What's all this about?
It’s the new Citroen C3, which is the French brand’s answer to the Vauxhall Corsa and the Peugeot 208. Except this time it comes with an even more SUV-inspired body and it gets the option of an all-electric powertrain, as well as a new cabin with some fresh technology.
All change then?
Yes indeed. Even Citroen’s logo has changed, with the new retro-inspired oval design adorning the car’s nose. There are new lights, too, inspired by the Oli concept, and the whole shape of the car has changed, even though its footprint is much the same as before.
So what exactly has changed?
For starters, the new C3 is taller and squarer than the old car, but it’s still essentially a five-door hatchback. At 1.57m tall, though, it sits much higher than its predecessor, offering an extra 60mm of ground clearance. All models also get black wheel arch cladding, while higher-end versions add decorative skid plates and some roof rails.
The other new feature is the Color Clip system, which uses four colourful clip-in inserts to allow drivers to personalise their vehicle. Using a tool (supplied) you can pop the inserts out to your heart’s content, and replace them with one of the other colours offered by Citroen. At launch, you can choose from Infrared, Lemon Yellow and Polar White.
What about the inside?
Citroen is claiming the new C3 is far more practical than its predecessor, and although the 310-litre boot is an improvement on the old car, it’s still smaller than some of the more competitive cars in the class. That said, Citroen reckons rear passenger knee clearance is among the best in the segment, with “at least 20mm” more space than the class average.
But while practicality has played a role in the new car’s design, technology is even more prominent. Chief among the innovations is the new Citroen Head-Up Display, which doesn’t quite work like other head-up displays. Instead of projecting data already displayed in the instrument cluster onto the windscreen, the new C3 combines the two displays on a glossy panel between the dash and windscreen. That means there’s no duplication, but the information is closer to the driver’s eyeline.
That new system is joined by a 10.25-inch touchscreen that’s optional on base models but standard on the two more upmarket trim levels, while there’s ample safety tech including autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. Parking sensors and reversing camera systems will also be offered.
What's under the bonnet?
A good question, because Citroen hasn’t really said. We are expecting to see the petrol versions use the 1.2-litre PureTech three-cylinder turbocharged engine used to such good effect elsewhere in the Citroen range, but there’s no guarantee of that. We do, however, know there will be an electric model called the e-C3.
That car will have a 44kWh lithium ferro-phosphate battery pack, sending its stored energy to a 113hp electric motor that drives the front wheels. Officially, Citroen is expecting a range of 199 miles on a single charge, as well as an adequate but unremarkable 0-62mph time of 11 seconds. The top speed will be 84mph.
Charging will be taken care of by the 100kW charging system, allowing the car to charge from 20 to 80 per cent in 26 minutes, assuming you can find a 100 or 150kW charger. If you’re charging at home with a 7kW ‘wallbox’ system, it’ll take around four hours to get from 20 to 80 per cent, but a full charge should be achievable overnight.
So when can I have one and what will it cost?
What’s with these excellent questions? Are you after our jobs? Again, we don’t really know the answer to either question, but we do know Citroen will sell the C3 in three trim levels – You, Plus and Max – and it says the cheapest e-C3 model is expected to cost less than £23,000 in the UK, although whether that happens remains to be seen.
James Fossdyke - 17 Oct 2023
