Citroën C3 (10 on) - Review

Thanks to a very aerodynamic shape, the C3 is impressively quiet, even at higher speeds. Add this to superb ride comfort and it makes for a relaxing long distance car. There's good cabin space too with ample room for four adults, but three would struggle in the back as it's not especially wide. Head and legroom are good though, but as usual on a car of this size, with a taller driver or front passenger, rear legroom is very limited. It's very light inside though, helped by a large glass area, while most models are fitted with a stylish Zenith windscreen. Similar to the Citroen C4 Picasso, this is a windscreen which stretches back above the driver's head, giving an uninterrupted view out and making the cabin even brighter. The roof lining actually slides, allowing you to have a conventional roof with sun visors. The seats are fairly comfortable, but they do lack support, especially at the sides.

With 300 litres of luggage space, the C3 has one of the largest boots in the small car class and can carry more than alternatives like the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 207. It's on par with the Skoda Fabia but has a less prominent load lip while the boot area itself is more than a metre wide. The rear seats split 60/40 and fold down with just one lever (from the boot or the seats themselves) allowing you to carry larger items. Up front there is good stowage including a large glovebox, a useful central cubby between the front seats and - on certain models - underseat trays. The door pockets are annoyingly short though and not very user-friendly.

This is an area Citroen has clearly focussed on, in order to give the C3 a more upmarket and higher quality feel than before. It's a success to a certain degree with a stylish look including three deep-set instrument dials and circular air conditioning controls. The flat-bottomed steering wheel with its metal trim - fitted to Exclusive models - is neat too while the plastics used feel far better to the touch than in the previous C3. Cars fitted with the panoramic windscreen have a pleasant airy feel which makes it stand out from other cars in this class. But while the quality has undoubtedly improved, it's still not a match for other small cars such as the Ford Fiesta or Skoda Fabia. The column stalks and gear lever are the same dated examples that can be found in other Citroens and Peugeots while the stereo is fiddly. Overall it doesn't feel especially robust with doors that 'clang' shut and a slack gear shift.