As the lightest car in this year’s tests, with the lowest towing limit, the Citroën C3 isn’t suitable for towing a full-size caravan. But for trailer-tent owners it certainly has something to offer.

At a steady 60mph, we found the Citroën entirely stable. Even 10mph beyond the legal limit, our drivers only noticed very slight movements.

The 30-60mph time of 14.5 seconds is respectable, but in reality we found it took a heavy right foot to maintain motorway speeds into a headwind, even with a trailer weighing just 600kg.

Modest engine power didn’t prove a problem in the hill-start test, though. The conventional handbrake held the car still with no need to yank it on with force, and the C3 pulled to the top of the slope cleanly.

As a car to live with every day, the C3 isn’t as much fun as a Ford Fiesta or a Renault Clio. It rides softly, but we’d prefer better control and less lean in corners.

The boot is quite small – this is a supermini after all – but a Honda Jazz or Skoda Fabia have more room for bags. There’s a compact spare under the boot floor and no warning in the handbook against towing with it fitted.

Running costs should be low if the official combined fuel economy figure of 76.3mpg is anything to go by. However, a list price of £17,505 is quite high for such a small car, although What Car?‘s research suggest healthy discounts are available.

2019
Category Winners
2019 Up to 1400kg

Škoda Octavia

Hatch 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L DSG

2019 1400-1549kg

Seat Ateca

2.0 TSI 190PS FR DSG

2019 1550-1699kg

Volkswagen Arteon

2.0 TDI 150PS Elegance DSG

2019 1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2019 1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 SDV6 HSE

2019 Best Budget 4x4

Dacia Duster

1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4

2019 Best Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

P400e HSE Dynamic

2019 Best Ultralight Tow Car

Seat Arona

1.0 TSI 115 FR

2019 Fuel Economy Award

Ford Focus Estate

1.5 EcoBlue 120PS Titanium X

Previous Winners
2018
1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2017
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 Td6 HSE*

2016
1400-1549kg

Skoda Superb Hatch

2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business

2015
1400-1549kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG

2014
1400-1549kg

Nissan Qashqai

1.6 dCi (130PS) Stop/Start System Acenta Premium

2013
Up to 1424kg

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI CR 150PS Elegance

2012
1725–1899kg

Jaguar XF

2.2D Premium Luxury

2011
1425-1574kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Sport

2010
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery 4

3.0 TDV6 XS

2009
1900kg+

Volvo XC60

D5 SE Geartronic

2008
1575-1724kg

Ford Mondeo Estate

2.0 TDCi Titanium auto

2007
1575-1724kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI Sport 4Motion

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