Is the 2024 Citroen C3 now better than the Ford Puma?
Filling the gap the Ford Fiesta left, the new C3 is as comfortable as ever before
Ever since Ford discontinued the Fiesta, buyers of the supermini felt a little lost about which car to go for, but along came the Citroen C3 and e-C3 as viable options for those customers.
The 'C3' has been around since 2002 and is therefore a household name within the Citroen brand.
But the new 2024 C3 is an entirely new car, adopting an SUV-like body and much softer suspension for a smooth ride Citroen's of old were famous for.
The new Citroen C3 wants to steal the Ford Puma's crossover crown in Britain.
Priced from £17,790, this French five-seater is taller and boxier than its hatchback predecessor, unlocking more interior and boot space, to go with its trendier 2024 look.
But it also brings something new to the class that leaves all of its rivals looking a bit underequipped - and it relates to comfort.
In a bid to iron out the lumps, bumps and (let's be frank) potholes of roads, the new Citroen C3 gets special suspension technology and some softly cushioned seats.
The car aims to contrast the sportier rides of its rivals, providing a welcome solution to bumpy urban commutes in the most Citroen way possible.
Alright, squidgy suspension and seats are a far cry from the brand's genius suspension technology of the past, but it works.
It also ensures the car remains cheap to buy, with that sub-£18k starting price giving it an eight-grand advantage over its pricier rival from Ford, the Puma.
Given how popular the Puma is in Britain, we're expecting big things from this new C3, especially when the full lineup arrives, adding a hybrid and smaller battery electric version in the coming months, to the just-launched petrol and e-C3, which feature in our video.