Citroën C3 Lumiere

The Citroën C3 Lumiere was a concept car that previewed the production Citroën C3, it was initially released in 1998 as a five-door hatchback, with four seats and rear suicide doors for easy access for passengers to the rear seats. It featured a five-speed manual transmission, and a 1.1 L TU1 I4 petrol engine upfront.

Safety

The C3 in its standard European market configuration received 4 stars for adult occupants and 2 stars for pedestrians from Euro NCAP in 2002.^[11]

Facelift

The C3 was given a redesign in October 2005, with the front end featuring a more imposing bumper, wider lower air intake, single air intake slit below the restyled radiator grille, and a repositioned number plate. The rear of the car was also given redesigned light clusters, with crystal coloured midsections.

The passenger compartment was also enhanced, with the fitting of a restyled dashboard with a high-quality finish, as well as a newer, more modern instrument cluster making the driver information easier to read.

The addition of light metallic grey embellishers around the central section of the fascia and air vents contributed to the updated interior, as did the completely redesigned front and rear door panels and trims. The steering was also improved so that it weights up with speed. Citroën also added a new 1.6 L 16 valve HDi diesel engine to the range, rated at 81 kW (110 PS). The Pluriel also received similar interior alterations but was otherwise unchanged.

As with the Peugeot 206+ and Renault Clio Campus, Citroën didn't yet end the original C3 despite the new generation arrival. It stayed offered on selected European markets. During Autumn 2009, the brand announces the first-gen C3 will be marketed under a new name : Citroën C3 Génération.^[12] However, a few weeks later, the name is changed to Citroën C3 Classic. This name is used in France but also in other countries like Greece or Italy. Various names are used across Europe like C3 Hit Classic (Belgium), C3 First (UK, Germany) or C3 First+ (Switzerland).^{[13][14][15][16]} The first-gen C3 has been manufactured in Spain until 2010, in France until Summer 2011 and sold across Europe until February 2011.^[17]

The South-American model stays manufactured and sold until 2012.^[18]

C3 Pluriel

Citroën marketed the C3 Pluriel from 2003 to 2010 as a convertible with five open top variations, hence the name.^[19] The name Pluriel is a cognate with the English plural. This model was developed as a turnkey project by Italdesign.^[20] It was exclusively assembled in Spain.

The Pluriel can be configured as a hatchback with a multi-layer insulated top;^[21] a full-length landaulet, operable partially or to the back window or any stage in between, with a buffet minimizing wind deflector over the windshield;^[21] a fixed profile convertible, with the roof open to the back window, the roof assembly folds into a well in the trunk floor;^[21] a full convertible where roof side rails are unlatched and removed.^[21] and as a roadster pick up, where the back seats fold to a pickup like a bed with a drop-down tailgate.^[21] The roof tended to let in water, even from new.^[22]

The C3 Pluriel was introduced in July 2003, and was originally offered with a choice of a 1.4 or a 1.6 L petrol engine, and a 1.4 L^[23] diesel engine. The 1.6 L petrol came fitted, as standard, with an automated manual gearbox. The Pluriel was withdrawn in July 2010.

In October 2013, Top Gear Magazine placed the C3 Pluriel on its list of "The 13 worst cars of the last 20 years", describing the car as "useful as a chocolate teapot."^[24]

• Citroën C3 Pluriel
• Citroën C3 Pluriel

Engines

• 1.1 L (1124 cc) TU1 I4, 44 kW (59 hp) 94 N⋅m (69 lbf⋅ft)
• 1.4 L (1360 cc) TU3 I4, 55 kW (74 hp) and 118 N⋅m (87 lbf⋅ft)
• 1.4 L (1398 cc) DV4 HDi diesel I4, 51 kW (68 hp) and 160 N⋅m (120 lbf⋅ft)
• 1.4 L (1398 cc) DV4 HDi 16-valve diesel I4, 66 kW (89 hp) and 200 N⋅m (150 lbf⋅ft) (discontinued in 2005; could not meet EURO4 compliance)
• 1.4 L (1360 cc) ET3 16 valve I4, 66 kW (89 hp) and 133 N⋅m (98 lbf⋅ft)
• 1.6 L (1560 cc) DV6 HDi 16 valve diesel I4, 68 kW (91 hp) and 216 N⋅m (159 lbf⋅ft)
• 1.6 L (1560 cc) DV6 HDiF 16 valve diesel I4 with diesel particulate filter, 80 kW (110 hp) and 240 N⋅m (180 lbf⋅ft)
• 1.6 L (1587 cc) TU5 16 valve I4, 81 kW (109 hp) and 146 N⋅m (108 lbf⋅ft)

South America

The first generation C3 was manufactured in the Porto Real PSA plant from 2003 to August 2012.^[18] This version was sold locally and also exported to other Mercosur markets. The South American C3 significantly differentiated itself from its European counterpart in 2008 when it got a facelift, including exclusive front bumpers.^[25][26]

A limited number of CKD Citroën C3 have been assembled in Uruguay by local assembler Oferol.^[27]

Facelift

Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013, the C3 hatchback was revised to featuring updated exterior and interior, and more efficient engines. The C3 facelift comes with updated chevrons and bumper-mounted LED daytime running lights at the front and new tail light clusters combined with new reflectors set underneath the rear bumper.^[30]

Safety

The C3 in its most basic Latin American market configuration received 4 stars for adult occupants and 2 stars for toddlers from Latin NCAP in 2015.^[31]

The C3 in its standard European market configuration received 4 stars from Euro NCAP in 2009.^[32]

Variants

There are four trim levels in the C3 range, which range from the entry-level VT (which does not have the panoramic windscreen), the mid-range VTR+ and eco-efficient "Airdream+" (which has lower CO₂ emissions) to the top of the range Exclusive, which has half cloth half Alcantara seats, extra chrome outside, alloy wheels, an alarm, folding mirrors, and power windows all around.

Trim levels are denoted by a small badge on the rear window frame on the VT/VTR+ and Airdream+ and by a small chrome badge on each front door on Exclusive models. Norev has produced a 1:43 scale model of the new Citroën C3 in Botticelli Blue, Metallic Green, and black.

Engines and transmissions

By 2016, a 74 kW (100 PS) 1.6HDi with 5-speed gearbox was available.

Safety

The C3 in its standard European market configuration received 4 stars from Euro NCAP in 2017.^[39]

Facelift (2020)

The restyled version was revealed in February 2020. The main evolutions are on the front and on the headlights with new LEDs. There are two new colors, "Spring Blue" and "Rouge Elixir", and two new interior atmospheres called "Techwood" and "Emeraude".

Launched in 2023, C3 You is the new entry-level version.^[40]

• Citroën C3 PureTech 110 (facelift)
• Rear view

Engines and transmissions

Europe (2024)

The fourth-generation C3 was introduced on 17 October 2023. The model was initially introduced in a form of a battery electric vehicle called the ë-C3.

The ë-C3 is based on the Smart Car Platform, which will underpin 7 models produced by Stellantis in the future. It is described as an electric and more efficient alternative to other STLA modular architectures with focus on battery electric models.^[42]

The design of the fourth-generation C3 resembles crossover SUVs, with a 163 mm (6.4 in) ground clearance, 28 mm (1.1 in) higher than its predecessor. The C3 also feature a higher roof line, which creates a larger cabin with 30 mm (1.2 in) additional front headroom and 20 mm (0.8 in) of added rear knee room, despite being only 19 mm (0.7 in) longer and 6 mm (0.2 in) wider.

The ë-C3 is equipped with a 44 kWh lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) battery capable of an electric range of up to 320 km (199 mi) measured by the WLTP cycle. The 83 kW (113 PS; 111 hp) electric motor allows the vehicle to reach 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in around 11 seconds.^[43]

India and Latin America (2021)

The C3 for Indian and Latin American markets was released ahead of the European fourth-generation model on 16 September 2021.^[45][46][47] Produced in Brazil and India, the model has been described by Citroën as a "modern hatchback", avoiding the "crossover SUV" branding.^[48]

Production in Brazil started in March 2022.^[49] The C3 was launched in the country late August of the same year with 1.0-litre and 1.6 engines. It is priced between A-segment (such as Renault Kwid) and B-segment (such as Hyundai HB20) vehicles.^[50][51]

The Brazilian C3 was launched in Argentina late October 2022. In Argentina and in Uruguay, the 1.0-litre FireFly Fiat engine is replaced by the 1.2-litre PureTech PSA engine.^[52] The base model is the most affordable vehicle in Argentina at its launch.^[53]

The C3 has been sold in India since mid-2022.^[54] In 2022, the Indian version has 90% local parts.^[55]

Since 2023, the Brazilian-made C3 has been exported outside of Mercosur, in several Latin America countries such as Chile, Peru and Costa Rica.^[56][57][58]

• Rear view
• Interior

Safety

India

In India, the C3 is fitted with two frontal airbags, anti-lock brakes, seatbelt reminders for front-seat occupants and speed alerts at 80 km/h and 120 km/h as required by Indian AIS safety regulations. Side airbags for the thorax or head are not available, and neither are electronic stability control or a tyre pressure monitor. The rear centre seatbelt is of a dangerous static two-point type and this seating position is not fitted with a head restraint. The rear outboard head restraints are not adjustable. There are no ISOFIX anchorages for child restraints.^[60] Although the C3 complies with Indian crashworthiness legislation, it has not been rated by independent consumer testing programmes like Global NCAP.

In February 2024, Citroën India announced that all variants of the Indian C3 would be fitted with six airbags and rear seatbelt reminders by July of the same year.^[61]

Latin America

In Brazil, the C3 is fitted with two frontal airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, seatbelt reminders for the front seats, ISOFIX anchorages at the rear outboard seats, and adjustable head restraints and three-point inertia-reel seatbelts for all rear seats.^[62] It had been tested by Latin NCAP in 2023 (similar to Euro NCAP 2014) and received 0 star because of unstable structure, weak frontal crash protection, lack of lateral head protection and lack of seatbelt reminder.^[63][64]

2023 Citroën C3 (Brazil)

Latin NCAP scores (2023)[65]
Adult occupant protection		Child Occupant Protection		Vulnerable Road Users		Safety Assist Technologies
Score	31%	Score	12%	Score	50%	Score	35%
Maximum star rating		Maximum star rating		Maximum star rating		Maximum star rating
Overall rating