Used Citroen C3 Hatchback 2017-present review
Fancy a small car with personality? The Citroen C3 looks like just the thing – but does it have more to offer than style alone?
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What's the used Citroen C3 like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Alternatives
Reliability
Stuart Milne
Updated: 22 April 2022
How we test cars
What's the used Citroen C3 like?
Sometimes it seems that modern small car styling treads one of two paths: crisp and modern, but bland – or fun and fashionable, but overly retro. But the Citroen C3 sets out to prove that that doesn’t have to be the case, with extrovert styling that borrows heavily from its taller, longer brother, the Citroen C4 Cactus.
Such funky looks might be enough on their own to make the C3 more desirable than rivals such as the Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo for many buyers. But there are some compromises to be had.
Overview
Fancy a small car with personality? The Citroen C3 looks like just the thing – but does it have more to offer than style alone?
Pros
- Stands out from the crowd
- Stylish interior
- Efficient engines
Cons
- Ponderous handling
- Unsettled ride
- Cramped interior
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Citroen C3
1.2 PureTech Selection Euro 6 5dr
£375
Citroen C3
1.4i Desire 5dr
£649
Citroen C3
1.4 VTi 16V VTR+ Euro 5 5dr
£899
Citroen C3
1.4i White Euro 5 5dr
£990
Citroen C3
1.4i SX 5dr
£995
Citroen C3
1.4i Desire 5dr
£995
Citroen C3
1.4i Desire 5dr
£1,095
Citroen C3
1.6 HDi Exclusive Euro 4 5dr
£1,250
Citroen C3
1.6i 16V Exclusive SensoDrive 5dr
£1,295
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For starters, you’ll have to live with a ride that’s less than ideal. Citroen aimed for comfort with the C3’s suspension setup, and made it soft – but the problem is, that means the car rocks around over larger bumps, and fails to damp out sharper ruts suitably, with the result that it always feels unsettled around town. It’s better at higher speeds, but never perfect.
Neither does the C3 feel much cop in corners; the soft suspension means it leans over noticeably, while the remote steering means you rarely have much idea of what’s going on. The C3 also pushes its nose ahead sluggishly if you enter a corner the slightest bit too fast. The peppy, zingy Fiesta and composed Ibiza are both streets ahead.
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There are problems inside, too, where you’ll have to live with an interior that’s rather cramped, especially in the back, and saddled with strangely tight door openings. What’s more, there’s a profusion of scratchy-feeling plastics on the doors and dashboard.
At least that dashboard is easy on the eye. Smart styling and clever use of colour mean that despite the slightly cheap plastics, the C3 is a pleasant place to be; you get a slightly taller driving position than you do in most other small cars, too, which results in good visibility. It isn’t perfect, though; the touchscreen infotainment system is sluggish and fiddly to use, and there are no separate controls for the ventilation systems, meaning you have to navigate through the menus to perform even simple functions such as adjusting the heating.
There’s better news under the bonnet, where you’ll find a selection of 1.2-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel engines, most of which are strong, punchy and remarkably efficient, and these contribute to the C3’s low running costs.
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If you're interested in finding a used C3, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.
Page 1 of 5
Tips & Advice
Make sure you’re insured for the test drive
Short-term car insurance – also called test-drive insurance – will ensure you’re legal when you’re shopping for your next car
Ownership cost
What used Citroen C3 will I get for my budget?
Prices for a 2018 C3 start at around £8000, this for a car in excellent condition with a full history and from a franchised dealer. Spend between £9000 and £11,000 for one of the higher spec cars, and around the same for a car from 2019. For a 2021 or 2022 example, expect to pay upwards of £12,000.
Check the value of a used Citroen C3 with What Car? Valuations
Find a used Citroen C3 for sale here
How much does cost to run a Citroen C3?
MPG
You also get fuel economy figures that are among the best in class. The most efficient diesel version achieves a faintly astonishing 91.1mpg according to the official tests, while most petrol versions get around 70mpg, or just shy thereof. Even the least efficient automatic version fails to dip below 67mpg.
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Road tax
The vast majority of C3s of this generation were registered after 1 April 2017, which means they’ll incur a flat road tax rate of £155 per year, no matter which version you choose. However, find an early car registered before this date, and you’ll pay no more than £20 a year; diesel models are even free to tax.
Servicing and insurance
Servicing and repair costs should be pretty reasonable, too, especially once your C3 hits the three-year-old mark and becomes eligible for Citroen’s servicing programme designed for older cars; it’s one of the best value, and means you can maintain dealership servicing at a relatively low cost. Insurance should prove a doddle as well.
Page 2 of 5
Tips & Advice
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Can I buy a car with cash?
Paying cash isn’t always an easy way to a new car – and you may not be able to get the big discounts you might expect
Our recommendations
Which used Citroen C3 should I buy?
Diesel engines in small cars aren’t all that popular with buyers, so are trickier to find; the C3’s petrol engines are so efficient anyway that we wouldn’t bother. Of these, the 67bhp version, badged simply 1.2 Puretech, feels rather lethargic, so we’d avoid it and instead go for one of the more powerful engines.
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The punchy 1.2-litre Puretech 110 is the best bet, as it’s the most efficient of the bunch as well as the most powerful; if all you can find is the 1.2-litre Puretech 82, though, that’ll probably be enough – as long as you don’t plan on spending too much time on the motorway, where it feels a little breathless.
The most basic Touch version is reasonably well equipped, coming with a digital radio, bluetooth, and cruise control – but there’s no air-con or alloy wheels, and it’s rare. Much easier to find – not to mention more desirable – is the Feel version, which gives you those alloy wheels, plus climate control and the 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system. Flair, meanwhile, adds a heap of extra toys, but it’s harder to find and, as you might expect, pricier to buy.
Our favourite Citroen C3: 1.2 Puretech 110 Feel
Page 4 of 5
Tips & Advice
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used Citroen C3?
If you’re after something that makes a similar style statement, the Mini Hatchback is the obvious choice; it’s much nicer to drive and classier inside, though as a result it also costs rather more than the C3.
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However, if you can live without the C3’s sense of style, a Ford Fiesta offers terrific value for money; it’s great to drive, too, and there are plenty of examples around. We recommend one that’s fitted with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine.
If you don’t like the sound of the cramped rear seats in the C3, you could also check out the Skoda Fabia. It’s one of the most spacious cars in the class, and offers a huge boot and plenty of room for those in the back to stretch out.
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If you're interested in finding a used C3, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.
Page 5 of 5
Citroen C3 owner reviews
Sort by: Most Recent Star rating
Dee
Citroen C3 petrol
Dislikes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
May 21, 2026 9:00 PM
My Citroen C3 is absolutely awful. I have an oil leak that has cost over £1000 so far and nobody has found it. The BSI board conked out and cost £250 to get it started again, the engine constantly cuts out and now the clutch has gone. This is with regular dealer servicing. Never buy a citroen, worst car I've ever owned.
Owen
Citroen C3 petrol
Likes: Reliability, Running costs
May 9, 2026 11:30 AM
Nice car overall.
Mark
Citroen C3 1.2 petrol hatchback
Likes: Reliability, Running costs
Feb 6, 2025 9:00 PM
How reliable is the Citroën C3 ?
Reliability rating: 96.1%
Citroën C3
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Citroen C3
1.2 PureTech Selection Euro 6 5dr
£375
Citroen C3
1.4i Desire 5dr
£649
Citroen C3
1.4 VTi 16V VTR+ Euro 5 5dr
£899
Citroen C3
1.4i White Euro 5 5dr
£990
Citroen C3
1.4i SX 5dr
£995
Citroen C3
1.4i Desire 5dr
£995
Citroen C3
1.4i Desire 5dr
£1,095
Citroen C3
1.6 HDi Exclusive Euro 4 5dr
£1,250
Citroen C3
1.6i 16V Exclusive SensoDrive 5dr
£1,295
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: Stuart Milne
Title: Digital editor
Follow Stuart Milne on
Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.
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