Citroën c3 (2002-2010) : Which? Car Review

Overview
The C3 is beginning to show its age. Its spacious and afordable, 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 denite
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 of Citrons gure 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 ve-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 dissatised.
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 VIEW
An 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 diferent
models.
On the road
The 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 fth. The
gears feel nice to use and the ve speeds are at the right ratios to work really well with the
diesel engine; its powerful enough to allow you to overtake efciently without having to shift
down the gears. However, at times the engine doesnt feel as rened as it should, with some
noticeable vibrations.
The 1.4 petrol engine we tested in the Pluriel ofers 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 stif 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 xed
roof, and this sufers body ex and scuttle shake when the roof bars are removed as well.
Model tested Rating
diesel 1.4HDi (92bhp) manual 5-dr (2004)
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
petrol 1.4 (75bhp) manual 5-dr (2003) 45.4m
(2006)
39.5m

Renement 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
Citron C3 (2002-2010)
Superminis
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
Renement 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
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
Citron C3 (2002-2010)
Superminis
We penalise cars with difcult 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 oor. 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 difer-
ent cars. And we measure the head-, leg-
and elbowroom on ofer 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 practicality
The 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 ve 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
Citron C3 (2002-2010)
Superminis
Carmakers give ofcial 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 efectiveness of air condition-
ing, where tted.
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 oor 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
(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 lter (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
Citron C3 (2002-2010)
Superminis
Comfort and practicality continued...
We test fuel economy under strict lab
conditions using realistic test cycles to
reveal the facts behind the gures. Our
gures rarely match manufacturer claims
as, unlike the ofcial 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 depreciation
The golden rule of C3 ownership is not to pay over the odds in the rst 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 efcient 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 efcient. The 1.1i hatchback will do 47.1mpg, but the 1.4i is actually more
economical, doing 46.3mpg according to Citroens gures.
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
Citron C3 (2002-2010)
Superminis
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 lters are efective 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 difcult 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 ofer 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 difcult 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
Citron C3 (2002-2010)
Superminis
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 ve.
These show how owners score this car
in 12 diferent areas, from performance to
heating. Owners ratings are subjective
so may difer 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 VIEW
Fantastic fuel consumption,
not so comfortable for me
but my wife drives it most of
the time. Handles very well
and easy to park.
OWNERS VIEW
Has common faults with
the springs and airbag
alarm, but is comfortable
and reliable with these
repaired.
Which? Car Survey 2012 results
The 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
Citron C3 (2002-2010)
Superminis
Model: Citron C3 (2002-2010) Sample size: 113 people
Ownership ratings
Overall 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 ve 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 ve 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 ratings
Overall 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 sufering 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
Citron C3 (2002-2010)
Superminis

Citroën c3 (2002-2010) : Which? Car Review

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