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2017 Citroen C3 UK Review Says It's Cute, Has Good 3-Cylinder Engines

Is it just me or does the Citroen C3 make more sense than the Peugeot 208? The latter pretends to be a premium supermini, but we can't find a single feature that sets it apart from its chevron-wearing sister.
2017 Citroen C3 UK Review Says It's Cute, Has Good 3-Cylinder Engines 1 photo
Photo: YouTube screenshot
Anyway, the C3 was in dire need of a replacement, as the old one was never a good car. It's a French automaker tradition to reinvent the wheel every time, and with the C3, they've made it cute, smart, quirky and rugged at the same time. Perhaps that's a metaphor for the modern woman, juggling bank accounts, practicing yoga and working on her Ph.D.

I like my cars to come in other colors than silver and black, but I don't enjoy overly retro designs. So to my eyes, the C3 is a far better pick than a Fiat 500. However, I'm one of those people that wonder how the 500 has stayed in production since 2007, so I might be rambling.

But practicality is measured in centimeters and liters, so I can't be wrong about that. With a trunk that's larger than the Ford Fiesta, the C3 is great for small families. The seats don't fold completely flat, but that's a flaw worth forgiving in any supermini.

What I can't turn a blind eye to are the sub-par gear shifters Citroen has been putting in its cars for many years, especially the 5-speed ones. We're not asking for a Porsche 911, but it feels like something is rotting under the sleeve.

The bit that we found interesting in this CarBuyer review is the positive take by a professional female reviewer. If Ginny Buckley is impressed, then the Citroen C3 will be a winner. Well, not in the sense of being the best seller in the segment, since the Corsa and Fiesta cannot be touched in Britain. But the old Polo might be in for some trouble in the British Isles because the C3 apparently has some of the best 3-cylinder engines on the market, and that's critical these days.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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