Citroen C3 2002 Review

I've got to come clean from the start - small cars are not my style. Regardless of how much style, and how value-friendly a small car may be, it's battling uphill to win my vote. Which just makes Citroen's sassy new C3 all the more impressive, because I can't help but like it. Emotion aside, let's see how the C3 stacks up.

The C3 is roughly comparable in size to the Renault Clio 5-dr externally - it's 7cm longer, 3cm wider and 10cm taller in exact dimensions. The C3 is front wheel drive with a 1.4-litre, four cylinder engine hooked to a five speed manual or four speed automatic gearbox (auto is Exclusive only). At launch in December 2002 the C3 is available in two models, the $19,990 SX and $20,990 Exclusive.

Both models come generously equipped with electric front windows and mirrors, remote central locking, air-conditioning, power steering and a CD player. The Exclusive manual adds front armrests, rain sensing windscreen wipers and front fog lights. Choose the Exclusive auto for $2000 more, and get climate control air-conditioning. Overall, the C3 is fairly competitive for a European car priced around $20,000.

Standard safety features on the SX are pretty much limited to front driver and passenger airbags, and side airbags, though it also has seat belt pretensioners and side impact protection panels. The Exclusive adds anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist.

The latter is on a hair trigger, and can take a bit of getting used to. From what we can gather it uses the speed of your foot coming off the throttle and onto the brake, and your initial push on the brake, to decide if you're in an emergency. Once it's decided to help, the system applies maximum braking force through the front discs and rear drums and turns on the hazard lights. Undoubtedly a good thing to have in an emergency... though it can sometimes be triggered when you don't want it - or need it.

Citroen's attention to safety is backed up by the C3's performance in Euro-NCAP safety testing. Results released November 2002 give the C3 a four star occupant protection rating, among the best in its class. The C3 was given a two star pedestrian safety rating, which while not particularly good, is still among the best in class.

Visually, the C3 is a stand out, both outside and in. And the cute looks don't come at the expense of too much practicality. The C3 is roomy and comfortable in the front seats, though somewhat restrictive in both legroom and headroom in the rear.

The driver's height adjustable seat combines with the reach and tilt adjustable steering wheel to allow a comfortable driving position. Visibility out the back is good, and via the wing mirrors. The strong, curving A-pillar, however, can cast a blind spot, particularly when looking right to turn left.

The C3 is a relative lightweight, tipping the scales just over the metric tonne. Which should endow it with a decent level of performance, even though the 1.4 has a paltry 57 kiloWatts of power. By comparison, the 1.4-litre Barina has 66kW, Renault's 1.4-litre Clio has 72 kW. In fact, one of the only small Euros the C3 beats is the Volkswagen Polo, which suffers for its 55kW.

Accelerative performance is laughable. Sorry to be so rude, but there's really no other way to describe a car that takes a whopping 14.2 seconds to accelerate to 100km/h. The automatic takes an astonishing 17.7 seconds.

Once on the move the little Citroen does everything in its power to regain your trust. It rides the bumps nicely with plenty of suspension compliance and control on both axles. The electrically assisted steering is very light at both parking and highway speeds. It's perhaps a little slow for our liking, but it's easy enough to adapt and wind on that little extra lock each time.

Fuel economy is strong - and almost enough to offset the C3's woeful acceleration. Citroen quote a city cycle of 8.2 litres/100km and highway cycle of 5.0 litres/100km for a combined fuel economy figure of 6.2 litres/100km. That's fairly respectable, and affordable.

Despite its, umm, lacklustre performance, the C3 is a car that really does have a lot to offer. It's comparably well equipped, is very strong on safety, and economical at the fuel pump. For urban life the C3 offers the added bonus of look-at-me French styling that simply can’t help but be noticed. Just don't expect to get anywhere in a hurry. And don't expect back seat passengers - especially adults - to stay happy for long.

For those, like us, who place a little more importance on having acceptable acceleration and power - as much a tool for escaping potential accidents as anything else - then may we suggest waiting until mid-2003 when the 'big-bore' 1.6-litre model arrives, hooked to a Sensodrive five-speed sequential gearbox - similar to Alfa Romeo's Selespeed system.