- Prices for C3 AT variants are yet to be announced
- The new-generation Swift was launched in May this year
Finally getting into the game
The Citroen C3 hatchback has finally upped its game in the B-segment by adding premium features and an automatic gearbox putting it on par with its immediate competitors like the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and the latest generation Maruti Swift. But has Citroen done enough to bring itself into what is already a tightly fought game? Let’s find out
Engine and gearbox talk
1.2-litre is the motto in the segment and all of the three above-mentioned competitors. In the case of the Swift, it’s a new 1.2-litre three-pot engine producing 80bhp/111.7Nm and can be had with either a five-speed MT or a five-speed AMT.
Citroen’s options are a little more diverse with either a 1.2-litre NA petrol or a 1.2-litre turbo petrol. The former produces 80bhp/115Nm while the latter produces 109bhp/190Nm in a six-speed MT guise while in a six-speed AT guise, it produces 109bhp/205Nm. The AT is only available with the turbo petrol engine which means it will be priced higher than the equivalent Swift but is the more powerful of the two.
In terms of claimed mileage, the Swift does 24.8kmpl for the MT and 25.74kmpl for the AT. The 1.2-litre NA version C3 has a mileage of 19.8kmpl while the MT turbo stands at 19.3kmpl. The official number for the C3 AT has not been revealed but with the C3 Aircross AT having a claimed mileage of 17.6kmpl, this one should be much better given its smaller dimensions and lighter weight.
Features fight
The new-generation Swift has not upgraded itself in terms of features over its predecessor and has instead added hygiene features to ensure it stays relevant in the segment. This includes a bigger touchscreen system with wireless connectivity, rear AC vents, full colour MID, LED tail lamps, wireless charger and cruise control as a part of the deal.
In the Citroen, they have added climate control, powered mirrors, LED headlamps, a wireless charger and a full-digital instrument cluster. The C3 is also a bigger car with more length and a longer wheelbase. Both vehicles now get, across the range, six airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX child seat mounting points as a part of the deal.
New challenge for the C3
Now that we have detailed everything we can see that Citroen has upped its game, on paper at least. The big challenge for the French automaker will now be to expand its reach and tap into not just tier-1 and tier-2 cities but also tier-3 and tier-4 locations.
In the latter Maruti’s name is sacrosanct when it comes to small cars and has been so for a while now. Pricing will now be crucial and we expect the top-spec C3 to be higher than the Swift but for that money, you are getting a turbo petrol with a higher output and a bigger car in terms of overall space.
