Citroen launches C3 at Rs 571,000 in India

Citroen has launched its first mass-market product, the C3, in India at a starting price of Rs 571,000 for the Live trim, going up to Rs 806,000 for the top-spec Feel trim. The French automaker's high-riding hatchback was already open for bookings from June across dealerships and on the company's website at a token amount of Rs 21,000. 

The Citroen C3 gets two petrol engine options, the first of which is a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder naturally aspirated unit that makes 82hp and 115Nm and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, while the other is a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol unit, producing 110hp and 190Nm, and mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. This makes the C3's turbo-petrol engine the most powerful in its class. However, unlike its key rivals, the high-riding hatchback does not get an automatic transmission at launch, which will be introduced at a later stage. We’ve already driven the new C3 and you can watch the video here.

Exterior, interior and features
In terms of styling, the new C3 follows the same design principles as seen on Citroen’s debut vehicle, the C5 Aircross. Some of the C3's key highlights include the colour-coded inserts on the bumpers, split headlamp set-up that merges with the grille, a hexagonal air dam, X-shaped faux scuff plate, all-round black cladding (only on the Feel trim), and wraparound tail-lights at the rear. The C3 comes with 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers as standard, along with optional 15-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. The quirky design theme continues on the interior, as the dimpled-effect dashboard panel can be optioned between orange and anodised grey colours. For a more comprehensive look, you can check out Autocar India's walkaround video here.

Some of the C3’s key features include the large 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a digital instrument cluster, manual air conditioning, a four-speaker sound system, along with the front and rear USB charging ports. In terms of safety, the high-riding hatchback gets dual airbags, rear parking sensors, and seatbelt reminders. However, it does miss out on features like a tachometer, rear windscreen wiper and defogger, powered wing mirror adjustment, a day/night IRVM, a tachometer, and a central lock/unlock button for the doors.

The French automaker is offering four monotone colours, six dual-tone colours (optional on the Live, standard on the Feel), and three customisation packs on the C3, where customers can choose between orange, grey or chrome inserts on the front bumper's fog lamp housing, as well as on the rear bumper, side body cladding and wing mirror caps. 

2022 Citroen C3: rivals in India
The new C3 squarely competes with the Tata Punch and the Maruti Suzuki Ignis. For context, pricing for the Punch manual starts at Rs 593,000 and goes up to Rs 889,000 (ex-showroom, India), whereas the Maruti Ignis' price ranges from Rs535,000 to Rs 722,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).