CITROEN C3 HATCHBACK SPECIAL EDITION 1.4I WHITE 5DR

Citroen's special edition C3s offer extra kit and a snazzy monochromatic paint job for less money than the 1.4i VT model they replace. Andy Enright reports.

CITROEN C3 HATCHBACK SPECIAL EDITION 1.4I WHITE 5DR

Adding value and a distinctive look is a favourite tactic when car makers want to give a familiar, but perhaps slower-selling, model a sales kick and some extra showroom presence and Citroen is no stranger to the technique. With diesel-powered versions of its C3 supermini taking care of themselves, it's the 75PS 1.4-litre petrol C3 formerly known as the 1.4i VT that re-emerges as the C3 Black and C3 White special editions with an extra helping of kit, a slimmed down colour chart (anything you like as long as it's black or white) and tempting price reductions over the model they replace.

CITROEN C3 HATCHBACK SPECIAL EDITION 1.4I WHITE 5DR

Keeping interest in the C3 stoked up is vital for Citroen. It's the French company's biggest-selling small car and competes in the ever-more competitive supermini sector against stalwart stars such as the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo, not to mention a raft of emerging talent from South Korea.

The previous generation C3, launched in 2002, was affordable, economical and powered by a decent range of engines. What it lacked was quality and anything much in the way of flair - either aesthetic or dynamic. Its 2009 replacement fixed all of that and focused on bringing big car qualities and sophistication to the supermini segment - goals it largely achieved through genuinely distinctive design, dramatically improved build and material quality, sensibly retaining the previous model's five doors (leaving the three-door bodyshell for the sportier DS3 derivatives) and offering up-market features such as the panoramic Zenith windscreen (standard on all but the base models) - something that not only makes the cabin a lighter, brighter place but, in the way it cuts back into the roof, also looks very cool from the outside.

Sadly, it doesn't come as standard with the Black & White special editions. Nevertheless, the emphasis here is on adding style and value to what was the most basic 1.4-litre model, along with never to be underestimated allure of exclusivity. Production is likely to be limited to 12 months.

CITROEN C3 HATCHBACK SPECIAL EDITION 1.4I WHITE 5DR

With the lower powered of the C3's 1.4-litre petrol engines under the bonnet (the other version adds 20PS to this unit's 75PS), Citroen has chosen to give its special edition C3s an eager, flexible demeanour rather than a notably spirited one. Performance against the clock is certainly adequate with a 0-60mph time of around 11 seconds but the refined, sweet-revving unit is more impressive in real-world conditions where its 136 Nm of torque at 4000rpm gives it a responsive, linear delivery that makes constant cog-swapping unnecessary and the C3 less frenetic than some of its rivals. Which is probably just as well as the gearchange can be a little notchy at times.

Mechanical refinement is good on the motorway - the engine turning over at a reasonably relaxed 3350rpm at 70mph - but this tends to emphasise the wind noise and road roar which could be better suppressed. Handling might well be a little crisper too, but Citroen has made no bones about the prioritising of comfort over sportiness with the C3 and it certainly shows. It's no Fiesta through the twisty stuff, but it does have a very comfortable ride, especially around town where it soaks up the scars of worn asphalt with considerable aplomb. This does, however, come at the expense of some body control at higher speeds where a Fiesta (barely less comfortable) would retain a full measure of composure.

CITROEN C3 HATCHBACK SPECIAL EDITION 1.4I WHITE 5DR

The C3 certainly stacks up as a practical proposition. Commendably resisting the temptation to add size and weight to the previous generation model, Citroen's designers have managed to pack an impressive amount of space into its very tidy (by class standards) 3940mm length, combining enough cabin room for a quartet of adults to feel comfortable rather than cramped - though six-footers might welcome a little more headroom in the back - with a remarkably generous 300-litre boot, one of the biggest in the supermini sector.

Even without the wrap-over panoramic Zenith windscreen, the cabin is likely to be light and airy enough for most - missing out on the extra glass might even be preferable on very sunny days - and its design and material quality are certainly a cut above the norm. The stylish instruments are well laid out and easy to read and the switchgear is neat, ergonomic and easy to use. The same degree of design intelliegence has been afforded to the seats which are generously proportioned for a supermini and, with a good range of adjustment for seat and steering wheel, should be able to provide a comfortable driving position for most shapes and sizes. A large glovebox is the main stowage area (the door pockets are a little mean) but there's a useful assortment of cubbies dotted around the cabin.

Banished are the rather flimsy and cheap looking plastics of the previous C3, replaced by a classy medley of surface textures and a general avoidance of anything that might be described as bland - an endeavour assisted by the white facia common to both the Black and the White versions. The theme is followed through externally with white door mirrors and body colour door handles and finished off with chrome inserts on the lower part of the front bumper and 16-inch 'Valonga' alloy wheels.

CITROEN C3 HATCHBACK SPECIAL EDITION 1.4I WHITE 5DR

Citroen and discounting aren't strangers but, initially at least, dealers are unlikely to want to undermine the essential 'deal' offered by the C3 Black & White which slices around £300 from the price of the outgoing 1.4i VT, the new models thus falling into the £12,000-£12,500 bracket. The apparent discrepancy in price between the two special editions, with the Black costing around £450 more than the White, is accounted for by the Obsidian Black paintwork, which is usually an extra-cost option on the C3, whereas Polar White is not. Whichever version you choose, stylish 1.4-litre competition at this price point isn't hard to find. Alfa's MiTo might attract those looking for a sportier flavour of supermini while Volkswagen's evengreen Polo has a more prestigious badge and impeccable engineering credentials. We mustn't forget the Ford Fiesta, of course, which offers arguably the strongest all round package.

In addition to the cosmetic alterations and special alloy wheels, the C3 Black and C3 White add air conditioning to the kit list carried over from the 1.4i VT which includes ABS and EBD, variable power assisted steering, four airbags and a gear change prompt indicator for optimum economy.

CITROEN C3 HATCHBACK SPECIAL EDITION 1.4I WHITE 5DR

All right, Citroen's 1.4-litre petrol engine isn't going to win any 'outstanding contribution' awards for conserving the world's fossil fuel reserves or making the air around its exhaust pipe more fragrant, but 47.1mpg on the combined cycle and 139 g/km of CO2 mirror the class norm. And if drivers adhere to the advice of the gearshift indicator, it might even be possible to beat that (usually flattering) combined consumption figure. Reflecting the aura of quality and reliability now attached to the C3 badge, it boasts decent residual values and the low group 6 insurance rating is a further sweetener for the bottom line.

CITROEN C3 HATCHBACK SPECIAL EDITION 1.4I WHITE 5DR

Unless you're averse to a monochromatic colour scheme, the Black and White C3 special editions clearly make the 75PS 1.4 petrol C3 a more attractive proposition, especially with much-needed inclusion of air conditioning in the equipment pack. The keener value is obviously a welcome bonus for buyers who had their eye on the now superseded C3 1.4i VT anyway and, based on the model's myriad virtues, there will have been no shortage of takers. This is becoming an ever more talented class sector but, although essentially orthodox, the C3's MPV-like design features, roomy, well-designed cabin and much improved build quality stand up well.

As with every other C3, the emphasis is on comfort, refinement and practicality, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun to drive within its limits. As an all rounder, the C3 has a lot going for it and, as the Black & White, it cuts something of a dash, too.