The Review Site - Citroen C3 Pluriel

Relevant Information: 2003 model
Brief summary of the item: The C3 Pluriel is a cheap way of getting into drop-top motoring, offering quick and quirky versatility at an affordable price. It's a thoroughly modern compact convertible. The roof can slide back in sunroof mode, fully back for a convertible or configured as a roadster with the roof bars removed.
Good Points: Cheap to run. Doesn't use a lot of fuel. Nice cheap convertable.
Bad Points: Roof Leeks. Very fiddley taking the roof down. Really only worth using as a full sun roof.
General Comments: BEHIND THE WHEEL
The well laid out two-tone dash is easy to use, and the digital speedo and semi-circle rev-counter are neat and uncomplicated to read. The interior is cheapened by the faux-aluminium plastic air-vents, door handles and handbrake button, which are unconvincing and obvious cost cutting measures, but do brighten up the otherwise drab interior. The high driving position enables a great view of the road, although rearward visibility is restricted when the roof is up, as the rear window is quite small.

COMFORT
The front seats are spongy but adequate, although due to the lack of contour there is little back or lateral support over long spells. The rear seats are roomy enough for a couple of kids, but adults may find it a squeeze, as legroom is tight - especially if sitting behind a tall driver - and broad shouldered passengers may feel wedged in. On hot days, getting the roof down couldn't be easier; the canvas rolls back at the twist of a knob and it's comparatively quiet for a convertible with little noise at moderate speed. However, on the motorway with the roof down things can start to get noisy, though this is to be expected.

EQUIPMENT
All models come with ABS, an electric sliding and fully retractable roof, removable roof arches, an on-board trip computer, emergency braking assistance, variable power steering, driver’s, front passenger’s and front lateral airbags, electric windows and door mirrors, a stereo radio/CD player, height and tilt adjustable steering wheel, remote control central locking with deadlocks and front fog lights. 1.4i Exclusive adds air conditioning, aluminium bumper inserts, rubbing strips, door handles and roof arches, leather upholstery, gear knob and steering wheel, and folding door mirrors. 1.6i 16V SensoDrive adds a SensoDrive gearbox, an anti-theft alarm, 15-inch alloy wheels, front seat back pockets, body colour inserts on back of front seats, sport front seats, a leather steering wheel and interior door handles with a leather finish. Options include air conditioning, black paint, an elegance pack and metallic or pearlescent paint. The 2006 Latte special edition has white paintwork and a white leather interior.

PERFORMANCE
Powered by 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines and a 1.4-litre HDI diesel. The 1.4 isn’t quick, but it is peppy and nippy around town. The diesel is slow to get going, but is a strong performer when it does, making it well suited to motorway work and great for cruising. The 1.6, with a 0-60mph time of 12.2 seconds and a top speed of 117mph, is the quickest engine in the line-up, but is available only with a SensoDrive semi-automatic gearbox – with paddles behind the steering wheel. SensoDrive is one of the better gearboxes of this type, with smooth, well-timed changes. In fully automatic it’s a bit jerky - often searching for gears and making changes at unexpected times.

HANDLING
When the roof bars are in place, the drive is adequate but there’s considerable body flexing once they are removed and Pluriel lacks composure at speed. As you'd expect from Citroën, Pluriel rides well over smooth surfaces, but it feels a bit rough on A and B roads and suffers from bodyroll on tight corners. Due to the feather-light power steering and small body, city driving is a doddle, as Pluriel can squeeze and weave through traffic, while parking is made even easier when the roof is down and the arches are removed.

PRACTICALLY
C3 Pluriel’s all-weather versatility is ideal whatever the season, though there is no storage for the detachable roof rails, which is inconvenient if the weather changes quickly while you’re driving. Like many convertibles, boot space is seriously compromised when the roof is down, but there's enough room for a sizeable weekly shop when it's up. With the seats folded down, it's almost a pick-up, capable of taking bulky goods. The door bins, lockable glovebox and dash-mounted storage cupboard are great for keeping valuables within easy reach, and the hardback front seats are scuff resistant.

SAFETY
This is one of the safest superminis on the road with a four-star Euro NCAP rating. It gets a better score than the metal-roofed C3 and Pluriel was even tested with the roof off. The roof arches and windscreen pillars are reinforced with aluminium and steel respectively, providing rollover protection for all passengers. All models are fitted with ABS, braking assistance and driver, passenger and front side airbags, while there are ISOFIX anchor points in the rear for child safety. The fabric roof is lined with metal strips to keep razor-toting thieves at bay, though the remote central locking – complete with deadlocks – should provide sufficient security.

RUNNING COSTS
Insurance groups are quite low for a drop-top, service intervals are well spaced and Citroën dealers usually offer good value for money. Depreciation has been quite low up until now, but with more coming onto the used market and increased competition, values are set to weaken. Fuel consumption is not a concern, but the 1.4 diesel is particularly frugal, returning an impressive 62mpg.

RELIABILITY
Owners of early Pluriels have been plagued with roof mechanism issues, leaks and gearbox problems, though later models seem to have overcome these issues. The interior plastics look and feel flimsy, so cabin durability may be an issue.