Citroen C3 review - an affordable and comfy supermini

Verdict – is the Citroen C3 a good car?

The Citroen C3 is an unassuming small car that doesn’t do anything particularly groundbreaking, but with this generation coming with the option of electric power in the form of the Citroen e-C3 for a rock-bottom price, it could prove to be a game-changing car for the masses. In either form, it’s fairly comfortable, but it’s not particularly engaging to drive and interior quality is lacking. We think that’s still not enough to put buyers off, though, and the C3 is still a lot of car for the money, especially if monthly finance offers further sweeten the deal.

Citroen C3 models, specs and alternatives

The Citroen C3 has been a staple of the brand’s lineup since the early 2000s and has changed quite a bit since then. Now in its fourth generation, the latest iteration of the Citroen C3 hatchback is chunkier and more SUV-like than before to appeal to modern tastes, and even comes as an all-electric version called the Citroen e-C3.

The best small cars and superminis in 2024

The C3’s design is boxier and more upright than that of the previous generation Citroen C3, and is also the first C3 to sport the brand’s retro-inspired new logo. It gets an overall angular look, but it’s not as quirky to look at as you might expect from the Citroen brand; one that’s historically been known for some outlandish designs.

Instead, in recent years Citroen has been pitched as a more value-focused brand in order to stand out in the crowd, and that’s what the focus is for the C3. Using simplified underpinnings borrowed from the latest Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208, as well as the Corsa Electric and E-208 for the e-C3, has helped keep costs down. That’s particularly true of the e-C3, which with an expected sub-£22k price tag is set to potentially revolutionise the market by democratising EV ownership. The petrol version is also very affordable, and will start from under £18,000.

From launch, the latest Citroen C3 will come in three trims: You!, Plus and Max. The entry-level You! cars forgo a central infotainment screen, but get a smartphone holder instead – that might seem spartan in 2024, but it allows Citroen to keep costs down, and many buyers may be happy enough using their smartphone for most of the features an infotainment system would have anyway. The trims above this add many more expected modern features, though, so there’s still the option.

Although official fuel economy and emissions figures are yet to be confirmed, the Citroen C3 should prove pretty frugal in petrol and PureTech Hybrid guise because these engines used in other Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall models (among others) are very efficient. Now though, there’s also an e-C3 electric model which should prove cheap to run, boasts up to 199 miles to a charge and is cheap to buy, too. Read more about the Citroen C3's MPG, running costs & CO2 emissions...

Don’t expect the Citroen C3 to be an engaging car to drive – it’s quite slow even in electric e-C3 guise, and doesn’t take to being pushed hard well. Thrash the petrol engine or even electric motor hard and the C3 isn’t particularly refined either. However, when it comes to comfort – a Citroen speciality – the C3 delivers around town and on most roads at a more relaxed pace, even if it can feel unsettled at times. Read more about the Citroen C3's engines, drive & performance...

The Citroen C3 is a budget model and nowhere is this more apparent than on the interior. Base models don’t even get an infotainment system but there is a smartphone holder so you can use your own device. Cost-cutting is evident elsewhere with the widespread use of cheap plastics, but there are some interesting quirks to the cabin such as a thin slit on the dash where the driver’s display is mounted, and we like that the climate controls are operated by physical knobs and switches. Read more about the Citroen C3's interior & comfort...

The upright proportions of the Citroen C3 have translated to a surprising amount of interior space for a supermini, so two six-foot tall adult rear passengers can travel in relative comfort. The boot is not class-leading, but it’s a reasonable size, although there’s a distinct lack of storage solutions in the rear. Read more about the Citroen C3's boot space, practicality & dimensions...

Citroen performs well in our Driver Power customer satisfaction surveys, and while the previous-generation C3 came in 31st place, the closely-related Citroen C4 came in the top spot out of the 75 cars that featured, so the brand is doing something right. Citroen’s warranty is still quite mediocre, though, and the Citroen C3 is yet to be tested by Euro NCAP, so safety is a grey area. Read more about the Citroen C3's reliability & safety...

Citroen C3 alternatives

The Citroen C3 is very different from the model it replaces, riding higher and blurring the lines between hatchback and small SUV more than before, so it goes up against a varied list of rivals from both body styles.

• Dacia Sandero
• Dacia Sandero Stepway
• Renault Clio
• Vauxhall Corsa
• Peugeot E-208
• Vauxhall Mokka
• Volkswagen Polo
• Volkswagen T-Cross
• Ford Puma
• SEAT Arona
• Skoda Kamiq

Should you buy a Citroen C3?

The Citroen C3 is an affordable hatchback with SUV-inspired styling which is bound to be a hit with buyers, but it’s the e-C3 that has the real potential to be a game changer because of its incredibly low price for an EV.

However, it’s very evident on all versions of the model that there has been significant cost-cutting to achieve that attractive price tag. The interior is full of scratchy cheap plastic, with entry-level models not even getting an infotainment screen (somewhat unheard of in 2024). Put your foot down and you’ll notice a considerable lack of refinement when driving the C3 in petrol and – more surprisingly – even in electric form.

The Citroen C3 is comfortable at low speeds, though, which has become a trademark for the brand, although it definitely comes at the expense of an uninspiring and numb driving experience.

The C3’s warranty is essentially the industry standard, with competitors offering more peace of mind, but reliability figures for Citroen’s tried-and-tested engines seem to be positive. All in all, while the Citroen C3 may not excel specifically in any area and has some downsides, it’s also priced incredibly competitively, especially in electric e-C3 guise, which considerably helps its case.

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What is the Carbuyer pick of the Citroen C3 range?

We would go for a Citroen C3 in the middle Plus trim, as it adds most equipment you’d expect of a 2024 car, including the easy-to-use infotainment system, rather than the base spec’s smartphone holder. If you’re debating whether to go for a petrol C3 or electric e-C3, then the choice is quite hard given the fact that both are very cheap for what they are. The e-C3 may well be the car that convinces lots of buyers to make the switch to electric power if they have weighed up all their options and find that they can make an EV work around their life now that cost is less of a factor – just don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel.

How we tested the Citroen C3

We drove the Citroen C3 and e-C3 on a variety of different roads in Austria in May 2024.