Driving impressions: the Citroen C3 1.2T Max is a budget-friendly contender in a busy segment

Think Citroen and immediately it conjures up images of quirky French designs and fantastic suspension, especially in the iconic DS. They’ve had a couple of clangers along the way but generally they’re very good cars.

South Africa has a checkered history with the brand, now under the Stellantis banner, with the manufacturer withdrawing in 2016 and then returning again in 2019.

Made in India

It’s also been a mixed bag when it comes to sales, in part because of our disastrous exchange rate to the Euro that made it difficult to challenge manufacturers importing from China and India.

This was especially so for the Citroen C3 that was outpricing itself in the market but Stellantis was aware of its potential in the budget market, so made the call to bring in the Indian-built model.

It proved to be a wise decision and the C3 is one of Stellantis’ top sellers and now competes against the likes of the Hyundai Exter, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Nissan Magnite.

We had the range-topping Citroen C3 1.2T Max on test and came away suitably impressed, considering the segment it plays in.

Exterior

There’s nothing outrageously French about the design, preferring instead a more sober look. The black trimmings around the base of the doors and window frames, faux skid plate, 15-inch alloys, roof-rails and the Citroen chrome double chevron give it a bit of a crossover look and appeal. 

Engine

It’s powered by the group’s tried and tested three-pot 1.2-litre turbocharged engine delivering 81kW and 205Nm mated to a six-speed automatic transmission connected to the front wheels.

Small naturally aspirated engines in some of the competitors tend to wheeze at up-country heights so that turbocharger is a boon for highveld owners.

Interior

For a budget car, the 1.2T Max is well specced with electric windows, leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel, auto-air conditioning, auto folding side mirrors, rear parking sensors, LED headlights, reverse camera and 10-inch infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

It’s spacious enough to carry four adults comfortably with enough headroom at the back for taller people like myself, with two USB-C ports to keep devices charged, while the 315-litres of boot space is enough for more than just a couple of overnight bags.

The decision to import the Indian-built C3 does, however, mean that there are a few compromises to build quality.

It’s relatively well put together but at high revs there’s engine noise in the cabin and wind noise from the side mirrors while driving on highways.

The seats are quite hard and nicely trimmed but don’t provide much in the way of side support.

Still, keeping in mind the price point, these are not deal-breakers.   

Driving

The little 1.2-litre engine provides enough forward thrust and is quite willing to please.

When pressed hard, the gearbox tends to struggle a bit to keep up with the engine but once the car has settled down, its smooth sailing and in traffic it changes quickly and smoothly.

Citroen claims the suspension has their "Flying Carpet Effect" and while that may be a bit of a hyperbole, it’s actually very compliant and had no real jarring issues on our badly maintained roads.

Our consumption after a week of mixed driving stood at 6.4l/100km - almost right on the money against their claimed 6.3l/100km and if you’re guided by the green leaf icon that appears on the instrument cluster, it could be even lower than that.

Safety

Safety-wise, the C3 1.2T Max comes with six airbags, three-point seatbelts, ISOFIX seat anchors, ABS, EBD and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).

It comes with a two-year/30,000 km service plan and a five-year/100,000 km warranty.

The Citroen C3 1.2T Max competes in a tough environment but if I was shopping in that segment it would certainly be on my shortlist, partly because it’s something different from the usual suspects and still has a bit of that French flair.

Pricing (June 2025)

R302,900