Citroen C3 Shine 2019 Review

"It's a noisy little thing," the wife said about the Citroen C3 Shine, after driving it down to the shops and back.

And certainly, the turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine lets you know when it's working, but it settles down a lot at touring speeds. Quite a few prospective buyers will find the three-pot mill a bit of a riot (in a positive way). But it's actually smoother at higher revs and road speeds.

When all you want is some serenity – on a long trip at 100km/h for instance, the engine noise fades away at just over 2000rpm in sixth gear.

The rest of the time the engine is fun and distinctive, and it relies on its native torque at lower engine speeds for fuss-free motoring in the suburbs. It's quite practical and punchy for its size.

While output is not exceptional in the C3's class – the light passenger car segment above $25,000 – the turbo triple produces peak torque in the mid-range, but also continues plugging away at higher speeds too... right up to the 6000rpm redline.

For such a small engine, it actually delivers the goods. As a couple of examples, with the cruise control set to 80km/h the transmission hangs on to fifth gear at 2000rpm on a hill that has much more powerful cars reaching for two gears lower.

And the C3 felt far from overstretched with the whole family of four aboard – including the two adult-sized teenagers in the back.

While I wouldn't be attempting an overtaking manoeuvre on a short stretch of country road with four on board, the C3 provides enough performance around town to keep you out of trouble.

Watch out for the mix of turbo lag and delayed starting though, courtesy of the idle-stop system.

Other than that, the principal problem with the Citroen's powertrain is the six-speed automatic, which is rough and ready, and occasionally has a mind of its own. It 'snatches' gears at times, and there are moments when it thumps as it picks a higher gear precisely when it shouldn't.

It also changes gear aggressively, even in optimal conditions, and all the transmission's shirtiness seems to be based around grabbing the highest gear possible to save fuel on any throttle setting less than wide-open.

But then it also holds a lower gear if you have applied power on a light throttle while the C3 is travelling downhill, so you do get that extra engine braking when it's desirable.

The C3 proved quite economical over the course of the week, using no more than 8.1L/100km in urban commuting, and as little as 6.2L/100km on a test loop out in the country. It finished the week on 7.0L/100km.

When I last drove a (previous model) C3, its fuel consumption was up around 9.6L/100km with a four-speed automatic, so kudos to Citroen for a major advance in fuel economy over six years.

One aspect of the Citroen C3 that is outstanding is the light hatchback's ride comfort. Is there a better riding car this small in the market today?

Doubtful.

The C3 handles most bumps, dips and holes with equanimity well beyond what would normally be expected of such a small car. As a bonus, the tiny Citroen is also a safe handling car; and while it's not in the same league for handling as a Kia Rio, for example, it's more adept than first-time drivers might anticipate.

Roadholding is secure and the C3 turns in well, delivering reasonable steering feel for its light weight. Stomping on the brake pedal produces strong braking, but the pedal is also progressive and even the lightest pressure will begin to slow the C3 promptly.

Body control does suffer slightly once the C3 is loaded up with a full complement of passengers. It feels like it could do with stronger dampers once you have two adults in the back. Rarely will the Citroen be called upon to transport this sort of load, admittedly.

As mentioned already, first impressions lead one to find the C3 a noisy little car, but it does settle down at touring speeds. Some wind noise is present, but Citroen engineers have done well to subdue both powertrain and road noise (from the Michelin 205/55 R16 tyres) on the open road.

However, over the course of the week in our possession, the C3 began to develop a couple of squeaks inside – one from the driver's seat – plus a noise from the suspension that recalled 'Halloumi cheese', according to one staffer. I have no idea what Halloumi cheese sounds like (and wasn't even aware that different types of cheese came with their own signature soundtrack), but I did note that in turns and over speed bumps the suspension bushes sounded like someone squirming in a leather chair.

In common with the Citroen C3 Aircross long-term test vehicle driven recently, the C3's headlights are mediocre – and that's being kind about it. They were yellowy halogen beams set too low and were just plain ineffectual on low-beam driving on a country road at night.

The C3 has its own auto high-beam assist, which helps ameliorate the blackness while your pupils readjust after an oncoming car passes, but on one occasion the system kept the lights on high right up to the point where a RAV4 was about 50 metres away before dipping. The Toyota driver may not have noticed, however, given the Citroen's lights are hardly blinding, even on high-beam.

Designers have found a fine balance in the cabin of the Citroen C3. There are cues that look very familiar from the C4 Cactus, and given the price of this car and its target buyer type, the overall result is appealing – although the infotainment screen is a generic PSA type.

Using the infotainment screen is simplicity itself, but you do have to exit one screen to change settings in another. Everything runs through the same screen – music, phone, satellite navigation and climate control.

The reversing camera also displays through this screen, and truth to tell, it's not that brilliant (literally). While the reversing lights at the rear of the car are more than bright enough to illuminate dark driveways to back safely using the mirrors, the image from the camera, displayed on the screen is a slice of 'film noir' in your Citroen.

The driving position is quite practical and commanding, provided you're familiar with the whole concept of indicator stalk on the left and wiper stalk on the right. A button to start the engine is on the dash, below the infotainment screen and to the left, nearer the front passenger than the driver. While it's a stretch for the driver, at least it's easy enough to locate.

The very comfortable front seats not only complement the C3's ride quality, they're also shapely enough to hold occupants fast in high-g cornering. And although the C3 is no stretched limo, it is quite roomy in the rear seat. There's enough knee room for adults of average height and headroom is plentiful, although the cant rail is a little low and passengers will need to duck their heads climbing in and out.

The centre console between the front seats is low, with a cupholder and small, open storage bin at the rear, leaving no room for adjustable vents to cool or warm the rear-seat passengers.

There's acceptable boot space in the C3, thanks to a space-saver spare tyre under the boot floor. The rear seats fold down, but don't lie flat, and they form a step down to the floor of the boot when folded. That will restrict the size and shape of loads you can carry in the rear of the C3, so if it's transporting a bar fridge you want, the C3 is best left at home while you hire a van, ute or wagon.

The Citroen C3 is undeniably a significant improvement on the last C3 I tested six years ago, and I enjoyed my week in this new car, but there are enough niggles for me to question whether the C3 would appeal to anyone other than dyed-in-the-wool Citroen enthusiasts.

Price: $26,990 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 81kW/205Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 4.9L/100km (ADR Combined); 6.1L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 110g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Four-star ANCAP (2017)