2018 Citroen C3 priced from $23k

The 2018 Citroen C3 will be priced from $22,990 (plus on-road costs) when it goes on sale in Australia from October.

Boasting umpteen customisations and styling treatments, the Australian-spec version of the funky French crossover will be offered solely with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine mated as standard to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The teaming is good for 81kW and 205Nm, sent via the front wheels to deliver a 10.9 second nought to 100km/h time and a claimed fuel cycle of 4.9L/100km.

First shown in June, 2016, the C3 arrives in local showrooms with a decent spread of equipment including 17-inch alloy wheels, LED DRLs, rear parking sensors, auto-dimming rear view mirror and a 7.0-inch touchscreen projecting Apple CarPlay and Android auto and a reversing camera.

The C3’s Safety Pack incorporates lane departure warning, active seatbelt safety, speed limit recognition and a driver break alert. Automated emergency braking is a notable omission, and helps explain why the C3 received a three-star Euro NCAP rating during recent testing.

The added equipment helps justify the increased starting price over the C3's predecessor (formerly $19,990 plus ORCs), which was discontinued last year.

The C3 takes on the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Juke with a slightly left-of-centre approach, highlighted by 'Airbumps' along the side panels to help protect the car from unruly doors and shopping trolleys. The C3 has grown in size from its predecessors and now borrows a decidedly SUV bent in its exterior design.

The Citroen’s 300 litre boot (922 litres with rear seat folded flat) is also commensurate with the car’s sub-4.0 metre length.

While it is only offered in one dedicated trim level, the C3 offers myriad colour options. You can have your Citroen with nine different exterior hues and three contrasting roof colours.

Citroen is also offering optional extras such as a $600 fixed panoramic roof.