Opinion – Eduardo Sodré: New Citroën C3 has revealed price; check the versions and find out how the 1.0 option is going

The “popularity index” of the new Citroën C3 is noticed as soon as the door is closed. The weight and sound are typical of simpler models with a 1.0 engine, such as the Renault Kwid (from R$65,800) and the Fiat Argo (R$75,200).

Not by chance, the French brand’s launch is positioned between entry-level compacts and the most equipped hatchbacks – and this is its main asset.

Sold for from R$ 69 thousand (Live version, with 1.0 engine), the C3 2023 offers good space both in the cabin and in the trunk (315 liters of capacity), in addition to air conditioning and electric assistance steering. . There are also stability controls, LED daytime running lights and electrically operated front windows and door locks.

The packaging is pleasing: it is an authentic Citroën, with a well-crafted design and commendable ergonomics – despite the lack of some adjustments.

The steering wheel only goes up or down and it is not possible to adjust the height of the seat belt. Despite this, there is no difficulty in finding the right driving position. The driver travels in an elevated position, which justifies the “SUV attitude” trumpeted in the advertisement.

The 1.0 flex engine (75 hp) has three cylinders and is the same used in the Fiat Argo and Peugeot 208 models. The power and torque available are enough to give the C3 agility in urban environments, where the test was carried out. The car weighs just over a ton.

Citroën presented its new compact in Rio de Janeiro, promoting a short test along the coast. The 14-kilometer stretch between Barra da Tijuca and Prainha brought together climbs, bumpy stretches and curves. The hatch went through everything with the tranquility of someone who was designed for Brazil, and not for Europe.

The C3 that runs in France today is lower and more refined, without the all-inclusive appeal of its brother made in Porto Real (RJ). But sometimes, the national car exaggerates simplicity. The key, for example, is not of the penknife type, even in the more expensive versions. In terms of safety, there are only the two front airbags required by law.

The body’s height from the ground ensures smooth passage through potholes and speed bumps, and the raised roof prevents taller occupants from banging their heads on the roof with every bump.

The suspension is more Fiat than Citroën. The engineers of the Stellantis group favored smoothness when driving, leaving the typical sportiness of French compact cars in the background.

In addition to being spacious, the cabin has a well-kept finish. The materials, however, confirm that it is a model with popular appeal. Those who are used to the luxury of the larger cars of the French brand may find it strange, but it is a new moment for the company in Brazil.

The new C3 arrives to make volume in the country, and for that it is available in seven different versions.

The simplest is the aforementioned Live. Above is the Live Pack 1.0 (R$ 75 thousand), which receives the multimedia center with a 10-inch touch-sensitive screen, height-adjustable seats and steering wheel with sound system command buttons.

Then comes the Feel 1.0 option (from R$ 79,000), which adds alloy wheels, electric drive of the rear windows and USB ports for the occupants of the back seat. This option can be equipped with a 1.6 flex engine (120 hp) and manual transmission, which raises the price to R$ 87 thousand.

Anyone who wants a six-speed automatic transmission will have to purchase the Feel Pack version, which costs R$94,000. This version features a leather-covered steering wheel and a reversing camera.

There is also the special First Edition series, available with both a 1.0-liter engine (R$84,000) and a 1.6-liter automatic flex (R$98,000). Both bring two-tone paint, which is a possibility of the 2023 line of the new Citroën hatch.