Citroen C3 1.4 Petrol

THE Citroen C3 represents a stylish way into the supermini club. The 1.4-litre petrol versions are some of the most cost effective entry point.

At first we were all a little confused by Citroen's C3. Very nice. Big face. Five doors. But where was the three-door version, the sporty one that would take over the mantle from the much-loved Saxo? It seems Citroen had other plans and have slotted the C3 betwixt Saxo and Xsara, billing it as their little big car'. Aside from the grim tweeness of that title, the C3 has a lot going for it and the 1.4-litre petrol versions represent a cost effective way into club C3.

In making the C3 subtly different to what we'd come to expect as a blueprint supermini, Citroen have created a car that's more faithful to their old tradition as manufacturers of supreme lateral thinking. They claim that it's a very different take on the supermini concept: three-door versions for example, will never be made. Instead, that niche will be covered by the older Saxo line-up until the little C2 citycar arrives next year. The C3 will instead offer spacious family motoring for those that aren't particularly interested in lift-off oversteer or any such lairy antics.

The 1.4-litre petrol versions of the C3 are priced aggressively, exemplars of Citroen's success at tapping into the psychology of the UK market probably better than any other car manufacturer of late. Their formula has been to catch em young, tempting buyers with a credible badge that, with cashback, discounts and free insurance policies, make the cars as affordable as bargain basement Koreans. This tactic has been spectacularly effective, twenty something Saxo buyers often maturing into not-so-young Xsara buyers and so on.

This policy has given Citroen such remarkable year on year sales growth.

The C3 offers spacious family motoring at a low cost.