Citroen C3 Puretech 82: First Drive Review

When you crank the car, the starter motor sounds pretty loud, almost like when cranking an already running engine. But once started, it settles down to a decently refined idle. The clutch action takes a little time to get used to getting off the line because the return spring action is a little slow. Also, at crawling speeds, the C3 sometimes needs constant throttle or stalls. Once you get going, though, it’s all smooth sailing. The engine feels refined at normal and commute speeds, and what is surprising is how peppy even this naturally aspirated 1.2-litre engine feels.

Acceleration is snappy, and throttle response is pretty immediate, which helps with quick overtakes in the city. But try pushing it harder, and the engine note starts sounding coarse with the performance tapering off quickly too. The five-speed manual gearbox isn’t the best we have come across, with long-ish throws and a less than positive shift feel. The city is where the Puretech 82 is completely at home and impresses without a doubt. Citroen claims a fuel efficiency of 19.8kmpl.

On the braking front, the C3 gets the same disc-drum set-up for both the variants and works well, but we could do with better initial bite.

The suspension works very well, absorbing bumps and undulations. We drove the C3 over some nasty patches, and the C3 managed to take it all with ease. What also helps is the 180mm of ground clearance, so one does not really have to ease up for large speed breakers and bad patches. Citroen has definitely got the ride quality spot on.

Coming to the handling bit, the tall SUV-ish stance and the comfort-oriented suspension mean the C3 does roll quite a bit, but only if you push it hard in a corner. The steering has no feel, but it's got quite a bit of weight, meaning it feels quite confident at triple-digit speeds.

Overall, the C3 has been set up for comfort, and Citroen has done a fantastic job setting up the suspension for its intended purpose.

The seats, though, feel great. The cushioning is just right, and good support all around means long hours will not be a problem. The high seating position also gives a commanding view of the road. The steering, though, is only tilt-adjustable but not adjustable for reach.

At the rear, there is ample legroom and headroom. You also get theatre seating at the rear, which means it’s a little raised as compared to the front and Citroen, according to feedback, has designed the cabin such that it’s easy to look out from all angles even when seated at the back. While the rear bench is comfortable, the seat squab could be a little longer.

The cabin is also very practical, with nifty storage places all around. The C3 gets a boot space of 315 litres. However, for additional storage, there is no 60:40 split option. The rear bench folds entirely, making room for additional storage.

On the features front, the C3’s list seems a little scarce. In fact, it’s a little too basic. So let’s take a look at what you don’t get. No auto aircon, no adjustable headrests, no rear wiper, no wireless charging, no sunroof, no shark fin antenna, no LED headlights or taillights and no rear camera. Heck, it does not even get a prismatic rear view mirror.

Now that’s a lot of basic kit missing. What you get is a vertical 10-inch infotainment system that looks great and is easy to use. You do get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; however, it was quite glitchy and lost connection quite a few times. On the safety front, the C3 gets two airbags, reverse parking sensors along with ABS.