Citroën dealers tend to offer value-for-money servicing and thanks to 20,000-mile intervals you shouldn’t have to pay too many visits. All the engines are economical (especially the diesels) and insurance and tax are both reasonable while depreciation shouldn’t be too much of a concern due to the fact you’ll get a hefty discount when buying new.

The C3 is very eco-friendly and with an average of 134g/km CO2 across the model line-up, its emissions are comparably low for a supermini. Eco-conscious buyers should go for the 1.4 HDi which emits 115g/km of CO2 and can average 64mpg.

Citroen doesn’t have the best reputation for reliability but it’s cars are improving. However C3 owners seem to have been subjected to a wide range of problems, most of them electrical faults rather than anything terminal – still it’s these glitches that can prove the most annoying. The feedback we get suggests some cars are solid whereas others seem nothing but trouble.

Thankfully French diesels are known for their longevity – provided they’re well serviced, although the slightly flimsy interior doesn’t feel particularly robust or long lasting.