Clio, C3 & Corsa: 2019 hatchback comparison

If you think hatchbacks are the goldilocks of cars – that they hit the sweet spot rather than being middle of the road – this article is for you. We compare three popular hatchbacks – the Renault Clio, Citroen C3 and the Vauxhall Corsa to help you find one that’s just right.

Which hatchback has the right in-car technology for you?

New car, new technology. From driver assistance to in-car entertainment, getting your hands on a new vehicle is exciting. But what exactly do these three cars have to offer?

The Renault Clio’s entertainment technology provides a 12 volt socket, easy link navigation and a Bose nine-speaker audio system. The Vauxhall Corsa also offers a 12 volt socket, six standard speakers and a 3.5 inch colour information display and multimedia set. The Citroen C3 comes with a range of entertainment technology including:

In terms of driver assistance and safety, there’s not a lot to choose between all three cars as the table below shows.

Although the Renault Clio has more driver assistance features than the other cars, you’ll need to decide whether they’re all useful for you given your driving habits. For example, is driver attention alert necessary if you only complete sort journeys? If not, a car with fewer features could be sufficient.

How much space do these hatchbacks offer?

If you need to carry a lot of cargo in the boot of your car, the Renault Clio offers most room with a volume of 391 litres. The Vauxhall Corsa provides 309 litres closely followed by the Citroen C3 with 300 litres.
Unsurprisingly, boot size aligns with car size as the Clio is the longest of the three vehicles at 4.06 metres with the Corsa measuring in at 4.0 metres and the Citroen C3 measuring 3.99 metres. Due to their similar size, all three cars seat five people and have five doors making it easy to get everyone and everything in and out of your car.

How do the hatchbacks compare in terms of performance?

When it comes to power, the Renault Clio leads the way with 85 brake horse power (bhp) dropping only slightly to 83bhp in the Citroen C3. The Vauxhall Corsa only offers 75bhp, however it boasts the fastest 0-62mph speed at 11.9 seconds in comparison to the Clio at 14.7 seconds and the Citroen C3 at 13.2 seconds.

Depending on engine size and fuel choice, the Clio offers from the mid-fifties to 67.2 miles per gallon (mpg). The Citroen C3 offers low fifties to 67mpg and the Corsa delivers from low fifties to 70mpg.

The Vauxhall Corsa is also available as an electric vehicle offering you the option to reduce your fuel costs and save money on your benefit-in-kind tax too.

How practical is each hatchback?

Practicality is tricky to measure – in fact, you’re the best judge as you can take into account all of the above factors and possibly others too.

Having a clear idea about how you tend to use your existing car is a good starting point as you’ll already know what’s important to you, what your current car lacks and features you simply don’t use.

If you’re expecting a change in your lifestyle a hatchback could be a good option. Kids leaving home and need to downsize from your SUV or estate? Got a baby on the way and only have a tiny city car? Or do you want a car that’s economical to run, not too expensive to lease and works well in urban areas and on the open road? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, a hatchback could be a great option for your next car.