eCCCentric C3

Many of us know of the Citroёn C3. A trendy, clever and comfy “boutique” hatch sold in the lively supermini segment of the market.
What many are largely unaware of is the closely-related Citroёn C3 Pluriel. About as common as Paris Hilton winning an Oscar, this exceptionally unique vehicle was launched on the South African market back in 2004.
I can’t recall ever spotting one of them on the road, though, and it’s not difficult to figure out why.

The C3 Pluriel (good gracious, even the name is ridiculous) was conceptualised and designed as a single vehicle to cater for a mind-boggling array of needs.
So, provided you misplaced your mind and good sense of judgement and purchased a Pluriel, you could theoretically configure your new pride and “toy” as a hatchback, pillarless coupe, cabriolet or even a good old fashioned bakkie / pick-up.

The brutally burning question is why you’d want to do all this. The answer is simply that you would not.

To be fair, Citroёn has always been about forward-thinking and the showcasing of design trends which rival manufacturers would only pick up on years later. Think Citroёn DS or the legendary 2CV to get an idea of what I’m getting at.
The C3 Pluriel, however, is complete and utter overkill.


The intricate roof structure consists primarily of two, 1,85m, 12kg arches. They are as easy to remove as a loose-fitting jacket, but not remotely near as easy to store.
Let’s get real. You’re looking fabulous cruising along the Camps Bay beachfront and decide to go topless – with your Pluriel, that is…

What on earth are you then expected to do with 24kg and almost 4 metres of the stuff?
You could of course leave them at home and take comfort in the fact that should you get caught
in an unexpected thunderstorm, Citroёn has thoughtfully equipped the Pluriel with mildly
water-repellent seat fabric. Just be sure not to rub your skin over the coarse material too
enthusiastically.

My advice is simple. Don’t buy a Citroёn C3 Pluriel.

The Mini Clubman, Ford Ka, Citroёn’s very own C4 and plenty of other oddballs out there represent far more practical ways to stand out in a crowd.