The Citroën C3 is a supermini class car produced since 2002 and the successor of Citroën Saxo. It has a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout and comes in three-door and five-door hatchback, as well as two-door convertible body styles. In 2008, Citroën presented a mini MPV version of C3, called C3 Picasso, at the Paris Motor Show. South America received a mini SUV version, called the C3 Aircross. 

The First Generation (2002-2009)

Citroën unveiled the C3 at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show and at the Bologna Motor Show in the same year. The C3 went on sale in January 2002 as a five-door hatchback.

A facelift in 2005 introduced a C3 with a redesigned front end. The modification comprised of a restyled bumper, wider lower airflow intake, single airflow intake slit below the restyled radiator grille, and a repositioned number plate. The rear end also received updated taillights with crystal colored midsections. A redesigned dashboard with an upgraded instrument cluster refreshed the interior design. 

C3’s convertible variant, called Pluriel, has five open-top variations - from full convertible with removable roof side rails to sunroof-like configuration. Top Gear Magazine placed the Pluriel on the list of The 13 Worst Cars of the Last 20 Years, with complaints about the impracticality of removable side roof rails. 

Trim levels featured an excessive amount of choices for the hatchback: Vibe, VT, L, LX, Airplay, Cool, Rhythm, Desire, Cachet, First, Airdream, VTR Stop & Start, Rhythm Stop & Start, SX, VTP, Stop & Start, VTR, Exclusive, Exclusive Plus. 

Pluriel comes in Standard, Côte d’Azur, Latte, Code, Kiwi, Exclusive, and Charleston trim levels. 

• Basic equipment includes ABS, driver’s airbag, folding rear seats, front electric windows, Isofix child seat anchor points, PAS, passenger’s airbag, remote locking, and steering wheel rake adjustment.
• Exclusive adds 3x3 point rear seat belts, air conditioning, alarm, alloy wheels, audio remote, body-colored bumpers, cloth seat trim, electric mirrors, front fog lights, heated mirrors, height-adjustable driver’s seat, service indicator, and side airbags.
• SX adds 3x3 point rear seat belts, air conditioning, audio remote, body-colored bumpers, cloth seat trim, electric mirrors, front fog lights, height-adjustable driver's seat, service indicator, and side airbags.

Engine variants available in Australia were: 

• 1.4L ET3 inline-four petrol engine producing 66kW (89hp) and 133Nm of torque, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission
• 1.4L ET3 inline-four petrol engine producing 66kW (89hp) and 133Nm of torque, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox
• 1.6L TU5 inline-four petrol engine producing 81kW (108hp) and 146Nm of torque, paired with a five-speed sequential manual gearbox
• 1.6L DV6 inline-four diesel engine producing 68kW (91hp) and 216Nm of torque, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox

The Second Generation (2009-2016) 

At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, Citroën revealed the second generation of the C3, redesigned with a 108-degree windscreen, as well as a broader and taller profile, achieving a drag coefficient of 0.307. The dashboard features a mix of analogue dials and digital display. Unusually, it only features a blue and red warning lamp for temperature, instead of the regular gauge. Convertible version has been discontinued, with the five-door hatchback remaining as the only option.

New engines came as a collaboration between Peugeot-Citroën and BMW, with a focus on reduced emissions, better fuel economy, and increased performance. Cruise control, speed limiter, as well as ‘Gear efficiency indicator’ which indicated optimal time to change gears helped reduce fuel economy. The 2013 facelift brought updated interior and exterior features, as well as more efficient engines. 

The trim levels were VT, White, Black, Airdream, Selection, VTR+, CONNEXION, Edition, Exclusive, and Platinum.

Basic equipment includes 3x3 point rear seat belts, ABS, audio remote, body-coloured bumpers, CD, driver’s airbag, electric mirrors, folding rear seats, front electric windows, height-adjustable driver’s seat, Isofix child seat anchor points, PAS, passenger’s airbag, remote locking, side airbags, steering wheel rake adjustment, and steering wheel reach adjustment.

• Exclusive trim level adds air conditioning, alarm, alloy wheels, cruise control, front fog lights, heated mirrors, and rear electric windows.
• Selection trim level adds air conditioning, alloy wheels, cloth seat trim, cruise control, and front fog lights.
• VT trim level adds cloth seat trim, full-size spare wheel, and steel wheels.
• VTR+ trim level adds air conditioning, cloth seat trim, and cruise control.

The engine options available in Australia were: 

• 1.1L inline-four petrol engine producing 45kW (60hp) at 5500rpm and 95Nm of torque at 3300rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 16.5 seconds and a top speed of 145km/h, paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox

• 1.4L inline-four petrol engine producing 70kW (94hp) at 6000rpm and 135Nm of torque at 4000rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 10.6 seconds and a top speed of 170km/h, paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox
• 1.6L inline-four petrol engine producing 88kW (118hp) at 6000rpm and 160Nm of torque at 4200rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 185km/h, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission
• 1.6L inline-four diesel engine producing 66kW (89hp) at 3750rpm and 230Nm of torque at 2000rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 11.3 seconds and a top speed of 168km/h, paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox

The Third Generation (2016 - present)

The current Citroën C3 model features drastic design changes over its predecessors, with some design choices inspired by C1 and C4 Cactus, as well as the signature two-tone paint as a staple. It has made a significant push into the supermini class, and the new design has undoubtedly played a vital role in it. 

Trim levels include: Touch, Feel, Flair Plus, Flair, Elle, Feel Nav Edition, Origins, and Flair Nav Edition. 

Base equipment includes 3x3 point rear seat belts, ABS, body-coloured bumpers, cloth seat trim, cruise control, driver’s airbag, folding rear seats, front electric windows, height-adjustable driver’s seat, Isofix child seat anchor points, PAS, passenger’s airbag, remote locking, side airbags, steering wheel rake adjustment, and steering wheel reach adjustment.

• Elle trim level adds air conditioning, alloy wheels, audio remote, electric mirrors, heated mirrors, parking sensors, rear electric windows, space-saver spare wheel, and traction control.
• Feel trim level adds alloy wheels, audio remote, electric mirrors, rear electric mirrors, and space-saver spare wheel.
• Flair trim level adds air conditioning, alloy wheels, audio remote, electric mirrors, heated mirrors, parking sensors, rear electric windows, space-saver spare wheel, alarm, and front fog lights.
• Origins trim level adds air conditioning, alloy wheels, audio remote, electric mirrors, heated mirrors, parking sensors, rear electric windows, space saver spare wheel, front fog lights, and Sat Nav.

In Australia, the only available powertrain option comes in a 1.2L petrol engine, with a power output of 108hp and 205Nm of torque, 0-100km/h acceleration in 9 seconds, and a top speed of 188km/h, and CO2 emissions are 103g/km.

If you’re interested in buying a C3, or in need of spare parts, have a look on the Carpart website! We’re a fast-growing marketplace for cars, and new or used auto parts and accessories across Australia! 

Author: Luka Kusic