With quirky styling and an assertive stance borrowed from the SUV design manual, the C3 is both funky and chunky in appearance.

This characterful supermini was already something of a success story for Citroen – and it now boasts added appeal thanks to the 2020 updates.

The new C3 has a re-profiled front end featuring smart LED headlights as standard, while a host of different colour options and new interior trim have also been thrown into the mix.

The mid-life update has also brought about more efficient petrol engines, which cut emissions.

There’s a strong emphasis on comfort, with supple suspension and Advanced Comfort Seats to the fore.

While it might not be the most entertaining car in its class to drive, its appearance, comfort levels and efficiency are sure to appeal to buyers.

In terms of looks, the curvy and busy-looking front end is distinctive and eye-catching, while the sides of the C3 sport the latest interpretation of Airbumps along the bottom of the doors.

Citroen clearly believes individuality is important to C3 owners as it has made no fewer than 97 different colour combinations available – up from 36 on the previous version.

Would-be buyers can choose from seven exterior body colours, four colour packs including Airbump colour and four bi-tone roof colours, meaning no other vehicle in the segment has quite so much potential for personalisation.

Inside, the C3 provides a good deal of comfort and space.

Practicality is high, with front seat occupants enjoying plenty of headroom and legroom, and room in the back being decent.

The elevated driving position and the all-round unhindered view of the surroundings adds to the pleasant experience.

For the most part, materials are fairly basic, but with the occasional design flourish thrown in to liven things up.

For example, an eye catching leather strap handle, with shiny metal panels either side, allows you to pull shut the front doors from inside.

There are also some Airbumps in the inside of the doors, perhaps a nod to those on the outside

In a cabin that’s generally well laid-out, the seven-inch screen is nicely positioned within very easy reach of the driver and offers very clear graphics.

The touchscreen is intuitive to use and commands functions such as the satnav, audio, temperature, and apps such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The touchscreen also allows you to turn on or off the lane departure warning system, stop and start, auto headlamp dipping and parking sensors .

Behind the wheel, a 0-62mph time of over 13 seconds won’t provide any driving thrills.

However, when it comes to ease-of-use, it’s an agile little machine that can be manoeuvred easily round tight city streets, into tight parking spaces or, in my case, along Yorkshire’s narrow country lanes with dry stone walls on either side.

The ride is smooth thanks to suspension that eases out most bumps in the road, while the cabin is also well insulated from external noise.

The engine is generally very hushed and returns excellent fuel economy figures.

The set-up of the vehicle and type of engine favours a more relaxed driving style, as a more aggressive approach merely results in a fair bit of engine noise under heavy acceleration and a sluggish response.

On twisty B roads, the handling is nothing special, with a fair amount of body roll to look out for if cornering swiftly.

If you do plan to work the engine harder on occasions, then I’d choose the manual version over the auto, as the five-speed box was slick enough to help keep the momentum up.

As an everyday car, you’ll find it easy to live with.

Citroen C3 Flair

PRICE: £17,885 on the road

ENGINE: 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol

TRANSMISSION: Five-speed manual

EMISSIONS: 96g/km 

PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph in 13.2 seconds and top speed of 104mph

INSURANCE: Group 8E