The 2021 Citroen C3 is not the kind of car most people buy by choice. The C3 competes against an ever-growing pool of sub compact hatchbacks – such as the Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo, Mazda 2 and Peugeot 208 –for buyers who require a new car but can’t afford anything beyond the most basic transportation.

With the redesign of the C3, though, Citroen tried to give buyers more reasons to consider its most diminutive offering. The C3 now sports a more stylish exterior and more tech than ever. Given how well the Citroen C5 functions as simple, basic, transportation and an entry into the SUV market, we were eager to see if Citroen could work the same magic on the 2021 C3.

To find out if the C3 lived up to those modest expectations,we grabbed the key fob to a PureTech Shine model, the top-spec in the two-tier C3 line-up. Our launch drive’s R324,900 price split the difference between it,and the R269,900 price of the entry Pure Tech Feel model.

The pint-sized hatch borrows styling elements from the larger C5, including, a “floating” roof visually separated from the rest of the body by blacked-out pieces, and Citroen’s ubiquitous grille. The C3 also looks longer, higher, and wider than before – the classic recipe for improving the appearance of a car. The design is clean, avoiding exaggerated elements like the Toyota Yaris’ massive grille, and yes, it’s distinctly Citroen. It also comes with 16” Alloy Wheels, Auto Wipers, Rear Parking Sensors and the added twist of bi-tone body colour options.