The third-generation Citroën C3 (internal code SX) marked a major stylistic break for the chevron brand. Gone was the roundness of the C3 II, replaced by a crossover-inspired design with the integration of the famous lateral Airbumps (depending on trim level) and a two-tier front end. Based on the PF1 platform (and not the CMP of the Peugeot 208 II), it focuses entirely on comfort with soft suspensions and, since its 2020 facelift, the adoption of Advanced Comfort seats. While it excels in urban and peri-urban environments with its pleasant driving experience, its career is unfortunately heavily marred by the chronic reliability problems of its 1.2 PureTech petrol engines (wet belt) and its diesels (AdBlue system).
The Citroën C3 III is a city car full of qualities for those seeking comfort over dynamism. Unfortunately, its reliability record is catastrophic for petrol versions due to the 1.2 PureTech engine. Buying a used petrol version is akin to a lottery: only consider it if the belt has been replaced very recently, maintenance is impeccable (with supporting invoices), and ideally with an extended warranty. Diesel versions are mechanically more durable but suffer from chronic AdBlue issues. Compared to a Renault Clio V or a Toyota Yaris, the C3 III struggles to justify the financial risk it represents on the used market.