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The Citroen C3 has been sold in Australia in each of its three generations spanning more than two decades from the original car’s arrival in late 2002.
The initial 1.4L four-cylinder petrol five-door was sold in SX and Exclusive grades, with the same FWD powertrain carrying over to the next model in 2010, before the current 1.2L turbo-petrol three-cylinder arrived here in 2019.
The line-up currently starts at $28,160 for the C3 Shine 1.2 Puretech 82 and ranges through to $34,430 for the range-topping C3 Shine 1.2 Puretech 82.
It sounds like you have a bit of a thing for French cars right now, Carmel. In fact, you could argue that the French brands are experiencing a bit of a resurgence in Australia, particularly as each brand gets its quality act closer to the mark and the factory warranties have never been better than right now.
All three of the cars you’ve nominated have their strong points, and it will really come down to your personal preferences when it comes to which one is right for you. And let me guess; it was the Peugeot 2008’s odd dashboard/steering wheel relationship that put you off. That’s particularly true for shorter folk who have trouble looking over the wheel at the instruments. But then, such quirkiness has always been part of the charm of French cars, no?
In any case, it would also be wise to sample the Japanese and South Korean contenders at this end of the market, too, as there are some interesting offerings there as well. The Toyota C-HR would be one, the Honda HR-V another. Don’t forget, either, the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Juke and the Mazda CX-3. All have their strengths and weaknesses, but all are worth short-listing.
As for the MX-5, it’s true that Mazda has stuck to the original formula for the new latest little convertible. And, yes, that dictates a small, low car that is huge fun to drive but isn’t for everybody physically.
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The cost will depend on if you go to a locksmith or dealer and how old the car is. You can read more about how to replace your car keys here.
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The Citroen importer has told us that the correct windscreen is available, so it appears that the dealer involved has simply fitted the incorrect one, possibly because it was the cheapest option. The dealer has done the wrong thing by you, so you should attempt to resolve your complaint with them. If that isn't possible consider going to the fair trading people and seek their assistance.
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Boot volume is 300 litres (below the parcel shelf) with the 60/40 split-folding rear seat upright. Fold the rear backrest down and available space increases to 922 litres.
The C3’s interior offers plenty of space for the driver and front seat passenger, and rear room is surprisingly generous.
The C3 is fitted standard with keyless entry and start, cruise control, a 10-inch colour multimedia touchscreen (with voice recognition across multiple functions), climate control air, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, six-speaker audio (with digital radio as well as Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity), built-in sat nav, LED headlights and daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, and 16-inch alloy wheels.
The C3 seats five, and in classic Citroen fashion the seats are as supportive as they are comfortable. The rear seat split-folds 60/40 for extra boot space.
Citroen says the C3 will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 10.9 seconds, going on to a maximum speed of 188km/h.