Citroen C3 Stop & Start (2007) CAR review

That’s not the future of green motoring - it’s just a Citroen C3.

Don’t be so dismissive. The lengthily titled Citroen C3 1.4i 16v Stop & Start SensoDrive five-door, is very much the present of green motoring, as it carries a smart little innovation that will cut your fuel bills. It could significantly improve city-centre air quality if more manufacturers adopt it, too. The technology is simple and has been around for ages. Citroen deserves credit for being the first to add it 18 months ago, and BMW and others are only just getting around to introducing it. If you didn’t fall asleep while reading the full model name, you’ll know what we’re talking about.

I fell asleep.

Very simply, when you come to a halt and keep your foot on the brake, the engine stops. Release the brake and the engine will have restarted before your foot has reached the gas. It’s seamless and smooth. Much of the claimed economy advantages of petrol-electric hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, come from the fact that the engine stops when the car does in traffic. The C3 Stop & Start (and the C2 with the same powertrain) give you some of the advantages of a hybrid in traffic with none of the weight, complexity or cost.