Citroen C3 (2026) Review

Introduction

These days, the lines between what constitutes an SUV and a hatchback are understandably blurred, but few cars have blurred those lines quite as much this. Never one for doing things by the book, Citroen has launched a new C3 that eschews the old car’s hatchback design with something a little more uplifting. Or, at least, uplifted. Yes, the C3 has gone all high-riding, putting it into the territory once occupied by the old C3 Aircross. That in turn has pushed the C3 Aircross to grow into a mini seven-seater, but that’s a story for another time.

What matters is that the C3 has grown a bit, and in doing so has increased the number of potential rivals it faces, but Citroen reckons it can take on all comers with its high-riding hatchback. As usual, the French brand has kept things quirky, but the C3’s style is unquestionable and it still has a compact and city-friendly footprint. The question is, will it still be a great choice for those in search of a small car?

At a Glance

The new C3 looks quite different from its predecessor, and the two cars really have very little in common. Where the old one was a rounded, cheap-as-chips small hatchback, the new car is a pseudo-SUV with a boxy design and a Tonka-toy chunkiness to its image. And the new look is an improvement, making the C3 stand out from the crowd a bit more, and ensuring Citroen’s reputation for doing things differently is sustained.

Inside, the C3 is relatively practical and looks as modern as it does outside, but closer inspection reveals evidence of cost-cutting. Cheap plastics reign supreme alongside some switchgear that’s no better than acceptable. But it’s ergonomically good and it looks the part, while some budget plastics are to be expected in a car of this size.

Perhaps less expected is the range of powertrain options available to customers. Not only can you have the conventional 1.2-litre petrol engine, but there’s a hybrid option available, and you can choose one of two different electric options – a smaller-battery model for urban living and a slightly bigger one for venturing a little further afield.

Whichever you choose, the C3’s attitude remains unchanged. This is not a sporty car in any way, and Citroen has worked hard to ensure it is comfort that wins out over handling in every department. The steering, then, is light and the ride is relatively supple, giving it a relaxing feel, but don’t throw it into corners with too much gusto – the C3 won’t reward you for it.

Key Features

Citroen clearly intended to make the C3 stand out with its new look and proportions, and there’s no doubt it has succeeded on that score. Although SUVs are becoming more common, the C3 feels very different from its more conventional hatchback rivals, without offering any greater footprint on the road. The result is something that looks modern, cool, and surprisingly rugged, but still blurs the lines between a small SUV and a ‘proper’ compact hatchback. That look probably won’t suit everyone, but then you get the impression the C3 isn’t really aiming to please all customers. It just needs to capture the hearts and minds of some.

Nevertheless, a broad appeal is still important, so Citroen has ensured the C3 comes with plenty of engine options. You can have the basic 100hp 1.2-litre petrol, which is very good, or you can have a more powerful hybrid version of the same engine, giving you a bit more performance and better economy. Or you can have one of two electric powertrains, offering a tax-efficient option for company car drivers and a clean mode of transport for those in an urban setting. Yes, the hybrid will probably be the better choice for those covering long distances, but the electric e-C3 models are smoother and more refined around town.

Range & Batteries

The electric versions of the C3, known as the e-C3 models, offer a choice of two different battery packs. The base option is called the Urban Range, and as the name suggests, it’s designed for driving around town. With a capacity of 30kWh, it’s barely larger than the battery in a plug-in hybrid Porsche Cayenne, and it offers an official range of 130 miles.

For some, that range will be plenty, but most will prefer the flexibility of the larger Standard Range battery. At 44kWh, it’s almost 50% bigger, and it increases the range to 201 or 202 miles, depending on the car’s specification. Even that isn’t a massive range, but it’s perfectly usable for most customers.

Performance & Drive

Although the C3 engine range is quite broad in terms of fuel types, the number of options available is not too overwhelming, which essentially makes choosing your C3 a question of picking between petrol, hybrid and electric power.

Opt for pure petrol power, and you get the Turbo model, complete with its 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged engine and six-speed manual gearbox. Driving the front wheels, the engine gives you an acceptable 0-62mph time of around 10-and-a-half seconds, and a serviceable top speed of 99mph. It’s punchy enough to live with, then, and the three-cylinder engine has quite a pleasant thrum to it, even when you put your foot down.

Nevertheless, the Hybrid is – on paper, at least – the more appealing option. Although it’s more efficient, thanks to the way it combines the Turbo’s 1.2-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, it produces 110hp, bringing the 0-62mph time down below 10 seconds, while the top speed is unchanged. It also gets a six-speed automatic gearbox, which will appeal to some customers, but the power delivery can be quite jerky, particularly if you put your foot down hard.

If you want smoothness, though, the two electric e-C3 options are the versions to go for. Whether you choose the Urban Range or the Standard Range models, you get a 113hp electric motor that powers the front wheels, and takes the C3 from 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds. The top speed is a mere 82mph, but that should be enough for driving on UK roads.

With electric power on board, the C3 feels a bit softer and heavier, but it’s still agile and it performs well when you first accelerate, even if it runs out of puff as you carry on. Even so, it’s smooth and punchy, if not quite as quiet as you might hope.

Although there are differences between the C3 and e-C3 models on the road, the basic attitude remains the same. In that distinctly Citroen way, all C3 models prioritise comfort over performance, with soft suspension and light steering that ensures the over-eager will not be rewarded. Yes, all the variants are agile, although the lighter petrol and hybrid versions feel more nimble than the electric models, but the overwhelming focus is on relaxation and softness.

That means the C3 and e-C3 models tend to ride the bumps a little better than most of their rivals, although the short wheelbase ensures they aren’t going to give Rolls-Royce any sleepless nights. Nevertheless, the ride is generally quite supple for a small car, and that makes the Citroen pretty capable on a long drive, although crosswinds will impact it markedly thanks to the slab sides and sense of lightness.

In the corners, however, the C3 doesn’t fare so well. The body leans quite a lot and the light steering is hardly reassuring, although grip is reasonable. It isn’t dangerous in any way, but it doesn’t exactly reward those who like to zip through the bends.

Charging

The e-C3’s choice of batteries means there are different maximum charging speeds. The basic Urban Range model will only fill at up to 30kW on a DC rapid charger, and that means it’ll take 36 minutes to fill from 20% to 80%. On a 7.4kW domestic ‘wallbox’ charger, the same charge will take two hours and 50 minutes. Choose the Standard Range model, however, and the 100kW DC charge speed means an ultra-rapid public charge point will fill the battery from 20% to 80% in 26 minutes, while the same charge on a wallbox will take four hours and 10 minutes.

Running Costs & Emissions

With such a wide choice of powertrain options, the C3’s running costs do vary quite significantly, but even so, it’s never going to be ruinous to run. Arguably the most expensive (everything is relative) version is the basic 100hp Turbo model, but even that will return more than 50mpg on the official economy test, so private customers will have no complaints on that score. However, despite having an extra 10hp, the Hybrid model is more efficient, managing 56.5mpg on the EU’s mandatory economy test, so it should be fractionally cheaper to run, especially around town, where the electric motor can take more of the strain.

However, it’s the electric e-C3 models that will prove cheapest to keep on your driveway, as long as you can charge at home. Public charging points can be quite expensive, and the petrol versions of the C3 are so fuel efficient that the difference won’t be that big if you only charge the e-C3 on an ultra-rapid charge point.

For company car drivers, however, the e-C3 models are a no-brainer, thanks to the hefty discounts in Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax that electric vehicles incur. That saving will easily counteract the cost of the occasional public charging session.

Interior & Technology

In a bid to both save money and keep the C3’s cabin looking fresh, Citroen has adopted a minimalist approach to interior design. The dashboard is dominated by a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s standard across the range, while there are big air vents at either end and a small bank of switches for the air conditioning.

Citroen has also fitted a two-spoke steering wheel and what it calls a head-up display, but is in fact just a digital instrument cluster. Yes, it’s technically projected onto a panel above the wheel, but it’s still housed in the dashboard, so don’t be fooled into thinking this is some Audi-style augmented reality tech. It isn’t. But it shows you everything you need to know and it’s clear, even if it doesn’t have the functionality of some other digital dashboard displays.

Overall, the C3’s cabin looks modern, but feels a little less up-to-date. The plastics on show are quite scratchy and cheap, and while the prevalence of switchgear is welcome from an ergonomic point of view, some of the touchpoints and moving parts feel a bit sharp and unrefined. That said, we quite like the fabric dashboard covering, which is a cheap way of lifting the mood.

We’re less keen on the little red tabs on the doors, which are clearly designed to look like the labels poking from the back pockets of a well-known jeans brand, but bear such useful legends as “be happy” or “have fun.” Clearly, positive affirmations went down well with some French consumer survey, but they feel horribly cringeworthy in a budget hatchback.

Technologically, the C3 doesn’t pull up trees, but the tech on board works reasonably well. The touchscreen can be a bit sluggish and laggy at times, but it’s sharp and modern, and it does everything you expect of it. It works well with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, too, which is a big part of its draw. Admittedly, the digital instrument display is less impressive, but we do like the fact Citroen has kept buttons for the air conditioning and to switch off the legally mandated but sometimes inaccurate and often irritating speed limit warning technology. Other brands could learn something.

Practicality & Boot Space

Whether the style appeals or not, the C3’s bulkier look has done nothing to harm its practicality credentials. Inside, headroom is excellent – particularly for those in the front – while rear legroom is as good as in any other car in this class. If you were so inclined, the C3 would accommodate four six-foot-tall adults, without incurring the wrath of the human rights activists, although whether they’d want to spend hours in there is another question.

Then there’s the question of the boot. At 310 litres, it’s far from the most cavernous luggage bay in the small car market – you’ll cram more into a Seat Ibiza, for example – but it’s more spacious than the now sadly defunct Ford Fiesta ever was, and it’s roughly on a par with the likes of the Renault 5 E-Tech and Nissan Micra. It’s a sensible shape, too, and the upright rear windscreen means those who feel the need can pack in more than the official figures (measured only to the luggage cover) would suggest. For trips to the recycling centre, the C3 is arguably more practical than most, simply because there’s less chance of smashing a plank through it’s rear window when you shut the boot.

Safety

Remarkably, at the time of writing, the new C3 hasn’t yet been crash-tested by Euro NCAP, the European independent crash safety organisation, so we don’t really know how safe it will prove. However, we know Citroens tend to fair pretty well in such situations, with the most recently tested model – the new C5 Aircross – scoring solidly for occupant protection. A slight lack of standard driver assistance tech meant it only got a four-star rating, though, and that has been a theme for Citroen over the past five years.

Nevertheless, the new C3 does still come with many of the systems we’ve come to expect. The speed limit warning technology is there – whether you want it or not – but it can easily be switched off if the constant bonging irritates. Autonomous emergency braking, which can slow or stop the car automatically if the driver doesn’t react to a hazard, is fitted as standard, while lane departure warning and parking sensors are all there too.

Options

C3 customers get a straight choice between two different trim levels, the most basic of which is confusingly called the Plus. Fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10-inch touchscreen and rear parking sensors as standard, as well as manual air conditioning, automatic windscreen wipers and LED headlights, it’s hardly from the bargain basement. It even gets glossy black exterior trim, a contrasting white roof and tinted side windows, just to make sure you don’t feel as though you’ve picked a base model.

Even so, the more luxurious Max model will be the better choice for many customers. A reversing camera, satellite navigation system and automatic climate control set it apart from the Plus, giving it a bit more tech that makes it just that little bit easier to live with. That said, the C3 Max is only available in Hybrid form, while the e-C3 Max is only available in Standard Range form, eschewing the smaller battery.

Once you’ve chosen your trim level, it’s just a question of choosing between a puncture repair kit and a spare wheel (we’d opt for the proper spare wheel) and then choosing a colour. Unlike so many manufacturers these days, Citroen has stuck with some vibrant options for the C3, rather than just a sea of grey, so there’s a rich Elixir Red premium metallic paint option, alongside the regal Bright Blue metallic and the modern, slightly washed-out Monte Carlo Blue. White, grey and black are options, too, but they’re a bit less vibrant.

Rival Cars

By moving to a bulkier, taller design, the C3 has weirdly increased the number of rivals with which it must contend. No longer merely a quirky alternative to the likes of the cool Seat Ibiza and practical Skoda Fabia – although they are definitely still rival products – it now has to contend with jacked-up models such as the newly redesigned Renault Captur and the overwhelmingly sensible Hyundai Bayon.

At the smaller end of the spectrum, key players include the Vauxhall Corsa, which is currently better than ever before, and the cool and nicely appointed Peugeot 208, not to mention the ever-competent Renault Clio and the surprisingly upmarket Mazda2.

Prospective e-C3 customers also have to consider a new crop of small electric cars, including the awesome new Renault 5 and the stellar Nissan Micra, both of which are brilliant small EVs with a dose of style and substance.

But those drawn to the C3’s newfound ride height might prefer to consider more SUV-like alternatives, including the Seat Arona, which is a very capable and characterful compact crossover, and the divisive Nissan Juke, which won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but still handles well and has a bit of funkiness and personality about it.

Other alternatives include the Vauxhall Mokka, which has finally come of age in its current form and feels cooler than ever, and the Fiat 600e, which has managed to capture some of the 500’s character and translate it into a taller and more practical vehicle. Elsewhere, customers can consider the VW T-Cross and the Jeep Avenger, as well as the Toyota Yaris Cross and Honda Jazz.

Verdict & Next Steps

The C3’s growth spurt may have turned it into a baby SUV, but it still has all the charm, style and capability you expect from a compact French hatchback. Quirky, efficient and light on its feet, the little Citroen is arguably the best it has ever been, especially with its broad selection of propulsion systems. It won’t be for everyone, but there’s nothing wrong with that, especially when so many small cars feel a bit homogenous these days. Vive la difference!

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Citroen C3. 

**Correct as of 13/01/2026. Based on 12  months initial payment, 5000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to  monthly payments, or £2,882.88 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.