Citroen C3 is back with a bold, fun-loving personality

The French firm’s new generation C3 compact hatchback has a general feeling of improved quality everywhere you look – and now it has the techno-clout to make it a complete package.

The C3's engine range has also matured. It now offers a wider choice of petrol and diesel units - including a 92g/km CO2 diesel motor.

Never previously regarded as a car that delighted enthusiastic drivers, this C3 is now a much sharper, more willing and easily a better handling and riding car. Nowhere is this more obvious than at speed. While not a supermini's usual habitat, motorways can be tackled with confidence, while twisty back roads are should raise a smile or two.

With prices starting from £10,995 for the Touch trim level, from £13,045 for Feel versions and from £14,795 for Flair models, there’s a C3 to suit all budgets.

We Brits like the C3. With more than 3.6 million examples sold globally since the first-generation C3 was launched in 2002, some 200,000 have found homes in the UK.

This new version is colourful, stylish, brimming with new technologies and boasts a bold, fun-loving personality.

With three roof colours and nine body colours available, there are 36 colour combinations to choose from.

There’s barely a straight line in sight, enabling the updated and curvy C3 to continue to age well. The deliberately high bonnet line and purposeful wheel arch extensions give it a near-crossover character, with 3D lights at the rear to showcase the car’s high-tech identity

Hinting that this is a car built to stand the vagaries of urban motoring, the C3 is also available with the company’s signature Airbump panels, first seen on the bigger Cactus model, which guard against everyday dents and scrapes.

The soft and curvy approach continues inside the C3, with the cabin delivering a modern ambience. There’s also ample storage space for your drinks bottles, mobile phones and assorted clutter.

Customers have a choice of three interior finishes, including two optional upgrades, while special attention has been paid to providing comfortable seats and an aura of serenity.

With one of the most spacious cabins in the supermini sector and 22mm more rear legroom than the previous model, there’s also a 300-litre boot and plenty of storage compartments.

The ConnectedCAM Citroën technology makes its first appearance in the C3. Featuring a wide-angle HD camera (positioned just behind the rear-view mirror), GPS technology and a 128GB memory, it can be used to safely take photos or videos that can be instantly shared via social media using a free app and also operates as a conventional dashcam in the event of an on-road incident.

In the middle of the dashboard is a seven-inch colour touchscreen that provides access to the main vehicle controls, including a satellite navigation system that is both touch and voice activated.

Also on board are MirrorLink and Apple CarPlay, a reversing camera and hill-start assist. Technologies for safety include a lane departure warning system, blind-spot monitoring and a driver attention alert.

The C3 offers a predictably compliant ride in keeping with its French roots.Thanks to the slightly raised driving position forward visibility is also good and the various controls require little effort to operate.

There is a choice of three three-cylinder petrol engines: PureTech 68, 82 and 110 (Stop & Start), and two diesel powertrains: BlueHDi 75 (Stop & Start) and 100 (Stop & Start). The C3 PureTech 110 S&S Flair, tested here, also gained Citroën’s automatic gearbox in February.

I have to say that I have yet to drive a better three-cylinder petrol engine. It accelerates from 0 to 62mph in under ten seconds and produces fuel economy figures of more than 60mph. Yes, there’s a tell-tale thrum from the engine, but it is never intrusive.

The C3 is an undemanding car to drive and own, while its size makes it ideal as a city runabout. The addition of some very clever technology should enable it to click with a whole new generation of drivers.