WITH its robust looks and high level of practicality, the eye-catching C3 XTR is ready to take its place as the latest great value addition to the popular Citroen C3 range.

The new C3 XTR provides an exciting, and very different, alternative to the other range-topping models that helped to make the C3 the fourth best selling 5 door supermini in the UK last year.

Now, with the XTR and its more rugged looks, Citroen’s funky small car will appeal to an even wider range of buyers for whom leisure is an important part of daily life.

With its large black grille, black bumpers, wheel arch extensions and side skirts, the C3 XTR is striking to look at, yet those chunky looks also have a practical side, protecting the new model from everyday knocks and scrapes. Additional features such as 15” alloys, foglamps with aluminium finish surrounds and sleek roof bars give the XTR an extra edge.

The clever modular roof bars are normally positioned lengthways, but the central aluminium sections can be easily detached and locked transversally to transport items of up to 60kg, such as mountain bikes or snowboards. The large panoramic electric sunroof, complete with dual sunblinds, extends the length and width of the roof, and ensures that the cabin is filled with natural light, enhancing the spacious feel inside.

And the C3 XTR offers the same generous amounts of head, leg and elbowroom that are appreciated by all C3 owners. The new model benefits from plenty of on-board storage compartments, one of the largest boots in the class, and the ability to swallow up to 1155 litres of luggage. Citroen’s clever Moduboard function is fitted as standard in this model and provides further flexibility, letting owners divide the boot into various compartments when it is necessary to keep items separate. The roomy interior features a Child Pack, incorporating aircraft style trays on the back of the front seats and a secondary rear view mirror for keeping an eye on any little ones in the rear, as well as a dashboard-mounted child lock button. The two front seats have lateral supports and armrests for added comfort, while the attractive, resistant two-tone upholstery, which is totally new to the C3 XTR, complements the funky interior with its curvy two-tone dashboard and aluminium effect fittings.

In addition to the panoramic electric sunroof and Moduboard, the C3 XTR comes with a whole host of equipment as standard, such as variable power steering, electric door mirrors, CD player, guide-me-home headlamps, electric front windows and a trip computer. Safety and security features include ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA), four airbags, remote control central locking with deadlocks and automatic door and boot locking on the move.

Completing this great value package, all models come with a three year / 60,000 miles warranty, with insurance ratings and service intervals respectively fixed at 4 and 20,000 miles for the petrol version and 5 and 12,500 miles for the diesel model.