Citroën C3 hatchback - Interior & comfort

Both front seats are very comfortable and the view out for the driver is excellent, too. You’ll be able to find a really good driving position, thanks to the standard fitment of a reach and height-adjustable steering wheel.

There’s a sense of style in there, as well, with the option of a few ‘Ambiances’ giving each car a unique feel, while details like fabric straps instead of plastic door pulls give the C3 a sense of character that’s not as prevalent in other cars in this class. A 'Techwood' trim option even adds faux wood accents around the interior, for a modern twist on a traditional style.

Citroen C3 dashboard

There’s no denying the Citroen C3's interior is a nice place to be. Everything is easy to use, while it’s stylish, too. The dashboard contains the air vents and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The touchscreen is easy to operate on the move for the most part, although it's frustrating that the climate control functions are hidden within the screen, instead of having physical buttons or dials. This means you'll have to take your eyes off the road to adjust something as simple as the temperature.

Depending on which ‘Ambiance’ you go for, the dashboard comes in a variety of colours and materials – grey, red, and blue all feature. The dials are clear and easy to read, while the rest of the fascia and the centre console is pleasingly uncluttered. Okay, some of the plastics don’t feel quite as high-quality as you'll find in the likes of the Volkswagen Polo or Audi A1, but they'll pass muster against much of the rest of the class.

Equipment

You can now choose between four different trim levels – Sense, C-Series, Saint James and Shine Plus. Previous entry-level versions are no longer offered as most buyers went for the top trims. All C3s therefore come well equipped with the likes of a seven-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Having Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity allows you to operate various functions of your smartphone – including navigation and media – from the touchscreen itself. As well as all this, Sense includes air-conditioning, cruise control, power-adjustable door mirrors, LED headlights and foglights.

The C-Series trim sits above Sense, according to Citroen, yet costs less because it's exclusively available to order online, rather than through brick-and-mortar dealerships. They also get some bespoke styling cues to help them stand out, along with 'C-Series' badges.

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Shine, now replaced by the Saint James edition, adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a contrasting black roof, automatic headlights and wipers, and rear parking sensors. Saint James also brings a reversing camera and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Meanwhile, Shine Plus comes with some of the more headline-grabbing equipment. This includes sat nav, Advanced Comfort Seats, 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows and a driver's armrest.

Options

There aren’t too many options to pick from. Besides a multitude of paint colours, as well as contrasting roof, mirror and trim shades and different alloy wheel designs, buyers can choose a ‘Connected Cam’ forward-facing camera on Shine Plus versions. Sat-nav is £400 where not fitted as standard, while adding parking sensors to the Sense model costs £150.