Page 56 - Car South Africa (February 2020)

drive

CITROËN C3 1,2 PURETECH 60 kW FEEL ETA: NOW WHERE WE
More is more DROVE IT

Without a turbo, the entry-level C3 can feel gutless.
Still, there’s enough promise here
Johannesburg
By: Terence Steenkamp Terence_CARmag

*Claimed figures

Price: R239 900 Engine: 1,2-litre, 3-cyl, petrol Transmission: 5-speed manual Power: 60 kW @ 5 750 r/min Torque: 118 N.m @ 2 750 r/min
0-100 km/h: 13,2 seconds* Top speed: 169 km/h* Fuel consumption: 5,7 L/100 km* CO : 128 g/km Rivals: Honda Jazz 1,2 Trend; Hyundai i20 1,2 Motion
2

+ quirky design; spec levels; service plan weak engine; baggy gearshift

e at CAR generally take Let me explain. merging into traffic at anything sion doesn’t help the cause, either,
a conservative stance At the recent Gauteng-based above urban speeds requires shifting in an imprecise manner
W when recommending local launch of a revised Citroën a good deal of patience and a the PSA Group should have elimi-
vehicles to our readers, friends brand – read our road test of the helping of mental fortitude in the nated from its cars by now.
and families. As a rule, we endorse charming C3 Aircross on page 62 energy-sapping Highveld altitude. That’s why I’d suggest the
those cars which prioritise quality – the naturally aspirated 1,2-litre It’s curious that the 1,2-litre flagship Shine variant in the
engineering, value for money and engine, which forms the entry would feel so gutless considering two-model Citroën C3 range is
sensible spec over flashy mod- point to the Citroën range, felt its maximum torque output of the better buy. It gains a turbo for
cons and surfeit performance. In modestly punchy in its first three 118 N.m is delivered at a lowly outputs of 81 kW and 205 N.m
the case of this entry-level Citroën gears and bereft of any useful 2 750 r/min and the vehicle weighs coupled with a smooth-shifting
C3 1,2 Feel, I’m not convinced our motive force in its top two gears. a comparatively lithe 1 055 kg.The six-speed torque-converter auto-
usual approach is the best one. Overtaking slower vehicles or baggy five-speed manual transmis- matic transmission. Sure, there’s

54 CAR FEBRUARY 2020 CARmag.co.za