French carmaker Citroen has launched the much-awaited C3 in the Indian market. The premium hatchback is the brands’ second car in India, but first in the ultra-competitive mass market space. With over 90% localisation, this Made-In-India model is the first product from the C-Cubed family of vehicles and is built at Citroen ’s manufacturing facility in Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu.
Citroen is offering the C3 with two petrol engine options and both get manual transmission options.
Use of dual tone colours on the dash makes the cabin look more attractive.
Design
Looks have always been a strong point of cars from the brand. We saw that with the C5 Aircross, Citroen’s first car in India and same holds true for the C3 as well. It is a looker no doubt and it seems the idea is to make it look like a mini-SUV. So, traits like a use of cladding all over the body, use of skid plates, roof rails or a higher ground clearance can be seen on the car. The beautiful use of chrome on the grille that incorporates the Citroen logo while the twin-DRLs really stand out when it comes to the face of the car. It comes with 15-inch wheels which look proportionate to its size although the door handles do look old-fashioned. The company is offering a good choice of colours on the car including a few dual-tone options which do enhance the appeal of the car.
Interior
Design is once again an important factor inside the C3. Use of dual tone colours on the dash does make the cabin look more attractive. The fit and finish and use of plastics also impress. Probably the biggest highlight inside the cabin is the big 10-inch touchscreen that is compatible with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen is clear and responsive at the same time and comes with a lot of entertainment and convenience features. The all-digital instrument cluster looks nice but is small and misses out on a tachometer. Ergonomically the car scores well and there are many storage options all over the cabin. However, the C3 also misses out on some key features, even in the top variant. These include electric side-view mirrors, climate control and a lock/unlock switch. The 2nd row is surprisingly good on space and small families with like that. The car gets a boot space of 310 litres
Engine
Citroen is offering the C3 with 2 Petrol engine options and both get manual transmission options. First is a 1.2 litre naturally aspirated motor that makes 80 bhp and 115 Nm. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The second one is a more powerful 1.2 litre Turbo which makes 108 bhp and 190 Nm. This setup is also more enjoyable to drive as it ensures a faster pickup and a more spirited drive. The turbo model gets a 6-speed gearbox, and it is both smooth and responsive at the same time.
Ride & Handling
If Citroen is to be believed, then probably the most important thing on this car is its ride quality and the brand has made all the effort to give you a comfortable ride irrespective of the road conditions. The suspension indeed is tuned well to deal with all the challenges that Indian roads will throw at this car. This is one aspect where this premium hatch really impresses. The car also handles well and inspires good confidence even on corners. It gets disk brakes on the front and drums on the rear.
Prices
The Citroen C3 has been launched an introductory price of Rs 5.70 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the Live variant with naturally aspirated engine. These prices go up to Rs. 8.05 lakh for the 1.2P Turbo Dual Tone Vibe Pack in the Feel variant. The car is now available for retail at La Maison Citroën phygital showrooms in 19 cities while customers in another 90 cities can book the car online and get it home delivered. Deliveries for the C3 have already begun. Citroën is offering a standard vehicle warranty for two years or 40,000 km, a warranty on spare parts & accessories for 12 Months or 10,000 km, and 24/7 Roadside Assistance. The company will offer services like remote diagnostics.
The author is a senior editor at carandbike.com.