Citroen C3 vs Mini 5D Hatch
What's the difference?

Citroen C3

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2023 price

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Mini 5D Hatch

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2020 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2023 Citroen C3

2020 Mini 5D Hatch

By James Cleary

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 3, 1.2L

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

5.2L/100km (combined)

6.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Equipment
Design
Space efficiency

Potent engine
Tons of grip
Funky cabin ambience

Dislikes

Price
Sub-par refinement
Ownership costs

Ride can be harsh
Jittery drive experience
Cabin tech overly user friendly

2023 Citroen C3 Summary

You’re a city dweller on the hunt for a small hatch, but the usual suspects just don’t do it for you. Time for a trip down the urban road less travelled.

The Citroen C3 fits the bill in terms of scale, but brings something extra when it comes to personality. A fun-sized European with the ability to surprise and delight.

It comes at a price, though. So, is the promise of some extra excitement in your motoring life worth it? Read on to find out.

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2020 Mini 5D Hatch Summary

That the 2020 Mini Clubman John Cooper Works is the most powerful Mini to have landed in Australia isn’t all that surprising. After all, parent company BMW has squeezed the thumping four-cylinder engine from the M135i under its bonnet, and that thing creates a snarling beast of any vehicle it finds a home in.

What is a surprise, though, is that having now driven this angry, crackling, snarling hot hatch, what with its burbling exhaust and properly rapid acceleration, is that it took Mini this long to get around to doing it.

So does the engine upgrade now put the Clubman JCW on the same pedestal as the best European hot hatches? There's only one way to find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Citroen C3 2020 Mini 5D Hatch

Verdict

The Citroen C3’s plus column contains some big ticket items like a solid standard equipment list, design flair, generous interior space, an eager engine, good safety and a comfy suspension. However, the minus side of the ledger isn’t exactly empty, with entries like steep price, marginal perceived quality, poor cabin storage, sub-par refinement, okay economy, and high ownership costs.

But there’s no doubt this car delivers a different, adventurous take on the city-sized hatch, and for you, that alone may count for more than any of those things.

Verdict

The Mini Clubman JCW is quirky in a lot of the right ways, and now has a hard-charging engine to up the adrenalin factor. If you were already sold on the idea of joining the Clubman club, this one will steal your heart more than any other.

Citroen C3 vs Mini 5D Hatch What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Citroen C3 vs Mini 5D Hatch
What's the difference?