citroen-c3-2002-2010-

OverviewThe C3 is beginning to show its age. Its spacious and affordable, but it cannot compete with

more modern rivals for general usability. An all-new - and much-improved - model went on sale

mid-January 2010.

The C3 was and still is the biggest of Citrons superminis. Its ride is soft but comfortable

capable of absorbing most lumps and bumps but its quite sensitive to mid-corner road scars.

Theres loads of space up front, but the rear seats are best suited to children, with a definite

lack of legroom when adults are in front. The 245-litre boot is about average.

The 1.4 HDi we tested had plenty of oomph but still it managed to return 57.6mpg. Thats

good, although still some way off Citrons figure of 64.2mpg. We also tried the 1.4 petrol

Stop&Start version, which uses the Sensodrive automated manual transmission. Its far from

perfect, but if you do a lot of town driving it may save some fuel, as well as your left foot; we

achieved 45.6mpg (Citron claims 49.6mpg).

The mainstream C3 models are five-door hatchbacks, but the range also includes the two-

door Pluriel semi-convertible, which has a full-length sliding roof.

Recommended models in the range

Which? caR TOp chOice MOdel

1.4 hdi Rhythm 5dr

New price: -

Used price: 6,375

FasTesT MOdel

1.6i 16V VTR 5dr

New price: -

Used price: 3,575

0-62mph: 9.7 secs

MOsT eFFicieNT MOdel

1.4 hdi sX 5dr

New price: -

Used price: 2,795

combined fuel economy: 67.3 mpg

cheapesT MOdel TO bUy NeW

1.1i First 5dr

New price: 10,790

cheapesT MOdel TO bUy Used

1.1i l 5dr

Used price: 2,225

cheapesT MOdel TO RUN (NeW)

1.1i First 5dr

New price: 10,790

Running costs: 11,046(3 yeaRs/36,000 Miles)

Balanced ride and safe handling.

Good interior space.

Flexible, clean diesel engines.

Owners in our survey were generally dissatisfied.

Plasticky interior, with controls too low-set.

Steep depreciation.

Which? car review

citron c3 (2002-2010) ON sale: May 2002 class: superminis

NeW pRice: 10,790 - 10,790 Used pRice: From 2,225

56%ToTal score: peRFORMaNce:

bOOT & sTORage:

Ride cOMFORT:

saFeTy:

haNdliNg:

ReliabiliTy:

OwnerS ViewAn unremarkable yet functional vehicle which gets us from A to B.

Which? works for you

We use the sophisticated electronic timing

equipment to record standing-start and

in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test

several times.

Ride comfort is assessed by our labora-

tory experts who have driven hundreds of

thousands of miles in a myriad of different

models.

On the roadThe C3 feels like a safe car to drive, with a safe-feeling tendency to understeer and anti-lock

brakes on all models.The brakes are responsive and well balanced, and the suspension is

good, although uneven roads can shake the bodywork. Also, when youre parking, visibility

isnt always perfect.

performance The C3 1.4 diesel hatchbacks gear changes are precise and smooth all the way up to fifth. The

gears feel nice to use and the five speeds are at the right ratios to work really well with the

diesel engine; its powerful enough to allow you to overtake efficiently without having to shift

down the gears. However, at times the engine doesnt feel as refined as it should, with some

noticeable vibrations.

The 1.4 petrol engine we tested in the Pluriel offers reasonable drive performance and is

much smoother than the equivalent diesel engine vibrations are minimal no matter what

speed youre travelling at.

Model tested acceleration (37-62mph) Rating

diesel 1.4HDi (92bhp) manual 5-dr (2004) 9.4 secs diesel 1.6HDi (110bhp) manual 5-dr (2006) 9.5 secs petrol 1.4 (75bhp) manual 5-dr (2003) 8.7 secs petrol 1.4 (90bhp) Sensodrive Stop and Start 5-dr

(2006)

9.2 secs

Ride comfort The C3s suspension is neither too stiff nor too soft and feels comfortable and well balanced.

On bad roads, though, the car will start to rattle and shake, so be prepared for a few chattering

teeth. Large bumps may also make the body shake. The Pluriel is shakier yet, without a fixed

roof, and this suffers body flex and scuttle shake when the roof bars are removed as well.

Model tested Rating

diesel 1.4HDi (92bhp) manual 5-dr (2004) diesel 1.6HDi (110bhp) manual 5-dr (2006) petrol 1.4 (75bhp) manual 5-dr (2003) petrol 1.4 (90bhp) Sensodrive Stop and Start 5-dr (2006)

how we test

performance

Ride comfort

Which? car review

citron c3 (2002-2010) superminis

On the road continued...

handling Smooth steering makes this small car easy to handle. It has a tendency to understeer, which

is best for drivers with less experience. The stability control system (optional on most models)

kicks in to help you stay in control in emergency manoeuvres.

In the Pluriel, there is a bit too much body roll, especially if you change direction quickly on

bad road surfaces. And it has a very wide turning circle for a supermini.

Model tested Rating


brakes The C3s brakes are responsive, with ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution helping you

to stay well in control while braking. If you stop suddenly, the hazard warning lights come on

automatically.

Model tested braking distance (62-0mph) Rating

diesel 1.4HDi (92bhp) manual 5-dr (2004) 41.0m diesel 1.6HDi (110bhp) manual 5-dr (2006) 38.0m petrol 1.4 (75bhp) manual 5-dr (2003) 45.4m petrol 1.4 (90bhp) Sensodrive Stop and Start 5-dr

(2006)

39.5m

Refinement and noise Cabin noise is generally pretty low up to the motorway speed limit. Above that and its actually

the petrol engines which become more vocal. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Pluriel is noisier than

the hatchback, especially with the roof down, when the noise can become rather intrusive.

Model tested cruising noise Rating

diesel 1.4HDi (92bhp) manual 5-dr (2004) 70dB diesel 1.6HDi (110bhp) manual 5-dr (2006) 71dB petrol 1.4 (75bhp) manual 5-dr (2003) 71dB petrol 1.4 (90bhp) Sensodrive Stop and Start 5-dr (2006) 72dB

Which? car review


On-the-limit handling is explored well

away from public roads to ensure a fair

test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of

the harshest tests in the industry..

The Which? Car braking test measures

stopping distance from 62-0mph and is

repeated ten times in quick succession to

highlight any brake fade issues.

The Which? Car experts use a decibel

meter to record interior sound levels

at common UK motorway speeds, and

combine this with subjective assessments

to arrive at an overall score.

how we test

handling

brakes

Refinement and noise

On the road continued...

cabin and controls The instruments are fairly easy to use, and most of the levers and switches are placed logically.

Equally, the steering wheel and seat can be adjusted to your individual needs. Unfortunately

the C3s interior seems fairly ordinary, and it isnt of especially high quality. The dashboard

looks cheap and plasticky, and the heating and ventilation controls are mounted awkwardly

low. At least the radio is in a great position where its easy to see.

Changing the roof settings on the Pluriel isnt quite as tricky and awkward as you might

think the folding top works electrically to open in set stages, and one person should be able

to remove the roof bars without too much trouble. Theres nowhere to actually store the roof

bars in the car, though, which is annoying if you want to switch while youre out and about.

Model tested Rating


Visibility and parking The high seating position means you can see the road clearly, and the rear headrests can

be adjusted to keep them out of the way, but the right roof pillar at the back can cause an

annoying obstruction.

With the roof open you can see all around the Pluriel great for parking. The only niggles

are that the front windscreen pillars can obstruct your view when youre turning and you cant

see the very front of the car from the drivers seat.

Model tested Turning circle Rating

diesel 1.4HDi (92bhp) manual 5-dr (2004) 10.6m diesel 1.6HDi (110bhp) manual 5-dr (2006) 11.9m petrol 1.4 (75bhp) manual 5-dr (2003) 10.6m petrol 1.4 (90bhp) Sensodrive Stop and Start 5-dr (2006) 11.9m

Which? car review


We penalise cars with difficult controls,

and we look for things like backlit light

switches and easy-to-use heating and

ventilation adjustments.

Visibility is a major issue for motorists

today, so each car gets a 360-degree

swivel view test to reproduce the drivers

eye view and any obscured areas.

how we test

cabin and controls

Visibility and parking

We take measurements all around the

driver and passengers door apertures

and note the height of the seat, door sills

and step down onto the car floor. The

best cars dont require too much bending

or stretching to get in and out.

We assess seat comfort subjectively,

using our road testers expert knowledge

and experience from thousands of differ-

ent cars. And we measure the head-, leg-

and elbowroom on offer in every seat, to

see how well the car caters for people of

all shapes and sizes.

how we test

getting in and out

seat space and comfort

comfort and practicalityThe C3 has a spacious front cabin with a high ceiling, and the heating warms it up quickly and

comfortably. Its easy to get in and out of, and there are adjustable seats and headrests for

both driver and front passenger. Its not quite so much fun in the back, however, where youll

struggle to get in - and then be grateful only that the lack of kneeroom makes it easier to hug

your knees whilst waiting for the heater to warm you up.

getting in and out The C3s tall body and large, wide doors mean its very easy to get in and out of the front seats.

Its not quite so easy to get into the back if the front seats are slid right back, although at least

the conventional hatchback has five doors, which means you wont have to scramble over the

front seats to get in.

In the two-door C3 Pluriel, you will have to fold the front seats forward to allow passengers

into the back. Annoyingly, the front-seat back rests dont lock into place when folded, which

makes it more awkward to get in and out, and gives rear passengers nothing to hold on to.

Model tested Rating


seat space and comfort For a supermini, the C3 feels spacious, and it has loads of headroom. The drivers seat can

be moved back to make room for those up to 1.9m and the front cabin has a nice airy feel.

However, passengers taller than about 1.5m in the back are likely to feel they dont have

enough kneeroom if the front seats are slid right back.

Both driver and front passenger seats are height adjustable and front and back seats are

all pretty comfortable. However, the C3s foam-cushioned seats are a little bit too soft and can

make you perspire easily in the summer especially unpleasant with bare legs.

The Pluriel has grab handles for passengers on the rear seats to hold on to and the seats

are all padded comfortably. The bottom of the front seat can slope too far backwards on the

lowest position, though. The plastic covered headrests are adjustable but uncomfortably hard.

Model tested Rating


Which? car review


Carmakers give official stats for boot

space, but our tests are more realistic. We

load the boot up with measuring blocks

only as far as the rear window line, so

that luggage is well secured and wont

obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test

with the rear seats up, and folded down

(where possible).

Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm

each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in

our climate chamber. Starting with a cold

engine, we measure how long it takes to

warm up the front and rear of the cabin.

Diesel cars usually take longer. We also

check the effectiveness of air condition-

ing, where fitted.

how we test

boot and storage

heating and ventilation

boot and storage The volume of the boot (282 litres) is about average for a supermini. The hatchback has a

removable panel that you can put into the boot to raise the floor level; this makes loading

luggage easier (although itll decrease the capacity while its installed). You can create more

load space by folding the rear seats down, but even then the useable load area isnt terribly

impressive for a car with such a spacious cabin, and there are no cubby holes for transporting

small items.

The Pluriels boot space is average its reduced by the roof mechanism, but you can

increase it by folding the seats down. Unfortunately, the tailgate folds down to open (rather

than lifts up), and sticks out quite a way, and this makes it hard to reach the seat-release

handles when you want to fold them. You might also struggle to reach the very back of the

boot.

Model tested boot space (seats up/down) Rating

diesel 1.4HDi (92bhp) manual 5-dr (2004) 245 litres / 465 litres diesel 1.6HDi (110bhp) manual 5-dr (2006) 245 litres / 465 litres petrol 1.4 (75bhp) manual 5-dr (2003) 245 litres / 465 litres petrol 1.4 (90bhp) Sensodrive Stop and Start 5-dr

(2006)

245 litres / 465 litres

heating and ventilation The front of the C3 warms up nice and quickly but the back takes a while longer to get to a

decent temperature. Automatic air conditioning and a carbon filter (which stops nasty smells

coming into the car) come as standard on Exclusive models.

In the Pluriel drivers and passengers may feel like theyre in a hurricane if the windows or

roof are open at speeds of more than 60mph. Draughts are acceptable with everything closed,

however.

Model tested Rating


Which? car review


comfort and practicality continued...

We test fuel economy under strict lab

conditions using realistic test cycles to

reveal the facts behind the figures. Our

figures rarely match manufacturer claims

as, unlike the official mpg test, we mea-

sure economy with both a hot and cold

engine, and on the motorway.

how we test

Fuel consumption

Running costs and depreciationThe golden rule of C3 ownership is not to pay over the odds in the first place. This C3 will be

cheaper to buy secondhand once the new-generation model (on sale mid-January 2010) is

around in greater numbers, and depreciation from nearly-new should be no worse than for

many mainstream rivals. The diesels make most sense for keeping day-to-day running costs

down, although they do cost considerably more to service than their petrol counterparts.

Insurance groups vary from two to seven, on a par with rival superminis. The diesels low

carbon dioxide emissions help keep road tax bills down, and servicing shouldnt break the

bank.

Fuel consumption The Citron C3 is pretty efficient all round in terms of fuel consumption and the 70bhp 1.4

diesel engine is a cut above the rest, according to the published data, at 64.2mpg (hatchback

C3). However, when we assessed it ourselves it fell short of this, returning 55.4mpg, though

thats still pretty efficient. The 1.1i hatchback will do 47.1mpg, but the 1.4i is actually more

economical, doing 46.3mpg according to Citroens figures.

The heavier Pluriel is heavier on fuel; the 1.4 petrol managed only 39.2mpg in our tests and

is a bit of a letdown by comparison.

petrol (combined mpg, claimed) 39.2 mpg - 49.6 mpg

diesel (combined mpg, claimed) 60.1 mpg - 67.3 mpg

Model tested Urban (claimed/tested)

diesel 1.4HDi (92bhp) manual 5-dr (2004) 53.3 mpg/52.3 mpg


petrol 1.4 (75bhp) manual 5-dr (2003) 34.4 mpg/34.0 mpg

petrol 1.4 (90bhp) Sensodrive Stop and Start 5-dr (2006) 40.9 mpg/39.2 mpg

Model tested extra urban (claimed/tested)





Model tested Motorway (measured)

diesel 1.4HDi (92bhp) manual 5-dr (2004) 48.7 mpg

diesel 1.6HDi (110bhp) manual 5-dr (2006) 49.6 mpg

petrol 1.4 (75bhp) manual 5-dr (2003) 37.7 mpg

petrol 1.4 (90bhp) Sensodrive Stop and Start 5-dr (2006) 39.8 mpg

Model tested combined (claimed/tested)





Which? car review


While testing fuel economy, we also

collect exhaust gases to enable us to

measure the amount of carbon dioxide

(CO2) emitted. We also check whether

particulate filters are effective at removing

sooty emissions from diesel engines.

We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP

crash test scores (where available),

alongside our own comprehensive safety

checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results

from our accident avoidance test after

all, its far better to steer around a crash

than rely on the airbags...

Security scores come from the security

experts at Thatcham, who break into

hundreds of cars each year. Most modern

cars are very difficult to drive away, but

are still too easy to steal from.

how we test

emissions

safety

security

emissions

The diesels are some of the cleaner models in the superminis class, with low carbon dioxide

emissions; the 1.6i HDi still on offer new in the Pluriel puts out a relatively low-tax 125g/km. The

C3 1.1i hatchback puts out 140g/km, the 1.4i 145g/km, but the 1.6i with the SensoDrive gearbox

emits a higher-band 172g/km.

petrol (CO2, claimed) 135g per km - 172g per km

diesel (CO2, claimed) 109g per km - 125g per km

Model tested emissions (claimed/tested)

diesel 1.4HDi (92bhp) manual 5-dr (2004) 112g per km/134g per km

diesel 1.6HDi (110bhp) manual 5-dr (2006) 115g per km/130g per km

petrol 1.4 (75bhp) manual 5-dr (2003) 145g per km/159g per km

petrol 1.4 (90bhp) Sensodrive Stop and Start 5-dr (2006) 135g per km/141g per km

safety and security

euro Ncap score Here is the video of the 2002-2010 Citron C3 Euro NCAP frontal crash test.

Please enable JavaScript to access this content.

Adult occupant Child protection -Pedestrian protection

Which? safety rating

Active (crash avoidance) 66%

Passive (crash safety) 62%

Child 92%

Pedestrian 50%

security

The C3 charted average results in our security study; it would be difficult to drive away without

the correct keys, but it puts up little resistance against a break-in.

Theft of car: Theft from car:

Which? car review


Running costs and depreciation continued...

Everyone who takes part in the Which?

Car survey tells us about their car and

the dealers who sell and service it. We

analyse this feedback across all cars to

give top-level satisfaction ratings for each

brand, including the brands reliability

record over the last eight years. All star

ratings are out of five.

These show how owners score this car

in 12 different areas, from performance to

heating. Owners ratings are subjective

so may differ from Which? Car test scores

but they give a good idea of what the

car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars

are scored against other cars in the same

class (e.g. for space).

about our survey

brand ratings

Model ownership ratings

OwnerS ViewFantastic fuel consumption, not so comfortable for me but my wife drives it most of the time. Handles very well and easy to park.

OwnerS ViewHas common faults with the springs and airbag alarm, but is comfortable and reliable with these repaired.

Which? car survey 2012 resultsThe Which? Car Survey is the UKs biggest and best reliability and owner satisfaction survey.

In 2012, drivers told us about 47,716 cars, covering more than 450 million miles in the previous

12 months (thats equivalent to driving 18,188 times around the world). This unique feedback

allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars.

Note Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown

under Most common faults indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the

past 12 months.

brand Sample size: 1,532 people

citron ratings

Overall owner satisfaction for this brand 76%

Brand reliability

Dealer Sales Service

Dealer Servicing & repair

Which? car review


Model: Citron C3 (2002-2010) Sample size: 113 people

Ownership ratingsOverall owner satisfaction for this range 70%

Driving enjoyment

ease of driving

Comfort

Dash layout and controls

in-car technology

Styling

Build quality

Practicality

Value for money

We split reliability into breakdowns (in-

cluding failure to start), faults (where parts

need replacing) and problems (minor is-

sues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where

the car has been on sale for some time,

and we have numerous survey responses

from owners, we also split scores by the

age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are

out of five the more stars, the more reli-

able the car.

Want to know whats most likely to go

wrong as the car gets older? These are

the five most common faults reported by

owners, grouped by age into new, recent

and older cars. A score of 40% means

four out of 10 owners reported problems

with that part of the car over the previous

12 months. Engine electrics and non-en-

gine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause

more headaches than mechanical parts in

most modern cars.

about our survey

Reliability ratings

Most common faults

Which? car survey 2012 results continued...

Reliability ratingsOverall Reliability

Up to 3 years old 3-8 years old

petrol cars Reliability - -

breakdowns - -

average annual repair cost - -

diesel cars Reliability - -

breakdowns - -

average annual repair cost - -

all cars Reliability -

breakdowns - 17%

average annual repair cost - 97

breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months

average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12

months

Most common faults

Up to 3 years old

- -- -- -- -- -

3-8 years old

Auto transmission 13%Lights 11%washers / wipers 11%Air con 5%Springs 5%

Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year

Which? car review


citroen-c3-2002-2010-

Documents

drnew price

superminisnew price

drused price

mainstream c3 models

roadthe c3

overviewthe c3

car reviewcitron c3

ride comfort