Introduction
The Ford Fiesta may be dead, yet its rivals have taken the initiative by trying to make a new supermini that becomes the default choice in the class.
New Renault Clio, Suzuki Swift and MG 3 models have all been launched in recent months to try to take the Fiesta's crown, and now the new Citroën C3 is making its bid.
The C3 is a visually identical petrol-powered sibling to the new Citroën ë-C3 that is being launched at the same time, the two also sharing a new architecture called ‘Smart Car’ that’s designed to keep costs down.
And it does just that: the new C3 is generously equipped and a newer model still manages to undercut the entry-level Renault Clio.
Design & styling
The C3 is a very different car to the model it replaces; even the badge has a new design. Whereas the previous model was quite rounded, the new car is boxy and more upright, and designed to resemble an SUV.
Despite the clear visual differences, the old and new C3 actually share the same footprint and only the height has increased, up 10cm on the previous model. The new C3 is a touch over four metres long and 1.75m wide, dimensions you would expect in the supermini segment.
Styling-wise, there are a few tricks to give a stronger SUV flavour such as a horizontal bonnet, roof rails and skid plates. The result is something that’s quite plain, without the charm and daring you would expect from a Citroën and all very inoffensive. It’s not bad looking by any stretch – we just wish it had a bit more character.
The new C3 is built on a clever architecture, using 30% fewer parts than the old car’s, in order to simplify it and therefore make it cheaper to produce. The Smart Car platform is also going to be used by the new Citroën C3 Aircross and Vauxhall Frontera, as well as other Citroën and Fiat models in time.
Interior
Like the exterior, the interior of the new C3 is identical to its electric ë-C3 counterpart. This means there are some very welcome physical switches and buttons for the heating and ventilation and a 10.25in touchscreen left simply for the navigation, music and wireless smartphone mirroring for either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
The new C3 also gets a clever head-up display that’s projected onto a strip running across the top of the dashboard. It’s neat and tidy and more cost-effective than traditional displays, while also high enough to not ever be obscured by the steering wheel, unlike in Peugeot’s i-Cockpit. The steering wheel itself is small and actually quite rectangular, yet it doesn’t feel odd to use and gets some shortcut buttons of its own.
The boot is 310 litres and is a good shape, although access to it is over a very high loading lip. The rear seats fold in a 60/40 split and there is enough space in the back for rear passengers to be comfortable.
The seats are all part of Citroën’s Advanced Comfort package, and get extra support in the shoulders and extra foam to be as comfortable as possible – and they are just that. We’re fans.
Engines & performance
My abiding recent memories of petrol-powered Citroën superminis is of them being rather squishy and imprecise with their controls masquerading behind a comfort brief.
The new C3 is a big step forward from that. Take the clutch and the gearlever. I'll always remember a former colleague referring to the gearbox in his Citroën C3 Picasso long-term test car as a random number generator, yet in the new C3 there's a lovely weight to the clutch and a real tactility to the gear shifter. It's a delight to use and interact with.
The 99bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine mirrors its electric counterpart in being nippy off the line but running out of puff higher up the rev range when the turbo has done its work.
To that end, the petrol C3 is also at its best darting around town yet it is marginally more long-legged than its electric counterpart on the motorway.
The standard petrol version of the new C3 will be joined in 2025 by a mild-hybrid version, which uses the same engine but adopts a dual-clutch automatic gearbox with an electric motor mounted within it.
Ride & handling
The main dynamic focus of the C3’s engineers was to make the car as comfortable as possible, through tuning the likes of its Advanced Comfort hydraulic bump-stops in the suspension.
The result is a successful one, with the ride plush and the C3 easily challenging for class honours in the ride quality stakes. The one caveat here is that our test roads in Austria were generally smooth, but we found enough bumps along the way to show that this is a car that should remain comfortable in Britain.
While the controls are nicer to interact with than in the electric model, that's the limit to any extra dynamic involvement. It still rides just as comfortably and the reduction in mass is just about detectable in corners, although the steering's lack of precision and feel prevent it from being meaningfully translated to the driver.
A Clio remains a better car to drive overall, riding as well but being more involving too. The new C3 is now firmly in the conversation, though, and there will be many who will appreciate its easy-going nature and focus on comfort.
MPG & running costs
The new C3 is excellent value, undercutting the most basic Clio and offering more spec for the money including the head-up display, large touchscreen, comfort seats and suspension included on the electric C3 as standard.
The trims mirror that of the ë-C3: Plus and Max levels are offered but Plus is the one to go for as all the key features of the new car are included as standard.
The C3 starts from just under £18,000 and will go on sale in July, with deliveries from November. The mild-hybrid version, with a target price of under £20,000, will be available to order later in the year ahead of deliveries in 2025.
Economy-wise, we saw an average of just over 40mpg on our short test drive that had a good mix of roads, which is about par for a car of its size and type.
Verdict
If you were after a new Fiesta, make sure the new C3 is on your shortlist. Its focus on comfort has been well executed but not obviously at the expense of other areas. A Clio remains sharper to drive overall but many will be drawn to the Citroën’s way of doing things.
The new C3 is superb value, too, and well equipped for the money. It makes for an interesting addition to the supermini class and is the latest evidence that the death of the Fiesta doesn't mean the supermini concept is doomed too.
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