience of four seats and a list price that starts at just around £13,000? To save you the bother of pondering the question, the answer is none. Yes, the Peugeot 207CC and Nissan Micra C+C have popularised the notion of drop top dinkies but neither has back seats and both cost significantly more than the Citroen. Genuine fans of the marque will be rubbing their hands in glee as the Pluriel resolutely ploughs its own furrow. With its full-length canvas roof in place, few would finger the Pluriel as a convertible, the shapely glasshouse and the seemingly fixed rear window giving it the appearance of a quirkily styled three-door hatch. Slide the canvas section back, fold the rear window cartridge down into the spare wheel cavity and house the gloss finish roof rails in their deckchair like holder and you then have a full convertible. No rollover hoops or bulky tonneau covers sully the appealing shape. What’s more, there’s even a reasonable amount of space in the boot once the hood has been dropped. Recent changes include a revised dashboard and an improved semi-automatic Sensodrive gearbox for the flagship variant. Three models are offered priced from £12,995: a 1.4-litre petrol with 74bhp on tap, a 1.4-litre HDi diesel capable of averaging 63mpg or a 1.6-litre 16v flagship version replete with paddle-shift transmission that retails for £16,095. Don’t be lulled into thinking this version of the Pluriel is in any way sporty as the focus is instead on fun, comfort and a more restrained approach, reflecting the philosophy of the C3 supermini upon which it’s based. Although the C3 has shifted in respectable numbers, the Pluriel is destined to be a niche model. Citroen freely admit that the styling will doubtless divide opinion and have set a conservative target of 7,000 UK sales per year.

"Genuine fans of the marque will be rubbing their hands in glee as the Pluriel resolutely ploughs its own furrow "

Built at Citroen’s Madrid factory, the Pluriel offers similar interior quality to the C3 hatch. Despite the 1999 show car displaying an interior of quite baffling design flair, the production Pluriel’s interior is largely C3. That means neat, easy to operate design and the C3’s facelifted dash board with its higher grade plastics and more upmarket feel. The door panels have been given a boost too with the same themes as the curvy facia. The effect is a definite improvement. One key drawback of the Pluriel’s design is that the bulky roof rails cannot be stored in the car upon removal, instead residing in their holder in your garage. Therefore you don’t have the option of pulling over to the roadside and dropping the roof to form a full convertible as you can in a Peugeot 206CC. Once you have left the rails at home, you’re committed to open top motoring for the day, come rain or shine. One suspects we won’t see too many Pluriels plying our roads in full convertible mode. Despite these limitations, the Pluriel is still a very appealing choice and even with the black ‘tusks’ in place it feels very airy when the canvas roof is retracted, the side windows are dropped and the back glass is slotted out of sight. Rear seat passengers will have just as much fun as front seat occupants and they’ll also feel reassured by thee Pluriel’s high waistline. It handles fairly neatly, the comfort-oriented suspension doing a good job of soaking up most surface imperfections that might otherwise betray a wobbly scuttle. Citroen’s engineers are proud of the reinforcing work they’ve done on the Pluriel and the fact that it weighs about 150kg more than its hatchback equivalent is testament to this effort. Only over the very worst potholes will you provoke any shudder from the chassis. The driving position is unusual due to the fact you sit ducked into the car with the curved windscreen apparently soaring overhead. Equipment levels are about what you would expect, all models featuring electric windows all round, electric mirrors, remote central locking a CD player and an electrical operated canvas roof. On top of this, the 1.6i 16V version adds alloy wheels and an anti-theft alarm. Safety levels on the C3 Pluriel are equally high, with both models featuring anti lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, four airbags and four 3-point inertia reel seatbelts, as well as a specially stiffened body shell, reinforced windscreen pillars and roof arches plus strengthened seat backs and headrests. There’s a reasonable amount of space in the back for two, although three would be a tight squeeze as both knee room and shoulder space would be at a premium. Some of you may have spotted that the rear screen folds into the spare wheel well, thus signifying a lack of said wheel. Rather than rely on the commonplace - and usually quite useless - puncture repair aerosol, Citroen has done the right thing and fitted the Pluriel with Michelin PAX run flat tyres. Cars stranded on the roadside are never a great advertisement. Quite how the various water seals and roof parts stand up to the wear and tear of real world motoring remains to be seen but at first glance they appear well fabricated. The Citroen C3 Pluriel may not be everybody’s cup of tea but neither were the great Citroen models of the past. Buoyed by strong sales of their mainstream models, there’s a new confidence about the company that allows them to indulge in flights of fancy like the Pluriel. If you keep buying Picasso and C3 models, Citroen will follow the Pluriel with yet more innovative wares. Perhaps we should all give thanks to the ‘Sensible Shoes Subsidy’ if it creates cars like this.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 Pluriel range PRICES: £12,995 - £16,095 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-6 CO2 EMISSIONS: 120-155g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.6i] 0-60 12.6s Top Speed 117mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4HDi] (urban) 40mpg / (extra urban) 71mpg / (combined) 63mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBA and EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3934/1700/1559mm

STOP BURNING FUEL & START SAVING Stop & Start Technology Makes A Lot Of Sense For Urban Drivers. Jonathan Crouch Tries It In Citroen’s C3 1.4 16v

With Citroen’s C3 Stop & Start, the main questions centre not around why you’d buy one but why you wouldn’t want to. After all, the arguments for an automatic engine switch off in stop-start traffic are pretty straightforward.

With the ‘Stop & Start’ system, the engine is automatically turned off and is in ‘standby mode’ when the vehicle stops at traffic lights and in traffic jams. The engine instantly starts up again when the brake pedal is released, with the vehicle pulling away once the accelerator is pressed. This C3 is the first mass-produced car equipped with this innovative system and, for the time being, can only be ordered in 1.4-litre 16v petrol form with the semi-automatic ‘SensoDrive’ transmission, Citroen’s electronically controlled manual gearbox. In testing, Citroen reckon that the ‘Stop & Start’ system has reduced fuel consumption by 10% for city driving, 6% in a standard combined cycle and up to 15% in heavy traffic. All this sounds reasonable, as does the fact that CO2 emissions should be reduced by a similar proportion. You could also argue – and Citroen do – that widespread adoption of ‘Stop & Start’ technology would help to improve the quality of life in cities, since drivers and the urban environment would benefit from total silence during the many times vehicles are stopped. With studies slowing that traffic in inner city areas can be stationary for up to 30% of the time, this C3 could offer even greater savings for urban drivers faced with the daily prospect of traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and congestion. The system stops the engine a split second before the car comes to a standstill, then restarts it again in just 400 milliseconds (twice as quickly as a traditional starter motor) the moment the driver takes their foot off the brake pedal and wants to accelerate away as normal. The secret behind this technology is apparently a reversible alternator that acts as a standard alternator one minute (driven by the engine to charge the battery) but when required, also acts as a starter motor, driven by the battery to effortlessly restart the engine.

"With traffic in urban areas stationary for up to 30% of the time, ‘Stop & Start’ makes sense…"

Since ‘Stop & Start’ is the kind of technology aimed at people who’ve one eye on fuel bills, you might have expected it to appear on a diesel-engined model first. It doubtless soon will but, for the time being, Citroen are looking for a publicity splash and the simple truth is that the savings that this system achieves allied to diesel power are nothing like as great. Perhaps more significant is the fact that ‘Stop & Start’, like the 1.4-litre 16v petrol model itself, can’t be ordered with a conventional manual gearbox, instead working as part of the semi-automatic SensoDrive paddle shift system. Since incorporating it means only a few changes to the software, Citroen are consequently able to offer the technology at little or no extra cost for C3 1.4 16v petrol customers. The rub will come when ‘Stop & Start’ gets rolled out to other engines, forcing buyers to stump up an extra £200-£300 for the questionable benefit of SensoDrive transmission. We’re not great fans of this rather jerky system, although it should be pointed out that it does marginally improve fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Enough on ‘Stop & Start’, what about the 1.4-litre engine under the bonnet? Well, performance is brisk without risk of turning the front tyres into smouldering carcasses every time you tread on the righthand pedal. The C3 1.4 16v will accelerate to 60mph in 12.7 seconds before running on to a very respectable top speed of 111mph. The extra 11 lb/ft of low and mid range torque make the 16v unit feel a good deal gutsier than its 8v sibling. Because the engine also features a variable valve timing system, you’ll feel the benefit of that torque across a wider range, making this C3 happier when pulling from a standstill. It’s also a good deal more refined than the 8v unit when extended. You won’t even pay a penalty in terms of overall fuel consumption, the 16v engine returning an average of 47.1mpg which is even better than the 8v unit. The 143g/km of carbon dioxide emissions also land this particular C3 in a very low taxation band. And the Sensodrive gearbox? Well, it does make this C3 supremely easy to pilot in urban traffic. The gearbox features a mode whereby it defaults to a conventional automatic transmission, thus saving you the bother of shifting yourself. When the road opens up, you can switch it to sequential mode and flip up and down the gears using paddles behind the steering wheel or the centrally mounted gear lever. It’s not one of those clever clutchless manuals like an Alfa Romeo Selespeed or a Vauxhall Easytronic system – there’s still a conventional automatic torque converter – but it does offer three different programs (Normal, Sport & Snow) as well as that fully automatic mode. Also worthy of note is that fact that SensoDrive has been tweaked in the latest facelifted C3 models. It now features revised shifting paddles with a higher-quality feel and a chrome-topped gearlever that slides around its gate rather than centring itself after a mode has been selected. This version comes only in SX trim, which means you can expect to find luxury items like a CD stereo and digital air-conditioning amongst other things as standard. The car has undergone a bout of cosmetic surgery since it first arrived on the scene and the current car can be distinguished from its forebears by means of its restyled nose with bigger air intake, more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. More important are the alterations inside which include revised and markedly higher-quality dashboard and door panels. The stereo and ventilation controls look tidier and there’s a more grown-up feel about the interior generally. The effect is still not class-leading but it’s much more like it. The technology behind ‘Stop & Start’ is nothing new. Volkswagen dabbled with it twenty years ago. However, this is the first time any manufacturer has seriously brought it to the volume market. You have to wonder what has taken everybody so long – and how long it will be before it’s simply something we all take for granted. Up until now, the 1.4-litre 16v petrol model accounted for around 10% of all Citroen’s C3 sales. One thing’s for certain: that figure’s going to rise.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 1.4 16v Stop & Start PRICES: £11,795 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 4 CO2 EMISSIONS: 143g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.7s / Max Speed 111mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 47mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

THE MORE INCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE The 1.6-Litre Exclusive Model Resides At The Sharp End Of Citroen’s C3 Range. Andy Enright Tries It For Size…

If one was to nominate the friendliest supermini, the very antithesis to in-your-face dynamism, the Citroen C3 would probably get more than a few votes. With its grinning visage and cute curves, it’s about as threatening as the Tweenies. Therefore it comes as something of a surprise to find that in plush 1.6-litre Exclusive guise it’s got a bit more attitude than you’d at first give it credit for.

It’s largely down to the excellent 110bhp sixteen-valve engine that’s found beneath the C3’s snub nose. Offered solely with the SensoDrive paddle shift gearbox in Exclusive form, it’s one of those engines that barely puts a foot wrong. Punting the car to 60mph in 12.6 seconds, it makes the C3 Exclusive a reasonably lively partner. The top speed of 118mph is evidence that the Exclusive has a good deal in reserve when travelling at usual motorway speeds. The average fuel consumption figure of almost 46mpg gives the opposition little hope whilst the 148g/km CO2 emissions are similarly admirable. The C3 Exclusive sports a suitably unthreatening but nevertheless neat set of 15-inch alloys along with chrome effect door handles and rear number plate surround and a two-tone half-leather steering wheel. Automatic digital air conditioning helps alleviate the unwanted side effects of all that glazing, whilst multiplex wiring sees to it that the C3 gets big car features like automatic rain sensing wipers and cruise control. There’s a refrigerated glove box to prevent your chocolate bars turning into astronaut food, an additional storage bin under the driver’s seat, electric heated and folding door mirrors and an anti theft alarm. Twin front and side airbags also feature. The C3 Exclusive’s brakes deserve a special mention. Fitting the standard C3 disc and drum setup obviously wasn’t going to wash with a car that was not only quicker but a fair bit heavier than the other models. Therefore the Exclusive gets some ventilated discs at the front and solid discs at the rear. This system is augmented not only by standard 4-channel anti-lock, but also electronic brakeforce distribution and Emergency Brake Assist. One suspects the guy working in Citroen’s braking department was looking for a promotion.

"It’s doubtful the C3 Exclusive will live up to its name…"

And the Sensodrive gearbox? Well, it does make this C3 supremely easy to pilot in urban traffic. The gearbox features a mode whereby it defaults to a conventional automatic transmission, thus saving you the bother of shifting yourself. When the road opens up, you can switch it to sequential mode and flip up and down the gears using paddles behind the steering wheel or the centrally mounted gear lever. It’s not one of those clever clutchless manuals like an Alfa Romeo Selespeed or a Vauxhall Easytronic system – there’s still a conventional automatic torque converter – but it does offer three different programs (Normal, Sport & Snow) as well as that fully automatic mode. Also worthy of note is that fact that SensoDrive has been tweaked in the latest C3 models. It now features revised shifting paddles with a higher-quality feel and a chrome-topped gearlever that slides around its gate rather than centring itself after a mode has been selected. The C3 has undergone a bout of cosmetic surgery since it first arrived on the scene and the current 1.6 Exclusive can be distinguished from its forebears by means of its restyled nose with bigger air intake, more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. More important are the alterations inside which include revised and markedly higher-quality dashboard and door panels. The stereo and ventilation controls look tidier and there’s a more grown-up feel about the interior generally. The effect is still not class-leading but it’s much more like it. The interior is adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. ISOFIX child seat mounting points feature strongly and such is the C3’s family orientation that an optional ‘Child Pack’ is available. No, this isn’t a lockable trunk that stows problematic sprogs safely in the boot, it’s a selection of extras that will hopefully offset just such an outcome. A child safety indicator on the dashboard monitors whether seat belts have been unclipped whilst safety locks can be activated or deactivated via a dash-mounted switch. A 12-volt socket at the rear, previously the preserve of MPVs, allows junior to play Gameboys without the ticking time bomb that is a battery failure/high score moment. Aircraft-style trays can be fitted to the back of the front seats with clip-in pen and cup holders and plastic bag hooks. The greatest feature is probably the simplest. A swing down mirror that’s usually stowed behind the standard rear view allows you to keep an eye on the offspring without impeding your forward vision too badly. Clever safety-conscious electronic features have been borrowed from the larger C5 – things such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers with rain sensing activation, hazard lights that deploy automatically under severe braking as well as comprehensive pedestrian safety features. Side window airbags feature on the options list alongside other Exclusive options including an electric sunroof, grey leather upholstery, heated front seats, a rear parking sensor and even satellite navigation. Given such an impressive showing, it’s doubtful the C3 1.6 Exclusive will live up to its name. Citroen’s stock shows no sign of peaking just yet.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 1.6 Exclusive PRICE: £13,095 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 5 CO2 EMISSIONS: 148g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60 12.6s / Top Speed 118mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 45.6mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD and EBA WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

RATTLE AND HUM Our Citroën C3’s force of personality can’t help but raise a smile. Andy Enright reports

The key to getting along with the Citroën C3 VTR is not to take its hot hatch pretensions too seriously. Let the bodykit and alloys worm their way into your consciousness and you’ll start marking this car to some very exacting criteria. Treat them as just a bit of marketing floss and you’ll get on a whole lot better with this car. By the time we returned it to Citroën, I had grown rather attached to a car that I’d previously sneered at as a sheep in wolf’s clothing.

That’s not to say it was without its faults. Citroën has come a long way in terms of build quality over the last decade but a key fob that falls into three pieces onto the road surface as soon as you take it out of your pocket doesn’t create a good first impression. Nor does the fact that within 100 metres, I found myself turning the stereo up to drown out the twittering caused by the rear seat and parcel shelf. A quick spray of WD40 cured the squeaking and allowed me to concentrate on the car’s other qualities, of which there are some admirable and others that are slightly more testing of your patience. One aspect that needs a fundamental redesign is a safety issue. My route home takes me through some rather dark country lanes with a national speed limit. Flip the left hand stalk from main beam lights to dip when you spot an approaching vehicle and unless you strike dead centre of the wand it’s worryingly easy to catch a glancing strike and switch the lights completely off. Disconcerting to say the least and it happened to at least two other members of the test team, so my own clumsiness can’t be solely to blame.

"The C3 VTR is certainly better to drive than to look at"

Illumination issues aside, driving the VTR on rolling B-roads like this otherwise shows it at its best. The excellent 110bhp HDi diesel engine that’s found beneath C3’s snub nose barely puts a foot wrong. Okay, so it’s hardly out of the blocks on the b of bang, getting to 60mph in 9.3 seconds, but to put that into perspective, it’s still quicker to the benchmark sprint than an Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 and as fast as a 1.8-litre Audi A3. No equivalent Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa can get near it. The top speed of 118mph is evidence that the VTR has a good deal in reserve when travelling at usual motorway speeds, although a sixth gear would be make the engine a little easier on the ear. Refinement at speed is okay, the only drawback being some vibration through the metal-topped gear lever. The average fuel consumption figure of almost 63mpg gives the opposition little hope, whilst the 120g/km CO2 emissions are similarly admirable. To put these figures in perspective, let’s consider what that seminal hot hatch, the Volkswagen Golf GTI, could manage when introduced in 1977. The sportiest hot hatch drive of that day was good for 9.6 seconds to 60mph, a top speed of 108mph and an average return of 29mpg. These days, the least sporty of all the superminis looks to have that icon licked. How times change. Nobody would put up with thirteen-inch wheels for a start! Taken in isolation, there’s not a great deal wrong with the styling parts Citroen have selected for the VTR. It’s just that they’re on a C3. Imagine Natalie Portman cast as lead in an Aliens movie and you probably get the idea. The 16-inch Leopard alloy wheels are augmented by wheelarch extensions, body coloured side rubbing strips and a chromed exhaust pipe finisher. The front end has a revised bumper, a broader air intake and revised fog light housing while the entire bumper assembly at the back is VTR-specific. You have to take your hat off to Citroen. This car could have been a collection of parts from the options list but instead a number of bespoke components have been formulated exclusively for the VTR model. The interior has been given the sports treatment too, with a black leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob set, bolstered seats and a dark grey trim. All of these styling accoutrements are mounted on the latest post-facelift C3 with its restyled nose and bigger air intake, more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. More important are the alterations inside which include revised and markedly higher-quality dashboard and door panels. The stereo and ventilation controls look tidier and there’s a more grown-up feel about the interior generally. Air conditioning helps alleviate the unwanted side effects of all the C3 VTR’s glazing, and there’s also variable rate power steering, electric front windows and a CD player with steering wheel mounted controls. The interior is also adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. Safety features such as anti lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic brake assist, and four airbags are all standard. The ESP and traction control package was a very reassuring safety net. The digital instrumentation is clear and easy to read and has a Saab-style ‘black panel’ that turns all but the most important functions off if you don’t want to be distracted by them at night. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. The seats are very good, offering decent support and the optional full length sunroof was also popular with testers. The stereo is straightforward and effective, although I’d rather have a leather-trimmed gearknob rather than a metal ball which is freezing on cold mornings and sears your hand if you park the car in direct sunlight. Having been left permanently unsure if the car was locked by a previous Renault with keyless go, I was much happier with the C3’s reassuringly loud clunk when the keyfob lock button was pressed. The C3 VTR HDi is certainly a grower. Don’t buy it if you want a cutting edge GTi hatch. Instead think of it as a smart turbodiesel supermini that has a couple of extra strings to its bow. It’s not perfect but it offers a surprising amount of capability. Would I buy one? No, but I could see why someone else would.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 VTR HDi PRICE: £13,495 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 5 CO2 EMISSIONS: 120g/km PERFORMANCE: Top Speed 118mph / 0-60mph 9.6s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (extra urban) 74.4mpg / (combined) 62.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

A QUESTION OF CACHET For a pretty small budget, Citroen’s C3 Cachet supermini models will put a reasonable level of style on your driveway. Jonathan Crouch reports

If you’ve only £10,000 to £12,000 to spend on a supermini, then you won’t be expecting to buy something with a great deal of cachet. You know, something to get the neighbours’ curtain twitching. Something capable of giving you a warm, fuzzy feeling every time you sneek a look out to the driveway.

But perhaps, if you spending this kind of money, that’s exactly what you should be able to expect. Citroen obviously think so, hence their recent launch of a whole series of special edition ‘Cachet’ model, based on the C2 citycar, the C4 family hatchback and trhe C3 supermini we’re looking at here. The Cachet receipe is pretty simple to understand. For about the same as you’d pay for a mid-range ‘Rhythm’-trimmed model (‘Rhythm’ trim being one-up from the baseline ‘Vibe’ spec), you get all the main items a supermini buyer could wish for fitted as standard. Cachet special editions come complete with alloy wheels, front fog lamps, air conditioning and an MP3 compatible CD player, as well as remote central locking, front electric windows, four airbags and Isofix fittings. There’s a choice of two 1.4-litre petrol engines (with either 8 or 16 valves) and a 1.4HDi 70hp diesel, for cleaner, more economical use. Colour choice is between arctic steel, tuscan blue, passion red and iron grey. Otherwise, it’s the usual C3 package, enlivened a couple of years back with a restyled nose featuring a bigger air intake, a more pronounced grille and far bigger chromed Citroen chevrons. More important with this refresh were the alterations inside which included revised and markedly higher-quality dashboard and door panels. The stereo and ventilation controls look tidier these days too, and there’s a more grown-up feel about the interior generally. The effect is still not class-leading but it’s much more like it.

"A car capable of giving you a warm, fuzzy feeling every time you sneek a look out to the driveway…."

With 75bhp on tap the 8v petrol C3 1.4’s performance can best be described as unhurried, reaching 62mph in 12.4 seconds and a top speed of 104mph. The average fuel economy figure of 45mpg is above average in class. Many customers will feel tempted by the 67mpg 1.4 HDi diesel version. This was the model we tried. Fire up the HDi engine and you’ll be greeted by an initial muted hacking which almost instantaneously settles down into a low-key thrum. Citroen have excelled themselves in insulating the powerplant to such an extent that when out on the open road, only the punchy swell of torque gives the game away. The all-alloy 1.4-litre direct injection diesel may well seem familiar to some and it is indeed the same engine used by Peugeot and Ford – at least in the eight-valve guise featured here. The reason for its popularity is because it’s a fine engine, built around the almost obligatory common rail architecture and given respectable performance by the fitment of a small turbocharger. All-in, the engine generates 70bhp and when combined with the C3’s lighter overall weight and longer gearing, it manages not only to return better economy figures than a similarly-powered Fiesta, but also manages to outsprint the little Ford. True, you won’t buy a C3 1.4 HDi for its performance, but the eight-valve engine’s sprint to 60mph in 13.4 seconds is perfectly adequate, as is its top speed of 103mph. These figures probably won’t set your trousers alight, but this engine has 25% more torque than the 1.4-litre petrol unit and endows the C3 with enough muscle to effortlessly undertake motorway overtaking manoeuvres without recourse to anything as undignified as a downchange. If you haven’t tried a C3 before, then you’ll probably find the car’s interior as being rather adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. Citroen’s Moduboard system is a load bay dividing system that helps protect soft items from hard, clean from grubby and prevent bulky objects from racing across the load bay during spirited driving. Clever safety-conscious electronic features have been borrowed from the larger C5 – things such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers with rain sensing activation, hazard lights that deploy automatically under severe braking as well as side airbags, ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist and comprehensive pedestrian safety features. Given that the bulk of Citroen’s profitability is accounted for by aggressively priced budget models, you wouldn’t bet against Citroen dealers shifting a few of these C3 Cachet models. After all, they look like decent value. Is that enough in today’s cut-throat market? It will be interesting to see.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Citroen C3 Cachet range PRICES: £10,695-£11,495 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 3-4 CO2 EMISSIONS: 115-148g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.4 8v] 0-60mph 12.4s / Top Speed 104mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4 8v] (urban) 34.4mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 45.6mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 3850/1667/1519mm

LA VIE EST BELLE? Models Covered: C3 – February 2002 – to date: Five door hatch 1.1, 1.4, 1.4 16v, 1.6 petrol, 1.4 diesel [L, LX, SX, Desire, Exclusive, XTR, Stop & Start, VTR] Four door Pluriel convertible 1.4, 1.6 petrol, 1.4HDi diesel.

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Citroen’s C3 was the car that proved that superminis didn’t need to be outrageously sporty in order to succeed. Concentrating instead on offering keen value for money and an unthreatening family oriented appeal, the C3 notched up significant sales and the diesel models in particular are some of the best superminis around. Picking up a decent used example shouldn’t be too tricky with a number of well looked after low-mileage cars on the market.

Think for a moment about how the motoring press works. Most journalists are rabid petrolheads, largely made up of frustrated racing drivers and wannabe Jeremy Clarksons. Ride comfort, affordability, economy and practicality don’t excite these types but that’s exactly what the broad swathe of customers want from a supermini. As more and more superminis began to ride and handle like GTi pocket rockets, Citroen took a different tack. Their C3 range, unveiled in early 2002 was refreshingly unsporty. There was no GTi version, no potent engine; in fact Citroen made it clear there were no plans for anything as racy as a three-door version. With its smiling face and cute interior detailing the remorselessly benign C3 was about as cuddly as small cars. And the public loved it for the fact. The range was added to towards the end of 2002 with the emergence of an entry-level 1.1-litre engine, a 92bhp 1.4-litre HDi diesel and a Desire trim level but it wasn’t until spring 2003 that the first major addition appeared in the curious shape of the Pluriel. Claiming to be the most versatile small car around, the Pluriel’s complicated roof offered all sorts of variations of topless motoring, Citroen even claiming (somewhat optimistically) that with the rear seats folded and the bootlid dropped it also functioned as a light duty pick-up! In late 2003 the Euro4 compliant version of the 1.4-litre 8-valve HDi engine arrived, all models got ABS with EBD, extra equipment was added and list prices went up by £200 or so. In early 2004 we saw the XTR derivative with its 4x4 styling accessories and a 16-valve 1.4-litre engine was also added. Then at the start of 2005, the Stop & Start arrived bringing technology which turned off the engine when the C3 was stationary for better fuel economy as did a moderately sporty VTR derivative. A relatively far-reaching facelift was announced in the Autumn of 2005. Dynamically, the car was boosted by tauter suspension settings and enhanced steering feel. The front end received a nip and tuck with a more prominent grille and air-intake along with a larger Citroen badge. The biggest improvement was in interior quality with a new upmarket look and better materials. The SensoDrive gearbox was also reworked with a conventional gate introduced so the driver could see what mode they were in and chrome detailing on the shift lever.

The interior is also adventurously styled – which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic cabin, we’ve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. Rock-hard seating, coalhole colour schemes and a fetish for aluminium inserts have all been forsaken in the quest to provide a functional, non-threatening family car. The dashboard has shades of toned-down Fiat Multipla, the lovely silver-trimmed circular vents appearing to warp the fascia as they bust gently through atop a voluptuous pod housing the stereo and air conditioning controls. The digital instrumentation is clear and easy to read and has a Saab-style ‘black panel’ that turns all but the most important functions off if you don’t want to be distracted by them at night. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. ISOFIX child seat mounting points feature strongly and such is the C3’s family orientation that an optional ‘Child Pack’ is available. No, this isn’t a lockable trunk that stows problematic sprogs safely in the boot, it’s a selection of extras that will hopefully offset just such an outcome. A child safety indicator on the dashboard monitors whether seat belts have been unclipped whilst safety locks can be activated or deactivated via a dash-mounted switch. A 12-volt socket at the rear, previously the preserve of MPVs, allows junior to play Gameboys without the ticking time bomb that is a battery failure/high score moment. Aircraft-style trays can be fitted to the back of the front seats with clip-in pen and cup holders and plastic bag hooks. The greatest feature is probably the simplest. A swing down mirror that’s usually stowed behind the standard rear view allows you to keep an eye on the offspring without impeding your forward vision too badly. The innovation certainly doesn’t stop there. Citroen’s Moduboard system is a load bay dividing system that helps protect soft items from hard, clean from grubby and prevent bulky objects from racing across the load bay during spirited driving. Not that pedal to the metal antics are encouraged by the C3. The C2 will provide for those more concerned with uprated dampers than Pull-Up Pampers. Clever safety-conscious electronic features have been borrowed from the larger C5 – things such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers with rain sensing activation, hazard lights that deploy automatically under severe braking as well as side airbags and comprehensive pedestrian safety features. The egg-like shape suggests almost MPV-like levels of interior space. Certainly at the front, that’s true, with more elbow, head and shoulder-room than any other rival, not surprising when you consider that this car is wider than some Family Hatchbacks from the next class up, notably VW’s Golf. At the rear, things are a little different. The three inches in length the C3 loses to a 5-door Fiesta shows here in the restricted legroom and the headroom isn’t great either. Some compensation is the 305-litre boot, one of the largest in the class. With its full-length canvas roof in place, few would finger the Pluriel version as a convertible, the shapely glasshouse and the seemingly fixed rear window giving it the appearance of a quirkily styled three-door hatch. Slide the canvas section back, fold the rear window cartridge down into the spare wheel cavity and house the gloss finish roof rails in their deckchair like holder and you then have a full convertible. No rollover hoops or bulky tonneau covers sully the appealing shape. What’s more, there’s even a reasonable amount of space in the boot once the hood has been dropped. The main problem is that you can’t store the roof rails in the car, so if you head out if full convertible mode, just pray it doesn’t rain.

Used C3 prices start from £3,175 for a 2002 51-plated 1.4-litre LX or a 52-plated 1.1-litre L, with SX versions weighing in around the £3,400 mark and automatics tacking another £200 into that price. The 1.4-litre HDi diesels proved more popular and you shouldn’t have too much trouble tracking down a clean 2002 51 plated LX with 70bhp for around £3,375. The more powerful 92bhp car starts at £4,100 in SX trim on 02-plates. If you hanker after a few extra refinements, you’ll need at least £4,400. This will put you behind the wheel of the plush 1.6 16v Exclusive. Pluriel pricing is still a little volatile. Insurance for the C3 ranges from Group 2 up to Group 5 for the 1.6 Exclusive.

Although cabin trim quality isn’t the best in class, the C3 comes from tried and tested stock and you should expect little or nothing in the way of mechanical faults. The engines in particular are supremely reliable and few issues have emerged so far. Check that the piano-finish on the Pluriel’s roof rails hasn’t been damaged as even the slightest contact with a concrete garage floor will put a horrible scuff on them. Also check that the hood is working and hasn’t suffered from any damage. Aside from that, make sure the car has been regularly serviced, is free from parking knocks and scrapes and check the interior for signs of destruction by kids.

(approx.based on 2002 C3 1.4 excl VAT) A clutch assembly is around £110 and an exhaust system about £325 including a catalytic converter. Front and rear brake pads will be in the vicinity of £40-45 each. A radiator is about £170, an alternator about £250 and a starter motor £230.

Think soft, safe and sedate and you won’t be disappointed. The diesel models are a good deal punchier in feel than the petrol-powered cars. Whereas the more common eight valve unit makes 70bhp, the upspec sixteen-valve number swells power to 92bhp, giving the lightweight Citroen a fair turn of pace and making it the C3 to choose if you need to get a mild hustle on. Of course, as with most diesel cars, bald 0-60 figures don’t tell us too much, the C3 HDi 16v clocking 11.5 seconds. What’s more impressive is the smooth swell of torque. It starts pulling hard from just over 2,000rpm and unlike many multivalve turbodiesel engines, it hasn’t shot its bolt by 3,000. The little Citroen still has decent reserves of shove right up to 5,000rpm, endowing it with the sort of flexibility that’s not generally a feature of such small cars. The gear lever becomes something of a quaint irrelevance as you just wade lazily through the surplus of torque. Plug it into fifth as you hit a motorway on-ramp and you’ll be amazed how it accelerates right up to speeds at which a judge would likely throw his gavel, wig, stenographer and book at you. What’s equally impressive is that despite the C3’s abundant urge, it still manages to average 65.7mpg. On a gentle run, you’ll see over 76mpg which, incidentally, is better than the eight-valve model.

The C3 sees Citroen once again refusing to follow the in crowd and in the process the French company created one of the more appealing cars in the supermini sector. The C3 rewards a laid back frame of mind and yet it offers enough neat touches and stylish features to keep all but the most determined petrolhead happy. Plump for a diesel if you really want a supermini that shines while the Pluriel will certainly get you noticed. Recommended.

GIVE US A PLU Models Covered: C3 Pluriel – March 2003 – to date: Two door convertible 1.4, 1.6 petrol, 1.4 diesel [base, Exclusive, Sensodrive]

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Citroen’s C3 Pluriel is a car you’ll either love or hate. Most are baffled by its complicated roof mechanism and rather strange market positioning. Early reports of questionable durability also put sales into a flat spin. Given all these caveats, is there a case to be made for the Pluriel as a used buy? Well, as long as you’re aware of what you’re buying then the Pluriel can make a characterful companion.

The Citroen C3 hatchback had been on sale for a year when the Pluriel convertible was launched to a rather nonplussed British public. Here was a car that Citroen claimed was five cars in one but the Pluriel failed to live up to its billing. With the tailgate down in ‘pickup’ guise, the number plate was no longer visible making it illegal to drive on UK roads in this mode. So what did you end up with? In short, a rather cute and cuddly convertible that wasn’t the most convenient car of its ilk. With a pair of petrol engines and a super economical diesel, the C3 Pluriel’s basic engineering couldn’t really be faulted and it offered an affordable and modern convertible supermini with unconventional looks. An Exclusive model was launched in 2004 with silver roof rails and boosted equipment levels. Improvements were made to the Pluriel’s interior quality in the autumn of 2005 with a new upmarket look and better materials for the dashboard and door panels. The SensoDrive gearbox was also reworked with a conventional gate introduced so the driver could see what mode they were in and chrome detailing on the shift lever. In Summer 2008, the range was slimmed down to Cote D’Azur trim level, which could be ordered with any of the three engines available (1.4-litre petrol and diesel; units, plus a 1.6 petrol with a semi-automatic ‘Sensodrive’ gearbox).

With its full-length canvas roof in place, few would finger the Pluriel version as a convertible, the shapely glasshouse and the seemingly fixed rear window giving it the appearance of a quirkily styled three-door hatch. Slide the canvas section back, fold the rear window cartridge down into the spare wheel cavity and house the gloss finish roof rails in their deckchair like holder and you then have a full convertible. No rollover hoops or bulky tonneau covers sully the appealing shape. What’s more, there’s even a reasonable amount of space in the boot once the hood has been dropped. The main problem is that you can’t store the roof rails in the car, so if you head out if full convertible mode, just pray it doesn’t rain.

Used C3 Pluriel prices start from £5,600 for a 2003 03-plated 1.4-litre model with the 1.6-litre Sequentronic model only a little pricier at £6,000. The diesel cars are still a little tricky to source with main dealer ex-demonstrators probably being your best line of attack. Insurance for the Pluriel is very reasonable with groupings ranging from 4 to 6.

Although cabin trim quality isn’t the best in class, the C3 comes from tried and tested stock and you should expect little or nothing in the way of mechanical faults. The engines in particular are supremely reliable and few issues have emerged so far. Check that the piano-finish on the Pluriel’s roof rails hasn’t been damaged as even the slightest contact with a concrete garage floor will put a horrible scuff on them. Also check that the hood is working and hasn’t suffered from any damage. The Pluriel has gained a rather unsavoury reputation for water ingress so check the seals and the interior for mould or water staining. Aside from that, make sure the car has been regularly serviced, is free from parking knocks and scrapes and check the interior for signs of destruction by kids.

(approx.based on 2003 C3 Pluriel 1.4 excl VAT) A clutch assembly is around £110 and an exhaust system about £325 including a catalytic converter. Front and rear brake pads will be in the vicinity of £40-45 each. A radiator is about £170, an alternator about £250 and a starter motor £230.

Don’t be lulled into thinking the Pluriel is in any way sporty as the focus is instead on fun, comfort and a more restrained approach, reflecting the philosophy of the C3 supermini upon which it’s based. Rear seat passengers will have just as much fun as front seat occupants and they’ll also feel reassured by thee Pluriel’s high waistline. It handles fairly neatly, the comfort-oriented suspension doing a good job of soaking up most surface imperfections that might otherwise betray a wobbly scuttle. Citroen’s engineers are proud of the reinforcing work they’ve done on the Pluriel and the fact that it weighs about 150kg more than its hatchback equivalent is testament to this effort. Only over the very worst potholes will you provoke any shudder from the chassis. The driving position is unusual due to the fact you sit ducked into the car with the curved windscreen apparently soaring overhead. Equipment levels are about what you would expect, all models featuring electric windows all round, electric mirrors, remote central locking a CD player and an electrical operated canvas roof. On top of this, the 1.6i 16V version adds alloy wheels and an anti-theft alarm. Safety levels on the C3 Pluriel are equally high, with both models featuring anti lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, four airbags and four 3-point inertia reel seatbelts, as well as a specially stiffened body shell, reinforced windscreen pillars and roof arches plus strengthened seat backs and headrests.

The Pluriel appeals to a small segment of the convertible market and offers something quite unlike any other car. There are some surprisingly rough examples about so make sure the example you’re looking for has been well looked after. The Pluriel has a few problems but none that will discourage an ardent fan. The best engine is undoubtedly the diesel but if you do have your heart set on a Pluriel, try a few before you buy.