AHEAD OF THE CURVE
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 £9,190.
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 £9,190, 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 small price differential between the 1.1iL and the £10,440 1.4 Desire, those who are looking to cover higher mileages would be advised to opt for the larger engined car. Alternatively, for £750 more you can pick up the 1.1-litre engine in well-specified Desire trim.
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.
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.
Models within this range: BERLINGO MULTISPACE, C-CROSSER, C1, C3, C3 PICASSO, C4, C4 GRAND PICASSO, C4 PICASSO, C5, C6, DISPATCH COMBI, DS3, NEMO MULTISPACE.