We review the Citroen C3 Airdream from price to economy and all its features
The C3 has been slightly overshadowed by the rave reviews given to its posh new DS3 brother.
Fortunately, plenty of customers have still been impressed by the more affordable merits of the C3 and the fact that it’s a very stylish supermini in its own right.
The C3 may lack the sporting edge of the DS3 with its more luxurious interior package, but it shares the same platform and is still a well kitted out car.
And with Citroën’s new Swappage allowance for part-exchange vehicles — prices start at £8,890 together with three years’ free servicing until May 26 — it’s a very attractive proposition.
The C3 is a perfect example of Citroën’s rediscovered design flair. It’s a contemporary supermini with its own distinctive face featuring the firm’s signature double chevron badge.
Another highly individual styling cue is the panoramic Zenith windscreen — it’s 36 per cent bigger than a normal screen and cut well into the roof for a better view for everyone on board.
If the exterior has a more sophisticated look, the interior has also moved up several notches for both the quality of trim and plastics and the layout of the cabin.
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The interior space is generous for a car just 13ft long. A recessed lower dashboard frees more leg room for the front passenger, while the slim front seats create a little more leg room in the rear.
The 300 litre boot, the biggest in its class, has a lowered sill for easy loading and the space increases with 60:40 split folding rear seats.
The C3 has a full line-up of four petrol engines — from 1.1 to 1.6 litre — and three excellent diesels that offer fuel economy from 48.7 up to 74.3mpg and C02 emissions as low as 90g/km.
I tested the special-edition C3 Airdream — a 1.6 litre petrol model that was deceptively quick and easy on the wallet — with a quoted 74mpg that in real life should see at least the mid-60s.
The Airdream is lavishly equipped for a supermini with big-car gadgets like cruise control/speed limiter, rear parking sensors, air con, velour/cloth seats and a built-in air freshener, that pushed the price up to more than £13,000.
But whether you go for the standard C3 at under £9,000 or the Airdream, you get a supermini that’s now one of the best on the market.