Citroen C3 2020 review
Overview
The facelifted third-generation Citroen C3 reached UK order books in June 2020, with deliveries from August 2020, and it remains one of the most characterful superminis of its era: soft, comfortable, endlessly personalisable, and honest about what it is. The facelift brought a revised front end inspired by the CXperience concept, new LED headlights, redesigned Airbump side panels (three large bumps instead of seven), Advanced Comfort front seats, and up to 97 exterior colour combinations. This page covers the facelift cars, and the featured car is the 1.2 PureTech 110 in Flair Plus trim, launched at £18,730.
The PureTech 110 is a 1,199cc three-cylinder turbo petrol producing 110 hp and 205 Nm, driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox (a six-speed EAT6 automatic was optional). It covers 0-62 mph in 9.4 seconds manually (10.0 seconds as an automatic), tops out at around 119 mph, and returns roughly 44-54 mpg WLTP depending on specification, with 136-139 g/km of CO2 on the automatic. The range also offered a non-turbo 1.2 PureTech 83 (83 hp, 118 Nm, 13.3 seconds to 62 mph, around 49-51 mpg) and a 1.5 BlueHDi diesel badged 100 (250 Nm, 10.2 seconds, around 63-64 mpg) — the diesel is the economy pick, while reviewers called the 110 the pick of the range overall.
One trim trap matters for 2020 cars: at facelift launch the UK line-up was Feel (from £16,280), Flair (from £17,330) and Flair Plus (from £18,730), but from December 2020 Feel and Flair were replaced by Sense, Shine and Shine Plus plus the C-Series — so a 2020 car can carry either naming depending on build date, and the two line-ups must not be presented as one simultaneous range. Kit was generous even at entry level, with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic air conditioning and cruise control, while Flair Plus added 17-inch alloys, Connect Nav, Advanced Comfort seats, a reversing camera and Active Safety Brake. The boot holds 300 litres, and safety is a four-star Euro NCAP rating from the 2017 test of the pre-facelift car — the facelift itself was not separately tested, and the 2017 rating expired in January 2024, so present it as a historic result.
On a used facelift C3, the wet timing belt on both PureTech petrols is the big check: the belt runs in oil, degrades, and debris can clog the oil-pump strainer and starve the engine of oil, with damage bills of £3,000-£6,000 against a belt-replacement guide cost of around £900. Demand full service history with the correct oil and documentary proof of belt inspection or replacement, and treat a listing advertising a belt replacement with invoice as a genuine selling point. Also check oil consumption, verify the exact trim and engine on the logbook (the two 2020 line-ups differ in kit and warranty), and remember that safety kit such as AEB and the reversing camera were Flair Plus items at launch, not range-wide — and that the standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty has now expired on 2020 cars unless it is the C-Series five-year retail extension.
UK price from: £18,730
Specifications
| Engine | 1.2L 3-cylinder turbo petrol (1,199cc) |
| Power | 110 hp |
| Torque | 205 Nm |
| 0-62 mph | 9.4 seconds (manual); 10.0 seconds (automatic) |
| Top speed | Around 119 mph (automatic) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual (6-speed EAT6 automatic optional) |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Fuel economy | Around 44-54 mpg combined (WLTP, by specification) |
| CO2 emissions | 136-139 g/km (WLTP, automatic) |
| Boot space | 300 litres |
| Kerb weight | Around 1,050-1,090 kg depending on trim and engine |
| Insurance group | Version-dependent (around group 15-18 for Flair 110 variants) |
| Euro NCAP | 4 stars (2017 test of the pre-facelift car; rating expired January 2024) |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60,000 miles when new (C-Series retail cars: 5 years) |
Features
- 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol (110 hp, 205 Nm)
- Six-speed manual gearbox (six-speed EAT6 automatic optional)
- Front-wheel drive
- 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Advanced Comfort front seats (Flair Plus)
- Redesigned Airbump side panels and up to 97 colour combinations
- 300-litre boot
- Four-star Euro NCAP rating (2017 test, now expired)
Common parts & prices
| Part | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake pads (set) | £39.99 | Pattern part; OEM specification |
| Oil filter | £9.99 | |
| Engine air filter | £14.99 | |
| Cabin pollen filter | £16.99 | |
| Front wiper blades (pair) | £21.99 | |
| 12V battery | £84.99 |
Pros
- Soft, comfortable ride — one of the best in the supermini class
- Distinctive, highly personalisable styling with Airbump panels
- Generous standard kit even at entry level
- Frugal engines, especially the BlueHDi at around 63 mpg
Cons
- PureTech wet-belt risk and potentially large bills if history is incomplete
- Not fun to drive: soft suspension means body roll, light steering
- Hard, cheap-feeling cabin plastics and a clunky infotainment system
- Only 4 Euro NCAP stars (2017, now expired) and average rear space
