Any manufacturer that updates a current model in its range, adds a few new features and drops the price of the car deserves to be looked at more than once if that particular car falls into your price bracket.
There are some manufacturers out there who are intent on continuing to bring out overpriced vehicles and it’s really quite easy to identify them. Even the most cursory of comparisons when looking at the price of new cars will show up which manufacturers are offering value-for-money and which are simply charging far more than others for no reason other than being a so-called established brand.
Of course, when buying a new car, you also think about how it’s going to depreciate because you’re surely not daft enough to think that a car is an investment and that you’re actually going to make any money out of such a purchase. And you’ll also be thinking about what the resale would be when you’re done paying for it and yes, there are some brands that hold their value better than others, but the saving you make on the purchase of a cheaper car might just work out to be more than purchasing a more expensive car that might have a better trade-in value in a few years.
Citroën has added a few new features to the current C3 range while dropping prices on three of the four models. The 1,4i manual, which was R127 995 is now R115 995, the 1,6i manual, which was R153 995 is now R129 995, the 1,6i auto, which was R163 995 is now R139 995 and the 1,4 HDi turbo diesel remains the same at a competitive R129 995.
The look of the car remains mostly unchanged and that’s a good thing because the C3 is a cute-looking bubble that stands out in the small passenger car market. The engines remain the same and so do the power and torque outputs, however, the interior features a redesigned fascia, new seat upholstery and door panels and the steering column is now height and reach adjustable.
My test unit was the lively little 1,6i manual, which I was initially apprehensive about as the clutch takes slightly higher than most vehicles so on my first day with the car, I had to make a conscious effort not to over-rev the C3. Once I adjusted my driving style, the C3 proved to be quite an easy car to settle into.
The suspension delivers a reasonably comfy drive and the engine delivers useful amounts of power to cruise confidently at speeds slightly above the speed limit.
Another plus is the fuel consumption which Citroën claims to be about 6,5 litres per 100km on a combined cycle.
Standard specifications include two front airbags, remote central locking, automatic headlamps, air conditioning, speed-sensitive windscreen wipers, front electric windows and a front-loading CD player.
While the C3 features a high specification list as well as nifty safety features such as the boot and doors locking as soon as the car moves off, it’s disappointing to note that the entry-level car does not feature an anti-lock braking system (ABS).
If you’ve ever been on a skidpan without the help of ABS, you will know just how essential ABS is in avoiding obstacles and saving lives. And while I’m aware that there are other vehicles on the market in this price bracket that don’t have ABS, there are also cheaper cars that do and I believe that gadgetry such as the digital speedometer could have been sacrificed for ABS across the range.
Despite the above, I enjoyed driving the C3 and there’s no disputing that it does indeed offer great value for money and is therefore a sensible car to buy.
The facts
Model: Citroën C3 1,6i manual
Price: R129 995
Engine: 1,6-litre
Tech: 81 kW, 144Nm
Top speed: 190kph, 0 to 100kph in 10 seconds
Tank: 45 litres
Services: 20 000km