Citroën C3: the supermini that replaced the Saxo

The Citroën C3 is a supermini produced since April 2002. It replaced the Citroën Saxo in the range and is now in its fourth generation; the earliest cars used the same platform as the Peugeot 206.

Citroën C3 at a glance

Based on one source (English Wikipedia).

History of the Citroën C3

2002: a five-door for families

After Jean-Pierre Ploué was appointed director of the Citroën design centre in 2000, he designed the C3 under the leadership of Donato Coco, who had already been responsible for the Xsara Picasso. The first generation was shown at the Frankfurt and Bologna motor shows in 2001 and went on sale in January 2002 as a five-door hatchback with 1.1, 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines and 1.4 and 1.6 common-rail diesels. All models had a five-speed manual gearbox except the Stop & Start version, which used the SensoDrive automated manual with paddle shifters, and only the top level could be ordered with a four-speed hydraulic automatic. The chassis was used for the Peugeot 1007 and 207, and many components were shared with the Peugeot 206.

The C3 Pluriel and other bodies

From July 2003 to July 2010 Citroën sold the C3 Pluriel, a two-door convertible with five open-top configurations, developed as a turnkey project by Italdesign and assembled only in Spain. The first generation also produced an off-road-looking C3 X-TR, sold from 2005 to 2009. Later derivatives multiplied: the C3 Picasso mini MPV announced in July 2008, a South American C3 Aircross, and the three-door DS3, which was sold as a premium model.

2005 facelift and the C3 Classic

The C3 was redesigned in October 2005 with a more imposing bumper, a wider lower air intake, redesigned light clusters and a restyled dashboard, and a 1.6-litre 16-valve HDi of 110 PS joined the range. Rather than ending the first generation when the second arrived, Citroën kept selling it in selected European markets under names that varied by country: C3 Classic in France, Greece and Italy, C3 Hit Classic in Belgium, C3 First in Britain and Germany and C3 First+ in Switzerland. It was built in Spain until 2010 and in France until mid-2011, and the South American version lasted until 2012.

One name for a whole class

The C3 has since grown into a family of models, and in September 2021 a new low-cost C3 was introduced for India and South America; at its launch Citroën CEO Vincent Cobée said that “C3” is the trade name for all Citroën B-segment hatchbacks around the world. The third and fourth generations are available with a battery electric version.

Design and features

• Peugeot 206 platform: the first generation shared its chassis and many parts with the Peugeot.
• Stop & Start with SensoDrive: an early automated manual with engine cut-off in traffic.
• Five-door body: the family counterpart to the three-door C2.
• C3 Pluriel: a convertible with five open configurations, built by Italdesign’s design.
• Long-lived first generation: sold on as the C3 Classic, C3 First and other names.

Citroën C3 versions

• C3 first generation (2002): five-door hatchback.
• C3 X-TR (2005–2009): off-road-styled version.
• C3 Pluriel (2003–2010): convertible with a folding roof.
• C3 Classic / First (from 2009): the first generation kept on sale.
• C3 Picasso (2008): mini MPV derivative.
• DS3 (2010): the three-door premium version.

The C3 replaced the Saxo and sits beside the three-door C2; its convertible version has an article of its own, the C3 Pluriel. More cars are in the Citroën collection.

Video: Citroën C3 – Französischer Polo im Test

Video by FOCUS online on YouTube.

Sources

• Citroën C3, English Wikipedia: generations, launch, engines, facelift, derivatives