What’s new?

Although the underpinning and drivetrain are the same as the outgoing C3, the big change is in the way it looks in what could best be described as a move to be a crossover, rather than the outgoing model’s hatchback approach. The big news is that you can jazz up your C3 with different style packages for the exterior and interior.

Exterior:

The new C3’s body resembles that of other smaller sized crossover/SUV-type of vehicles. The body is a more rugged sculpture in typical SUV fashion, and with the higher ground clearance of 180 mm it looks the part of a proper crossover. This is in contrast to the outgoing models’ sleeker design with smooth lines.

From the front, the new look includes the ‘Y’-form lighting signature and traditional chevrons located at the centre of the grille and a silver plate underneath in the front put the focus on the crossover character.

Interior:

Not only does a newly and more modern dash design draw the attention, but also new tech to make life easier for the driver and passengers.

Up front, there’s a 10-inch (26 cm) touchscreen, the largest in any hatch and the heart of the infotainment system. Bluetooth® for phone calls, enables Mirror Screen technology to duplicate functions of a wirelessly connected smartphone.

The driver also gets a new 7-inch (17.8 cm), colour TFT cluster screen with up to 6 modes for displaying vehicle information, as well as options to monitor trip computer, fuel consumption and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System to aid eco driving. Settings and colour schemes can be configured to the driver’s preferences using toggle controls on the tilt-adjustable steering wheel.

The seating position is higher than before, with increased head- and legroom and a bigger boot.

Engine:

Citroën’s familiar three-pot 1200-petrol engine is used, without the turbo or six speeds automatic gearbox in this model. A five-speed manual is used. The engine delivers 61 kW and 115 Nm of torque.

Price:

The new Citroën C3 costs R229 900, and the price of the other models in the range, which are arriving later, has not yet been finalised.