Alternative review of Citroen C3

It's certainly different. Citroen's C3 looks like no other supermini - and I have to say that I liked it for that. That big face, huge headlamps and pumped up grille certainly give it presence and the egg-shape is practical too. It's a style that I can't help feeling will have a particular appeal to women.

In the past some have moaned about the plastics quality of the C3's interior but today's facelifted model successfully addresses this problem with a much more up-market feel. The cabin is certainly adventurously styled - which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic interior, we've got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. I wasn't that impressed by either the rear seat legroom or headroom but both the width of the cabin and the space provided by the boot were certainly noteworthy. I quite liked the 'modular'-style boot arrangement too, intended to keep separate items well, separate.

The dashboard has lovely silver-trimmed circular vents that look like something out of Star Wars. I'm not entirely convinced by the concept of digital instrumentation, but this layout is clear and easy to read and has a Saab-style 'black panel' that turns all but the most important functions off if you don't want to be distracted by them at night. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. I was pleased to find that ISOFIX child seat mounting points feature strongly and such is the C3's family orientation that an optional 'Child Pack' is available. No, this isn't a lockable trunk that stows problematic little ones safely in the boot: instead, it's a selection of extras that will hopefully offset just such an outcome. A child safety indicator on the dashboard monitors whether seat belts have been unclipped whilst safety locks can be activated or deactivated via a dash-mounted switch. A 12-volt socket at the rear, previously the preserve of MPVs, allows junior to play Gameboys without the ticking time bomb that is a battery failure/high score moment. Aircraft-style trays can be fitted to the back of the front seats with clip-in pen and cup holders and plastic bag hooks. The greatest feature is probably the simplest. A swing down mirror that's usually stowed behind the standard rear view allows you to keep an eye on the offspring without impeding your forward vision too badly. Clever safety-conscious electronic features have been borrowed from the larger C5 - things such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers with rain sensing activation, hazard lights that deploy automatically under severe braking as well as side airbags ABS with EBD and comprehensive pedestrian safety features. Engines are usually a Citroen/PSA Group strongpoint and those offered here are no different, even if the corporate plan calls for the 70bhp 1.4-litre HDi diesel unit to be shared, not only with Peugeot's 206 but Ford's latest Fiesta. There are also 1.1, 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engined options as well as 70bhp and 92bhp HDi diesels.

I think that I could certainly get used to the unconventional styling. The ride is good, the engines well honed and the width of the cabin is impressive, as is the bootspace on offer. So yes, one could definitely live on my driveway.

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