Monday May 31
From a distance, the new Citroen C3 looks very similar to the previous model, but move closer and it's obviously much more modern, with interesting detailing and curves. Our test car features 'Obsidian Black' paint, which is a €400 option and in my eyes is a waste of money, as it hides the car's shape.
Inside, the new car takes a distinct step up - in terms of perceived quality and design - from its predecessor. It's a really interesting cabin and quite spacious too. Well, for passengers it is; the glovebox is tiny in return for good legroom. There is loads of headroom too. The seats are quite comfortable as well, even though you sit quite upright.
Two things strike me as soon as I get out on the road. First off, the 1.4-litre turbodiesel engine is remarkably quiet. It's not completely silent, but in comparison to most diesel engines in small cars, it's very well isolated from the cabin. It has plenty of urge low down too so there's little need to rev it.
That relaxed nature is emphasised by an exceedingly comfortable chassis. The C3 has a lovely soft way of dealing with badly surfaced roads and big bumps. I don't think there's another car in the class quite as comfortable.
Tuesday June 1
This top of the range version comes with the 'Zenith' panoramic windscreen. It looks good from the outside - especially with the chrome outline - and it does flood the interior with light. However, we found that it's of limited use. In sunny weather you'll need very good sunglasses to cope with the extra brightness and on gloomy days you're more likely to want to slide forward the built-in blind. This does work simply enough, though feels a little light and flimsy.
Wednesday June 2
Despite the soft settings of the suspension the C3 doesn't turn to jelly when presented with a few corners. It'll not excite keen drivers, but they're not really the target market either. Most buyers will appreciate the lovely leather steering wheel, light steering and clutch and the slick gearchange. Surprisingly these days this car has a five-speed gearbox, which means that the engine does make more noise than is desirable when you're hitting motorway speed limits.
Thursday June 3
As you'd hope, this range-topping C3 has loads of equipment as standard, though there are a few strange omissions. For instance, only the front windows are electrically operated, yet it has cruise control as standard. It's crammed with safety devices though.
Friday June 4
Time to drop the C3 back today. It averaged 5.5 litres / 100 km (51.4mpg) in our hands. About half of the time was spent on motorway with the other half on urban roads, often in traffic, so that's a decent result, if nowhere near the official combined cycle figure. Nothing new there though.
Band A CO2 emissions of 113g/km mean you'll pay just €104 per year on tax, though there are loads of diesel rivals available also worth considering at around the same price point. These include the new Fiat Punto Evo, the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio, Peugeot 207, Mazda2 and Kia Rio - among others.
Citroen C3 1.4HDi 8V 70hp VTR+:
- Engine: 1,398cc turbodiesel four-cylinder
- Maximum power: 70hp at 4,000rpm
- Maximum torque: 160Nm at 2,00rpm
- Acceleration (0-100km/h): 13.7 seconds
- Max speed: 163km/h
- Fuel economy (combined cycle): 4.3 l/100km
- CO2 emissions: 113g/km
- Motor tax band: A
- Annual road tax: €104
- Retail price: Official price of test car without options is €17,900