Is the Citroën C3 good for new drivers?
First-time car buyers are mostly on a shoe-string budget, and the most affordable new cars are seriously lacking in safety equipment. If you can stretch your finances just a little further, you can buy a pre-loved French car in a higher segment, like a Citroën C3.
Those of us who are buying our first cars are more budget-driven than anything else, and buying a new vehicle is a privilege not many of us can afford. But, if you're buying a lightly used model, you can get a proper, nearly-new car with sufficient interior space, a decent warranty, good build quality, oodles of attitude and a safety rating that will allow your parents some shut-eye at night. Does your budget stretch to the early- to mid-R200 000s? Then why not try out the Citroën C3?
Related: Citroën returns to SA with 3 new models
Cars with low resale value are pre-loved bargains waiting to be snapped up...
...And, since people haven't quite regained their trust in the French auto marque Citroën, you will find these cars in all shapes and sizes on AutoTrader, bearing price tags that are not to be sneezed at. One such car is the snazzy Citroën C3. It was re-released in SA in 2019, looking chic and smart, with a 4-star safety rating badge from EuroNCAP to boot.
Agreed, it doesn't enjoy the same reliability reputation in SA as Toyota or Hyundai, but since Citroën is now backed by the PSA group, and all Citroën's vehicles are sold with a warranty of 5 years / 100 000km, we don't think prospective buyers need to be nervous anymore. The C3 also falls under the Citroën Serenity umbrella which includes a whole host of ownership-enhancing services, such as roadside assist, a courtesy car (if needed), a 24-hour customer care centre, and even a license renewal reminder, among others.
Related: Citroën C3 1.2T Shine (2020) review
How safe is the C3?
As safe as a new, budget-minded driver needs it to be. While most of SA's entry-level cars have ratings from 0-3 stars, the not-so-little Citroën C3, which competes in a higher segment, scored 88% for adult occupant protection and 83% for child occupant protection. resulting in the aforementioned EuroNCAP 4-star safety rating awarded in 2017.
Standard safety kit, available on both the C3 1.2 Feel and 1.2T shine model, includes ABS brakes, hill-start assist, traction control, stability control, 6 airbags, lane departure warning, cruise control, Bluetooth, rear privacy glass, ISOFIX child seat anchorage points, headlight levelling and daytime running lamps. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (as well as MirrorLink), teamed with the satellite buttons on the steering wheel, make communication easier and safer when you're on the go.
The Shine variant has a few more safety frills such as rear-park distance control, fog lamps, and a light sensor, but both models benefit from upmarket safety tech such as attention assist and speed limit information. A tyre pressure monitoring system is also standard on both models.
Engines
There are two engines on offer, a naturally-aspirated 1.2-litre and a turbocharged 1.2T. Both are of the three-cylinder variety, but one offers 60kW and is teamed with a 5-speed manual, while the other has 81kW of power, and is mated to 6-speed auto gearbox. In our opinion, the entry-level model will cut the mustard if you don't have a heavy right foot, and if you live near the coast, even better. 60kW sounds like very little, but the 1.2 Feel model weighs in at only 975 kilograms! New, it will cost you R264 900, while the 1.2T Shine model is significantly more expensive at R321 900.
Citroën claims average fuel consumption of 5.7 litres per 100 km for the 1.2 and 6 litres per 100 km for the 1.2T. As usual, we reckon it's a little ambitious; especially if you're not a terribly chilled driver and you have stuff in the boot. A good guess would be around 6 - 7 litres per 100 km on the 1.2 and around 6.5 - 7.5 for the 1.2T.
How spacious is the interior?
If the driver and front passenger are not terribly tall, 2 adults will be comfortable enough on the rear seat, but legroom is not fantastic. A child will easily fit in the middle with ample space, and will be able to make use of a three-point safety belt. The boot is a practical 300 litres and the rear seat backs can be folded down to make more space. The interior is very stylish and build quality is solid. All of us here at AutoTrader agree that the C3 is great value for money, especially if you buy used.
How affordable are used models?
You can pick up the entry-level Citroën C3 1.2 Feel from only R215 900 on our site. This is the most affordable used model listed, with only 3200 km on the clock. It's a 2020 model, so most of its warranty is still intact.
A low-mileage, 2020 C3 1.2T Shine (turbocharged) model can be had from R269 900. And, as dealerships feel the pinch due to the effects of the national lockdown, you can expect prices to drop even further as time goes by. Just don't expect dealerships to give you a crazy discount for cash; these days, most dealerships prefer financing.
Check out lightly used and new C3s from R200 000 on Autotrader, here.
Verdict
By all means, go and test drive (and even buy!) a Citroën C3. You can always drive it until the 3-year/60 000 km service plan runs out, and then sell it on, if you don't plan on keeping it forever or if you're fearful of an expensive surprise later on. A point to remember, however, is that future resale value probably won't be all that great, but then again, this will be good news for the next owner!
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