Citroen C3 Hatchback Driven: Clever compromise or cost cutting?

Citroen is about to launch its hatchback C3 in a month. We got an invitation from the French manufacturer to experience and test drive the car before its launch, in Goa. The car has a few SUVish elements but the company insists that it's a hatchback. C3 won’t have a few features which are common in this segment but will come with a turbo engine option. This is an interesting car to watch out for and here is what we thought of the car in our first-drive experience.

The year is 2022, more and more cars are turning into smartphones; the number of tech journalists attending the car launches is matching the number of motoring journalists. The customers are more demanding than ever, expecting the latest gadgets, extra creature comfort and mandatory safety features. Manufacturers are reciprocating, bringing cars with connectivity features, touch screen panels the size of portable TVs we saw in the 80sand adding safety ratings in their brochures in big bold letters. An alien concept a couple of years back, and now all of this in the affordable car segment.

Against this backdrop, we see the Citroen C3, which intrigues you. A car with manual ORVM controls, rear power window controls in the centre of front row seats, no rear armrest or rear ac vents, no reverse camera or a tachometer. There's not even an automatic transmission on offer. But, it will come with a turbo petrol option mated to a 6-speed transmission, and with fuel efficiency mileage rated at over 19kmpl. So, this is not a regular hatchback and this is not going to be a regular launch.

Citroen C3: The Looks

The C3 face reminds you of the C5, with identical dual chrome lines running across the face with the Citroen logo in between. The version I drove had the halogen headlamps and fog lamps. The side cladding had orange inserts and a wraparound tail lamp cluster. Overall, the car looks fresh and distinctive. But, what makes it unique is the positioning. The company is not calling it any kind of SUV, micro-macro-sub or over-the-top suv, nothing. Citroen is pretty clear that they are going to pitch it as a hatchback. Even though it has a ground clearance of 180 mm and the company claims that the seating is a bit higher (+100mm) than the regular hatchbacks. Even though the car has a small SUVish stance and silhouette.

Why? Maybe the answer lies in the interiors. C3 comes with a very functional and matter-of-fact design philosophy. Other than the AC vent design with chrome highlights, and the orange panel insert in the dash, the rest of the car gives functionality over an aesthetic feel. The material used and the finish clearly tells you that the company has intentionally cut some cost there. The seats and space however will not disappoint you. The seat cushioning, thigh support, leg space and headroom make both the rows comfortable. The second row could use some extra storage space on the door panels, which have a slot for a single one-liter bottle.

Engine and specification: The Turbo Bonus

C3 is a sub-4 meter car so a 1.2 L petrol engine has to be an obvious choice. However, this department has one bonus, which is the turbo version. Producing around 108 bhp power, the Turbo version will be recognised by the Puretech badging on the tailgate. The naturally aspirated version produces around 81 bhp. The fuel efficiency figures are very comparable in these two options. The test FE of the turbo version is 19.4 KMPL and 19.8 KMPL for the non-turbo one.

Let us look at the numbers now. The length of the C3 is 3981 mm and the wheelbase is 2540 mm. The car comes with a boot space of 315L. Front brakes are discs and drums at the rear. Fitted with 15-inch wheels, the spare tyre in the turbo option would be 15incher but 14-inch with the non-turbo one.

Before you ask, the crash test ratings are not out yet. What we get right now is that the C3 will come equipped with front driver and passenger airbags. Alongside passive safety features like reverse parking sensors, rear door child lock and high-speed auto door lock.

Citroen C3: Drive and Performance - Surprise package

Shooting a drive review in Goa makes any first drive a bit more comprehensive as the roads offer more than the usual variety of roads we see in Delhi or Noida. If you are lucky and you have time, you can find straight roads with few minor twisties and a couple of uneven roads as well. There are also some stretches that cut across minor hilly areas, and the C3 impressive in all kinds of roads.

Both turbo and non-turbo versions felt comfortable overall, relatively quiet and planted. The gearshift was quick but not very crisp. The brand is all about the idea of comfort which is evident on the straights. The car cruised with confidence, the speed breakers were not nightmares and small potholes were not bothering at all. However, the turns and twists were not that enjoyable if you took it above average speeds. The body roll and soft setup of suspension make it clear that the C3 is a good package practical enough for urban commute.

What I really liked in the C3 was the engine performance and its tuning. The turbo variant surprises you as it pulls. The 108 bhp engine is quick and this is the car which will satisfy the enthusiasts. It was quick, handled well and the engine didn’t struggle or felt adamant. The power delivery was quick and linear. The naturally aspirated version wasn’t bad either. The car wasn’t noisy when pushed and it wasn’t huffing and puffing when accelerated on uphill stretches. It did not require desperate downshifts. I liked both the engines and their power delivery. But if it were to choose one then it would be the turbo option.

As per the company , customer's feedback from various workshops conveyed one specific request - which was to simplify our lives. They don't want dozens of variants with various permutations and combinations of features, for they want the ease of decision making. This resulted in two trim levels of C3, which will be on offer at the beginning. Therefore the lack of features like electric ORVMs, reverse camera, rear AC vent, or the power window switches was something was a result of customer feedback.

So, do they affect your experience in the car? The AC performance felt a bit adequate for second-row passengers. The drive was in Goa, so the rear ac will face its real test in the Delhi weather. Power window switches can take some time to get used to but the powered ORVMs were definitely missed, along with reverse camera, dedicated lock/unlock button, engine start-stop button. These last few features would have added some more value to the car.

Conclusion:

The first SUV from this French manufacturer, a 5-seater C5, was pitched as the Comfort Class SUV. Priced between ₹ 33 and 39 Lakh, this was more of a statement, meant for a different segment, a different set of customers. The C3, however, is aiming at the opposite end of this market. One of the most competitive and brutal segments, where the customers are pampered with a long list of hi-tech features in reasonably priced cars. If Citroen manages to restrict the prices in the Swift/Baleno/i20 zone (unlike the C5 strategy), this car seems to be a good value. The car looks good, has a distinctive presence, is comfortable to drive and sit, and gets an option of a turbo as well. With the right pricing, the package could come across as a clever compromise. If not, then Citroen will have to wait till its next affordable electric vehicle to get a foothold in this segment. 20th July is the date when we get to see if Citroen’s C3 is a good value or just an attempt at a value-for-money product. For me, the ₹ 5.5 to 8 Lakh price band looks good and the turbo version is to look out for. What about you?