Citroen C3 1.2 petrol review | Why this is the best version!

[@etbadaboum]

When Tavares a few years ago advocated for cheap mobility for families, this is what we get now! He's following on his promise. Great job.

[@williamfrench8501]

Here in Spain the base petrol version is available for less than 15k euros. Seems like a bit of a bargain.

[@filipbabovic8474]

Honestly half of the car market should cost that much with base models 💀

[@homerfj1100]

True. Wonder if the upgrade version is worth it ?

[@B00kman]

Seems weird the electric is basically 50% more. Petrol is a great deal.

[@stephenberry1205]

Hope we get this in Australia - I am sure it will be a 6 speed auto. Current car is a C4 Cactus 1.2l Puretech petrol with 6 speed auto - performs really well. It has been a great car. The new C3 attracts me with its styling and Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension.

[@Edvard.Munchkin]

I like it. Its like a mix of volvo xc40, vw t cross and jeep avenger

[@ISuperTed]

Whilst I’m a massive EV fan and might well get the e-C3 next, I can see why this petrol version makes a lot of sense for a lot of people, especially if you’re buying one rather than leasing. The price difference to the EV version is massive and unless you’re doing a lot of miles, there’s no way you’re going to make that kind of difference back over 3 or 4years. I do 15k ish miles a year and lease, so EV for me as the ‘fuel’ savings are huge (it works out cheaper/the same as the petrol over 3 year), but for most the petrol is the one.

[@BenSamuel-d6l]

yes but its EV which equals crappola on so many levels.

[@androo4519]

It's nice that the split fold rear seats are set up for right hand drive so you can load long/wide things through to the front and have one rear passenger. Indian origins the reason for that perhaps but great for the UK and Ireland.

[@mmuller2402]

Completely stupid for europe 😅 99% customers sill be pissed.. What is vmax on gasoline? Can it sustain 130km/h on Autobahn? I think not really 😮

[@colinrenfrew48]

With the petrol engine and a much lower price, this makes sense. It works!

[@C119G]

Sure does,you can use that piddly engine in your lawn mower,the wife's washing machine and vacuum cleaner too.🤣

[@londo0]

So, it will still have issues with the 1.2 wet belt?

[@iCarlosPro]

Nope. That has the new version, with chain.

[@gregmartyn1976]

They have dumped the wet belt now and replaced it with a chain so problem solved thankfully

[@markart157]

This car is beautiful!! A piece of art!

[@frankbergin772]

The "new badge" goes all the way back to the launch of the 2CV at the Paris Salon in 1948! I am delighted of the nod to heritage from Stellantis 😊

[@albertwebb3869]

Ordered a manual after a test drive another citreon fir us , love the car and thus colour

[@NobbyOnCars]

Good choice!

[@fernandovargas7562]

Great Citroen C3…petrol… cool.. Thank you for the test drive…

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

The 1.2 puretech worries me in reliability terms, it hasn't got a great record. However i think Citroen are going to sell a lot of these

[@Sjaak819]

This car has the new 1.2 engine, with timing chain. So no longer a wet timing belt. I assume it should me more reliable.

[@mmuller2402]

​@Sjaak819 just last longer and goes boom without warning😂 Wetbelt should be okay as long as you use the right oil and keep changes in TIME as you need additives .. chain is only good if it is douplex and heavy which it is jot here so shitty as before engine, just goes boom outside warrants 😅

[@Sjaak819]

You have no Idea how durable this engine is going to be. It's a new development. We will see in a couple of years. But I don't think Stellantis is going to make the same mistake again, this engine should be an improvement over the old Puretech. And I hope you're wrong. 😉

[@thomasflaherty476]

Hi again can you tell me is there any news the Irish government giving a grant to by a older ev car thanks

[@NobbyOnCars]

No and unlikely to happen I’m afraid. The exchequer can’t keep funding EV purchases forever and used prices are naturally cheaper than new etc

[@xsivnos5597]

Hoping to see you review the jeep avenger hybrid and/or petrol as a comparison to this and the Duster

[@Denistone]

Wow. A new manual. Becoming rarer than a hypercar.

[@luk1977]

did they fix this 1.2 puretech engine?

[@etbadaboum]

Probably, belt has been replaced with a chain

[@RaymondGrace-i8v]

Its a nice looking car for sure.Well done Mark

[@KevinP-y7k]

Have they managed to sort out the issue of the cam belt dissolving in the oil?

[@NobbyOnCars]

It’s a chain but same principle

[@JohnnyMotel99]

Have they fixed the wet belt failure issue?

[@NobbyOnCars]

So they say…

[@JohnnyMotel99]

@@NobbyOnCars Is this C3 a replacenent for the old C3 Picasso? Or has Citroen abandoned that format?

[@anthonybrown4874]

​@@NobbyOnCarsby halving the interval I don't think the trade has a lot of confidence in it £500 job too and if it is disintegrating the sump will need to come off to clean the oil strainer & then hope no oil ways are blocked.

[@iCarlosPro]

They use a chain now. Problem solved.

[@gregmartyn1976]

@johnnymotel99 they replaced the c3 picasso with the c3 aircross and a new version is out soon

[@oliverstemp9132]

What a great car

[@Listen2Concentr8]

Sadly we only get the electric version in my country. Would've loved a small, affordable petrol car on the market.

[@pauljarvis4328]

Is it one of the wet belt engines i wonder? or have they changed it now!

[@NobbyOnCars]

Same but they say its more durable now

[@mmuller2402]

What is truth now? You did comment that it is chain right above this..​@NobbyOnCars

[@sevesellors2831]

Great little car but I understand that the pure tech engines like the Ford eco boost are big trouble particularly with the wet belt and heavy oil consumption. I gather they are called purecrap in the trade. All Stellantis group uses this 1.2, shame as it’s an economical engine and good on emissions. But I do love Citroen they have character. I had a couple of Peugeot 308 and only issues were electrical not engines .

[@Sjaak819]

This new C3 has a timing chain.

[@sevesellors2831]

@@Sjaak819 that’s great news.

[@gib321]

Reminds me a bit of the VW T Cross. Interesting what you say about the 6th gear. I would drop the "be happy" tags and the colour inserts. Don't under stand why electric is fitted with arm rest and ICE is not when the ICE car will probably be doing more longer journeys. Having reviewed electric and ICE versions Nobby, which would you choose at this moment in time for RoI driving?

[@NobbyOnCars]

They’ll both work for Ireland, the EV will be cheaper to run but the petrol drives a bit better.

[@gib321]

@@NobbyOnCars Thanks. Great reviews on both cars.

[@arklowdashcam5155]

Great little car. This petrol version would be a great alternative choice for anyone who, for whatever reason, doesn’t want the EV version. The fact that it has a manual gearbox is great. The Satnav guy is a bit scary!

[@Greg579]

Alternative? Wtf are you on about. The electric version is a lot more expensive *alternative* to the petrol version.

[@robertimrie3710]

​@@Greg579Google this engine and issues. Manuals were great 20 years ago, not today. Charge at home and the fuel savings are significant. Liking this car with petrol is 2014 thinking.

[@BenSamuel-d6l]

You mean anyone with a brain who doesnt want the EV piece of garbage?

[@April480p]

EVs are the alternative choice, not petrol cars. If a car has a petrol version, it is the base one. The electric one is for 0.1% of the population, who either have a complete set of extremely specific requirements (house, near a city, solar panels, drives less than 50km a day), or are stupid.

[@collettjw]

⁠@@April480p Wake up, smell the coffee, read the papers. Citroen has designed the new C3 as an electric vehicle; the petrol & hybrids are alternatives to the main design. You might also want to open your eyes to how many EV’s are being sold. However, the petrol version IS the one for me and will be until manufacturers are able to crack the 400 mile range in a vehicle costing less than £25k - or rapid chargers are provided in every supermarket and village car park. Which will take some time.

[@BMWHP2]

Thanks for the good informative review. I guess around €24.000k for the turbo Max version. That will be around €3.000 cheaper than the EV version (with subsidies (Netherlands).

[@anthonybrown4874]

That puretech wet belt engine is still dragging the stellantis brand down , a lot of used dealers avoid the motor and thats never good for residuals. They might modify it one day but for now it blights the brands.

[@HologramJones]

No it's not, from 2022 it uses a timing chain, also the only engine that was affected was the 1.2. The issue also affected other brands using the Dayco wet belt (Ford, VW and many others)

[@anthonybrown4874]

Best they publicise it then though do they want to admit they offloaded a liability engine on consumers?

[@HologramJones]

@@anthonybrown4874 there has been a recall around issued by Dayco and then by Stellantis that if you experience symptoms to go in and change the belt. However, you must have had your services done by Citroen. Reason being that people who have done their services and on time,use the exact same grade of oil which is very important according to Dayco have managed to stave off the issue, however it is still recommended to change to belt. I don't think at first that Stellantis were aware of the issue since they don't manufacture the belt. As for the new timing chain there is a press release somewhere.

[@anthonybrown4874]

@HologramJones For all the owners who are buying used stellantis puretech motors it's impossible to be certain that the correct oil is always used plus in service the contamination by petrol and combustion products may well be outside the parameters first anticipated hence the requirement to halve the belt change as in service experience shows it breaks up clogs up sensitive engine parts and is generally to be avoided either through regular monitoring or really early belt changes at some cost. I have observed the belt st 67k on a 5 year old 308 it was in very poor condition and replaced with genuine peugeot parts they may have improved the materials but the principle is unsound using wet belts hence as you inform the move to timing chain. Best to just avoid.

[@Filipe-dj3sb]

@@HologramJonesdidnt affect the 1.0 tsi

[@dominiccarter8440]

Patiently waiting for the hybrid to drop in the UK. Or at least the Max trim of the petrol version 🤞

[@venon666]

Nice to has a petrol version

[@chips1889]

Does it have a timing belt in oil?

[@manuelrusu7052]

not anymore.

[@Mr.Tracer]

I'm concerned about the lack of a tachometer....it's as easy to drive as a manual without it ????? i am looking forward for the new c3 aircross but i am sceptical that tachometer is not available

[@NobbyOnCars]

Can’t say I missed one. You either drive or you can’t ☺️😉

[@Mr.Tracer]

@@NobbyOnCars thank you for your answer....i should wait and test drive one when it will be available

[@timvale1007]

Lots of familiar bits from the Jeep Renegade?

[@Lisbonese]

It doesn’t come with a center arm rest?? Not even as an option??

[@NobbyOnCars]

It does. EV version I drove had an armrest.

[@Lisbonese]

@@NobbyOnCars yes I saw, but not on the petrol which is a shame…..

[@victormarian7889]

How about the ... belt ?! Still immersed and prone to oil impregnation ?!

[@NobbyOnCars]

They say they’ve sorted it… time will tell!

[@victormarian7889]

@@NobbyOnCars They switched to chain for the hybrid !

[@londo0]

​@@NobbyOnCars some people are saying it's a chain now. You didn't ask Citroen when you got the car? It's a major issue which will keep people from buying it.

[@stefanobalistreri8349]

​​​@@londo0Not at all!!!! This engine is derivated by the previous one but it is very different. Stellantis has put a time chain on it and there are many other differences.

[@LONGHALL27]

I am currently looking atRenault Clio,Dacia Stepway, Hyundai I20 and the Suzuki Swift all around the same price. However I am shocked to hear the MPG on the C3 7/100kms is far too high for a car of this size and on that basis I would not choose one.

[@keithhooper6123]

Swift for reliabilty

[@rahulravichandra7420]

A handsome looking car i would like to say

[@user-bz9cb8bp2y]

Is it a 1.2 pure tech engine ?....

[@BrateTebra123]

Yes

[@laurradu868]

But revised, with chain, not wet belt.

[@Elaba_]

I only trust chains from Toyota or double chains with other car manufacturers. ​@@laurradu868

[@BrateTebra123]

@@laurradu868 not revised, it is with belt

[@laurradu868]

@@BrateTebra123 they say is chain, Miller cycle, variable geometry turbo, direct injection 350 bar, cylinder block for chain compatibility, low friction silent chain drive, low friction valve train, hybrid compatibility.

[@user-sy2mv6my8l]

Quite nice! Just 1,6 4 cyl. is missing. :)

[@americanakita]

I'm curious when they will be delivered. If as "fast" as the electric version you'll need a lot of patience. Pre-ordered the ë-C3 November 2023. First they said first deliveries would be May/June. Then it was July/August which changed to October. It's November 2024 when I'm writing this and still no new car in my garage 😡You'd think they keep you updated. Forget it! Even the official distributors have to whine for a little info.

[@VMDJV]

I heard these 1.2 engines from the stelatis group have over heating and high oil consumption.

[@laurradu868]

The old one! This is new, with timing chain. It should be better

[@Victor-rv7fx]

Wish the max trim was available with the petrol and not just the electric. In ethical consumer magazine the Stellantis brands such as Citroen came top. Volvo as the brand to boycott, highly commended Suzuki and Mazda.

[@leyland272]

like it specially in that little petrol .we all don't need suvs

[@alanduffell6820]

Nice, not exciting in any way. Although we don't know the price yet, I would choose the Clio or MG3 hybrid over it every time if they were priced the same.

[@undercover0065]

I'd also choose an A-Class over it if it was the same price...

[@BenSamuel-d6l]

but they are hybrid............stay away from anything with batteries.........its not a smart phone or a toy.

[@emotionstudio3729]

Does this car have a tachometer?

[@yzhou-sc6gs]

No, only a text indicator to remind you to ⬆️⬇️.

[@diarmuidlucey7482]

Nice car, but I couldn't buy this car simply because of the misaligned rear wiper, my OCD in me would need to try align the rear wiper every time I walk past it

[@NobbyOnCars]

🤣

[@ISuperTed]

Next version it will be removed, if enough people complain about the mis-alignment 😂😂

[@williamfence566]

Traditionally Citroen have high depreciation so leasing will be higher and that wet belt is a reason not to buy outright. Shame as it ticks a lot of boxes but there are better B segments out there.

[@laurradu868]

It doesn't have wet belt anymore, this one is with chain.

[@xmaniac99]

Better B segments for 14k euro?

[@BenSamuel-d6l]

Like what?

[@keithhooper6123]

That off white from looks impractical

[@DeltaFox1970]

And the same problem that these engines cause?

[@helenrathy4736]

Really dont know why citroen not provide this similar quality in india.....

[@KeanoMUFC1]

Man this is a nice car

[@wayneheyes4934]

This will sell

[@190lol]

1.2 gas engine = wet belt. 1.2 mild hybrid = wet chain.

[@nialldunleavy1935]

I never really get the obsession with flat floors in boots. Unless you are carrying small but really heavy items all the time, like what? Gold bars? Its better to place items down into boot. They dont fall out when you open boot. And lets face it , you carried the item to the car and then lifted it to waist height.

[@iarpak]

Hallelujah!!! A manual transmission!

[@BorisMitendorfer]

Very nice little car, good ride, but worst thing on this car is unreliable 1.2 motor!

[@maredox]

I just hope they made significant changes on that little petrol engine because it's complete garbage (wet belt drive, enormous oil consumption etc)

[@wasparg]

Citroen C3 Aircross when?

[@gregmartyn1976]

Next few months

[@martinfinbarscully4924]

Best car. ...... ecotech engine will blow up guaranteed

[@thejecs8]

This engine is awful though and only time will tell if the chain won't break apart like in the 1.6 puretech and 1.5 HDi. A shame, really, because the old 1.4 HDi was known to be quite tough. I'll probably buy a Dacia Sandero, even though I've always loved Citroën.

[@sergiosanmuahahaha]

Wow it looks great, and seem to have a lot of visibility. Also like the way they did the speedo Edit: oh nevermind it's got the wet belt engine. Pass What a shame, it did looked interesting Edit 2: didn't do my research. It does have a chain. Absolute gem of a car then I think

[@laurradu868]

No, it doesn't have wet belt engine.

[@iCarlosPro]

It uses a chain now. Problem solved.

[@sergiosanmuahahaha]

@@laurradu868 thanks mate, good to know

[@sergiosanmuahahaha]

@@iCarlosPro thanks, then nothing to object. Cool car

[@jeandupont433]

En anglais... Merci je ne comprends pas votre langue??????Vous m'en mettrez 3 Kg... Salutations

[@SP-er5xn]

Why are you selling poor aesthetics in india , i wish to buy and change my current swift but the moment i saw those door handles i felt like i aint upgrading ... change this in india as well

[@NobbyOnCars]

@@SP-er5xn why are you commenting about India on an Irish car review?! The two markets couldn’t be more different

[@AlanTov]

Given where we are a petrol version is never the best version.

[@martinbingle5074]

Quite a large car and I get 56 miles per gallon.

[@jellyd4889]

If this has one of the Peugeot 5 speed gearbox engines, they are sheeeeeeet. Extremely loud and NOT frugal. Also no elasticity at all. AND that Peugeot display an UI is the worst. Designed by a fool, with the resolution of about 10 dots per inch. If it has none of the above: Great!

[@kevinclarke9689]

not a great engine, the rubber timing belt breaks down due to its wet belt design. The oil breaks the belt down and the tiny particles of rubber clog up the tiny oilways causing engine premature failure. Changing the timing belt every two years solves this problem along with regular oil changes.

[@davelocktalk]

Electric version far cheeper to run

[@davidperry7128]

Because it kicks out carcinogens?

[@NobbyOnCars]

Yet more people have watched my video of a petrol one over the EV version.

[@kevinnolan1617]

Drum brakes!!!

[@NobbyOnCars]

A 40k ID.3 also has them….

[@pepegalego]

If it is the puretech engine, mechanics recommend stearing clear of it...terrible reliability.

[@rafaelrafa2765]

They are not bad, do a full belt and clean the oil pump every 20k miles and you'll be alright, people are lazy and don't want to do no maintenance anymore, I prefer to pay 15k for a little car that can be reliable if I spend 1k every 20k miles then spend 30k for a electric crap with low range and that also will be unreliable in 10 years time.

[@pepegalego]

@@rafaelrafa2765 I have never owned a PSA car basically because I have never met a person who was happy with theirs. Every single person I know with a Citroen or Peugeot only complains about the problems they have with their car. It might be a Spanish thing, but I am yet to find a happy PSA owner. There is actually a spanish youtube channel dedicated to highlighting the problems with their cars, especially recently with the puretechs.

[@hectorheath9742]

This guy doesn't sound interested in the car. Keeps going on about the colours! Someone who likes/would buy the car because it meets his needs should review it. Yeah, the boot is small, it's a small car! And stop talking back to the sat nav, it's been done! It's boring!

[@NobbyOnCars]

Moan, moan, moan, go watch someone else so

[@victormarian7889]

the previous car was nice, this new one ... ugly as hell !

[@colinhill2393]

It has the wet belt engine. I wouldn't touch one

[@bordersw1239]

Chain

[@ronflynn5043]

not a car for claustrophobia sufferers

[@JJonasken]

1.2 pureshit? No thanks

[@ConstantineBD73]

It looks like VW T-Roc...

[@StoychoBalchev]

better do not have kids with those seats ..

[@robertimrie3710]

So why is this the best version? Petrol head reviews petrol car and decides it's better than the EV he hasn't driven yet I had a car with this engine ten years ago and now every mechanic with a KZbin channel says wet belt avoid avoid avoid. To be fair the engine drove well but after coming from a manual I hated the auto, and it was available auto only as well. Today with 2024 traffic, EV is miles ahead.

[@NobbyOnCars]

I haven’t driven what? Citroen e-C3 review | This could be one of Citroen's best cars! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIrGmXlqr69-jtk

[@ThorRavnsborg]

Not sure I see the point in a dinosaur sucking construction with 2.000 moving parts in this day and age but I guess it takes time to convince everyone.

[@gdwlaw5549]

This was an electric car ……he didn’t open the bonnet …😊

[@ISuperTed]

And that gearbox was fake too. Clickbait! 😂

[@ivicaradocaj]

Very ugly car.

[@JunkerOnDrums]

Petrol can never be the best version :D