2003 Citroen C2 Photos, engines & full specs

Introduced in 2003 as a supermini two-door hatchback, the C2 targeted customers looking for a chic vehicle with a sporty character and a spacious interior.

When it made the C2, Citroën thought that it checked all the boxes to provide an excellent car for the urban environment. Thanks to its small size and excellent all-around visibility, it was an easy-to-live-with vehicle, especially in the cities. The automaker built the C2 based on the same platform as the five-door Citroën C3 and slit between its larger stablemate and the smaller C1. Unfortunately, the French automaker didn’t focus too much on advertising the fancy-looking C2, so the model mainly remained unknown to the customers. As a result, poor sales led to the dismissal of this car in 2009, and it wasn’t replaced by any similar vehicle in the carmaker’s lineup.

With a design signed by Donato Coco, who penned the Ferrari 456 and the Ferrari California, the C2 impressed with its unusual look. At the front, it featured tall, squarish headlights tilted backward. The rectangular grille between them sported the carmaker’s “double-chevron” badge. In 2007, the automaker added a facelift for this model that kept a similar design, albeit with a larger Citroën logo up front. Below the bumper, on the apron, the C2 had a rectangular air intake that helped with cooling, flanked by optional fog lamps.

From its profile, the flared wheel fenders created a sporty image for the supermini hatchback. Unlike most other cars on the market, the rear windows started lower than those mounted on the doors, creating a unique look for the vehicle. Still, regardless of the car’s color and grade, the 2003 C2 featured black door mirror caps but body-colored door handles. Finally, at the back, the automaker installed corner-mounted taillights that flanked the wide tailgate. Below the bumper, a tiny exhaust peaked under the apron.

Inside, depending on the trim level, the C2 featured bucket seats with low or high-bolstered areas, with matching colors for the upholstery and parts of the door cards. Despite being a budget vehicle, it featured a generous instrument cluster fitted with a large tachometer above an LCD that showed the speedometer and other information from the car’s onboard computer. As an option, customers could get the vehicle with an infotainment system that featured navigation mounted high on the dashboard, above the center stack. In the back, two individual seats could fold and expand the otherwise tiny luggage compartment.

Under the hood, Citroën installed a choice of diesel and gasoline engines ranging between 60 PS (59 hp) and 118 PS (116 hp) paired with a five-speed manual. The automaker offered a five-speed automated (single-clutch) transmission as an option for selected versions.