Used Citroen C3 for sale: everything you need to know
If some small cars try to be sporty, the Citroen C3 has gone back to the roots of the French company, and aims instead to be both stylish and comfortable - and it does pretty well on both counts, immediately marking itself out as something a little different.
Citroen has also prioritised value with the C3, certainly in recent years, so the cheapest variant is actually one of the cheapest new cars on sale in the UK. Used models are good value too though, so if you’re prepared to forego the benefits of a new car warranty, opting for a higher-spec used model may be the way to go.
The C3 has numerous competitors, with everything from the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo to French alternatives like the Renault Clio and Peugeot 208, and Korean cars such as the Hyundai i20 and Kia Rio. That’s before you even get to popular compact crossovers too - including the Citroen C3 Aircross.
Should you buy a Citroen C3?
If what you seek in a small car isn’t a firm ride, sporty dynamics, and an aggressive, snarling look, then the Citroen C3 could be the supermini for you. Citroen went down a different path when it designed the C3, prioritising ride quality over sharp handling, and a friendly, soft look over wedgy, edgy styling. And while the C3 is now getting on a bit, it could suit a certain type of buyer down to the ground.
The first C3 debuted in 2002, with a follow-up in 2009, and the current model has been around since 2016. It looks very different from its predecessors, notably adopting (on some models at least) Citroen’s quirky ‘Airbumps’ - plastic, air-filled panels down the doors, designed to shrug off parking dings, though they’re as much a distinctive styling touch as a practical one. Like the old joke about making aircraft from the stuff they build black boxes from, the most practical approach of all would be to cover the entire car in Airbumps…
Ride quality is another Citroen staple, and the C3 is soft and compliant at low speeds, and soaks up bad roads at higher speeds too, though the trade-off is an occasional floaty feel on undulating roads or in fast corners. The controls are light too, so it’s not a car for the keen driver - even though the C3’s engines are actually pretty willing.
The cabin design is funky and stylish, and although it’s not the most spacious for either passengers or luggage, it’s always been well-equipped for the money and feels better-built than Citroens of old.
Citroen’s approach won’t be for everyone, but there are plenty of rivals to consider if that’s the case. The Ford Fiesta and Mini Hatchback are the most fun cars in this class, the Volkswagen Polo probably the most sensible, and the Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 offer a mix of style and flair to rival the Citroen. If value is a concern, the Kia Rio and Hyundai i20 are worth a look, and if reliability is of maximum priority, the Honda Jazz, Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris are all good buys.
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What’s the best used Citroen C3 model to buy?
There’s something very appealing about the basic Citroen C3, its simple equipment list and non-turbo engine giving it an almost old-school feel. But ultimately it doesn’t make as much sense as a used buy as a slightly older but much better equipped C3, certainly given its relative lack of kit actually bumps up insurance prices a little, which may be a factor for younger buyers. The older Flair and Flair Plus, and the newer C-Series Edition, are the ones to go for.
Engine-wise the BlueHDi diesel is very economical indeed, but like many diesels it’s not best suited to regular low-speed town use, which can cause expensive problems down the line. So we’d go for the Puretech 110, ideally with a manual gearbox, as it’s an older design and not as smooth as the autos in some rival cars.
Used Citroen C3 fuel economy and performance
Citroen C3 Puretech 83: The basic 1.2-litre, non-turbo three-cylinder petrol engine is available in all C3 trim levels but is the only one offered on the basic You! model. It makes 83PS, has a five-speed manual gearbox, and gets from 0-62mph in 12.5 seconds. Combined economy is up to 54.3mpg.
Citroen C3 Puretech 110: With a turbocharger the same 1.2-litre makes 110PS, and has a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. 0-62mph is now 9.4 seconds, and it’ll do up to 54.5mpg.
Citroen C3 Puretech 110 EAT6: With a six-speed automatic gearbox the same turbo 1.2 is a little slower from 0-62mph, at 10.1 seconds, while economy takes a small dip too, to 50.8mpg combined.
Citroen C3 BlueHDi 100: The sole diesel option is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder making 100PS. It gets a six-speed manual transmission as standard, will cover 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds, and boasts the best economy, at 70.6mpg combined.
What used Citroen C3 trim levels are available?
The current Citroen C3 trim level lineup features four different models, starting with a grade aimed directly at low-budget buyers, and rising to the well-equipped Shine Plus at the top. Citroen hasn’t been too mean with equipment in any trim though, and even the basic car still nets you air conditioning and LED headlights, so it’s far from being bargain-basement.
The Citroen C3 You! is deliberately offered as an affordable entry-level model to combat ever-rising new car prices. So you don’t get alloy wheels or a fancy infotainment screen, but you do still get air conditioning, a basic 5-inch black and white touchscreen, heated door mirrors, and LED headlights.
The Citroen C3 C-Series Edition steps up to an equipment level that most owners would now expect, with 16-inch alloy wheels, a contrasting roof colour, the distinctive Airbumps down the body sides, automatic headlights, a 7-inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic air conditioning, a reversing camera, and fancier interior trim.
The Citroen C3 Elle is a tie-in with the women’s magazine and on top of the C-Series kit, also gets 17-inch alloys and Elle detailing both inside and out.
The Citroen C3 Shine Plus is another high-spec model. Equipment is once again similar to the C-Series (and the Elle) but rear electric windows, built-in navigation, and an extra safety package including autonomous emergency braking are all standard.
Prior to the current trim levels offered above, the C3 came with slightly simpler Feel, Flair, and Flair Plus options. You can spot the Feel and Flair apart as the former lacks the C3’s quirky Airbumps along the sides.
Used Citroen C3 dimensions and boot size
The Citroen C3’s dimensions are:
The Citroen C3’s boot size is:
Used Citroen C3 road tax
An older Citroen C3 could save you money on road tax, particularly if you choose one of the economical diesel engines. Cars registered before April 2017 are taxed according to their CO2 emissions, with some low-emission versions costing just £20 a year under current rates.
Most C3s registered from April 2017 onwards pay the standard £200 annual Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) charge, regardless of whether they're petrol, diesel or hybrid models. The C3 also avoids the expensive-car supplement, as its original list price is comfortably below the threshold.
If keeping running costs to a minimum is your priority, it's worth checking the tax rate of individual older C3s before buying. Our guide to car road tax explains the different charges.
How much is it to insure a Citroen C3?
Citroen C3 insurance groups don’t necessarily follow the pattern you’d expect. None should be too expensive, but the cheapest You! model isn’t actually in the lowest insurance group - likely because it doesn’t have some of the fancy crash mitigation tech that higher-spec versions have. So it sits in group 14, while a Shine Plus with the same Puretech 83 engine is only group 10, the lowest of any current C3. Highest is the Shine Plus with the diesel engine, in group 19.
Read our full Citroen C3 review
