Citroën C3 hatchback

Drive

The C3 is in its element in town. In that environment you'll appreciate its light controls, smooth suspension and good visibility. In terms of performance, it's worth opting for the mid-range 1.4-litre petrol engine, which offers 93bhp. Diesels deliver good fuel economy, but are expensive to buy. You need to cover a lot of miles before that extra cost is covered by your fuel savings. 

Comfort

The Citroen C3 is one of the most comfortable superminis available. Its suspension soaks up everything the road can throw at it, yet the car still feels stable at motorway speeds. Adding to passenger comfort is a set of supportive seats. Legroom in the front is generous, while rear seats are plenty big enough for kids. 

Reliability

While the controls feel light to the touch, this means they also feel a little flimsy. Currently only flagship models offer electronic stability control, which is disappointing in this family-oriented class. This affects the car's performance in the Euro NCAP test, too, in which the car scores just four stars out of five. The C3 is too new to feature in the 2010 Driver Power survey, but no widespread problems have been reported as yet. The C3's predecessor suffered a series of recalls, but Citroen claims that the new car is much better built.

Practicality

The size of the C3's boot is on a par with most superminis. The 300-litre space is large enough for prams and a single bulky suitcase. On the downside, the hatchback opening is not the best. There's a large lip in the bodywork above the rear bumper, which hinders access and makes loading trickier. Inside, there's generous front legroom but the glovebox is tiny. The C3 is only available as a five-door model.

Value for money

All models in the C3 range - other than the cheapest VT versions - are well equipped, with a panoramic windscreen, air-conditioning, alloy wheels and cruise control as standard. All cars get driver, passenger and side airbags. Surprisingly, although electric front windows are fitted across the line-up, only Exclusive versions get electric rear windows. Be prepared to haggle with dealers to get the best price.

Running costs

All C3 models boast good fuel economy, ranging from 46.3mpg to an incredible 74.3mpg. The latter is achieved by the Airdream+ model. It's powered by a 1.6 HDi diesel, although it's more efficient than other models using this engine thanks to various modifications. Its emissions figure is just 99g/km, so it also qualifies for free Road Tax. Servicing isn't expensive, although resale values may not be as impressive as the likes of the VW Polo or Ford Fiesta.