18 April 2011
New car report; Room with a view.
In theory at least, the Citroen C3 is the conservative Citroen to carry the number 3 suffix, with the DS3 we tested late last year being considered the more radical model.
However, not wishing to be outdone by the DS, the new 2011 C3 Exclusive we drove recently has one piece de resistance to trump its supposedly more daring sibling in the form of a windscreen the size of Texas that Citroen calls a Zenith panoramic windscreen.
Starting at the trailing edge of the bonnet where a windscreen is supposed to start, somehow the designer’s pencil failed to stop at the top of the A pillar, where a windscreen would normally finish.
With the glass continuing back non-stop almost as far as the B pillar, any passenger getting into the C3 for the first time is wowed by a sense of amazement at how much glass there is up there. And as the driver, there’s a feeling that you’ve been transported into Parker’s world – he of Thunderbird’s Lady Penelope fame, as the glasshouse rivals that of FAB1, the good Lady P’s futuristic pink Rolls Royce.
The C3 range starts with the 1.4 litre VT model. The entry level 1.4 VT comes in 5 speed manual form only and produces a modest 54kW at 5,200 rpm and 118Nm of torque at 3,300 rpm.
The two other models on offer, the 1.6 VTR and 1.6 Exclusive produce 88kW at 6,000rpm and 160Nm at 4,250 rpm from their 1,598cc variable valve timing and variable lift powerplant. Both are offered with one transmission option, the PSA groups four speed auto-adaptive automatic ‘box.
The equipment offered in the 1.6 Exclusive we tested is up there with the best of them in this class, with climate air-conditioning, rear parking aid, speed limiter and cruise control, USB input, Bluetooth and 16 inch alloy wheels all part of the standard $34,990 package.
Safety features extend to six airbags, ESP, ABS, EBD and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) resulting in a 4 star Euro NCAP crash test rating which, while not of the 5 star class leading variety, is a credible rating.
Entry level models sub $30k.
A fair amount of spec is stripped out of the entry and mid range models to get their price levels down below the $30k mark.
Both the entry level $24,990 1.4 VT and mid range $29,990 1.6 VTR Auto drop the Zenith windscreen, USB, Bluetooth, curtain airbags, climate air, and curtain airbags, with the 1.4 VT doing away with the cruise control too.
The C3 is no rocket ship, but with the automatic 1.6’s completing the 0 – 100km/h sprint timed at 10.9 seconds with a quoted combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 6.9litres of 95 octane fuel per 100 km, they’re brisk enough and reasonable on fuel too. The 1.4 VT gets to 100km/h in 14.2 seconds and uses 6.1L/100km of the same high octane juice.
Clearly, the C3 isn’t the cheapest in class but that’s not the end of the market it’s pitched at. It’s stylish, roomy and zippy, and it’s different enough in our market to appeal to anyone wishing to opt for something other than the mainstream.
The 1.4 VT offers the best fuel consumption in the C3 range and European flair at a mainstream price. However, it gets a smaller engine and being only available in manual form, it won’t suit everybody. Consequently, for buyers with an eye on price, the 1.6 VTR Automatic may have wider appeal in our market, where two pedal cars outsell three pedal models by quite a margin.
The Lady Penelope model is the one to have.
But if for no other reason than the Lady Penelope windscreen, if the budget can run to it, the 1.6 Exclusive will bring a smile to the face. Plus of course, it’s the one with all the fruit so gives more of an upmarket feel to justify the premium price and to go with the exclusivity that goes hand in hand with European cars in our part of the world.
It is getting up there close to the quirky DS3 in terms of pricing, but with only 3 doors, the DS3 misses out on practicality. So if you like your French flair with a modicum of practicality too, the five door C3 offers a good deal of both.
New car report; Room with a view.
In theory at least, the Citroen C3 is the conservative Citroen to carry the number 3 suffix, with the DS3 we tested late last year being considered the more radical model.
However, not wishing to be outdone by the DS, the new 2011 C3 Exclusive we drove recently has one piece de resistance to trump its supposedly more daring sibling in the form of a windscreen the size of Texas that Citroen calls a Zenith panoramic windscreen.
Starting at the trailing edge of the bonnet where a windscreen is supposed to start, somehow the designer’s pencil failed to stop at the top of the A pillar, where a windscreen would normally finish.
With the glass continuing back non-stop almost as far as the B pillar, any passenger getting into the C3 for the first time is wowed by a sense of amazement at how much glass there is up there. And as the driver, there’s a feeling that you’ve been transported into Parker’s world – he of Thunderbird’s Lady Penelope fame, as the glasshouse rivals that of FAB1, the good Lady P’s futuristic pink Rolls Royce.
The C3 range starts with the 1.4 litre VT model. The entry level 1.4 VT comes in 5 speed manual form only and produces a modest 54kW at 5,200 rpm and 118Nm of torque at 3,300 rpm.
The two other models on offer, the 1.6 VTR and 1.6 Exclusive produce 88kW at 6,000rpm and 160Nm at 4,250 rpm from their 1,598cc variable valve timing and variable lift powerplant. Both are offered with one transmission option, the PSA groups four speed auto-adaptive automatic ‘box.
The equipment offered in the 1.6 Exclusive we tested is up there with the best of them in this class, with climate air-conditioning, rear parking aid, speed limiter and cruise control, USB input, Bluetooth and 16 inch alloy wheels all part of the standard $34,990 package.
Safety features extend to six airbags, ESP, ABS, EBD and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) resulting in a 4 star Euro NCAP crash test rating which, while not of the 5 star class leading variety, is a credible rating.
Entry level models sub $30k
A fair amount of spec is stripped out of the entry and mid range models to get their price levels down below the $30k mark.
Both the entry level $24,990 1.4 VT and mid range $29,990 1.6 VTR Auto drop the Zenith windscreen, USB, Bluetooth, curtain airbags, climate air, and curtain airbags, with the 1.4 VT doing away with the cruise control too.
The C3 is no rocket ship, but with the automatic 1.6’s completing the 0 – 100km/h sprint timed at 10.9 seconds with a quoted combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 6.9litres of 95 octane fuel per 100 km, they’re brisk enough and reasonable on fuel too. The 1.4 VT gets to 100km/h in 14.2 seconds and uses 6.1L/100km of the same high octane juice.
Clearly, the C3 isn’t the cheapest in class but that’s not the end of the market it’s pitched at. It’s stylish, roomy and zippy, and it’s different enough in our market to appeal to anyone wishing to opt for something other than the mainstream.
The 1.4 VT offers the best fuel consumption in the C3 range and European flair at a mainstream price. However, it gets a smaller engine and being only available in manual form, it won’t suit everybody. Consequently, for buyers with an eye on price, the 1.6 VTR Automatic may have wider appeal in our market, where two pedal cars outsell three pedal models by quite a margin.
The Lady Penelope model is the one to have
But if for no other reason than the Lady Penelope windscreen, if the budget can run to it, the 1.6 Exclusive will bring a smile to the face. Plus of course, it’s the one with all the fruit so gives more of an upmarket feel to justify the premium price and to go with the exclusivity that goes hand in hand with European cars in our part of the world.
It is getting up there close to the quirky DS3 in terms of pricing, but with only 3 doors, the DS3 misses out on practicality. So if you like your French flair with a modicum of practicality too, the five door C3 offers a good deal of both.