THE reaction I received to Citroën’s sophisticated new supermini was enough to make any self-respecting automotive engineer weep.

After years of research, planning and design, did people want to talk about its stylish new looks – the sweeping panoramic windscreen, or even the integrated Europe-wide satellite navigation and multimedia system? Nope. Not interested.

The real attention-grabbing, talking point was the eye-wateringly bright Botticelli Blue paint finish.

And that proved a growing frustration, because underneath the flashy paint job is a really serious car, with superb ride, handling and comfort and a classy refined interior streets ahead of its predecessor.

The previous C3 was a pretty decent performer, selling more than two million worldwide, but this five-door hatchback, although it bears the same badge, is a major step-up in quality. That hits you the second you grip the chunky, sculpted, three-point, chrome-trimmed steering wheel and buckle yourself in to the contoured seat.

Citroën’s designers have produced a stylish and sophisticated, soft-touch interior, tailored with chrome and gloss black trim, that looks good and feels even better.

Instrumentation is new, with twin analogue dials and an LED display – with a floating visor above to shield them from glare – and the exterior lines are mirrored in the smooth horizontal dashboard design, finished with a brushed steel strip that runs the full width of the car.

But as smart as the interior is, it’s the quiet comfort and sophistication of the ride that is the C3’s real selling point. It errs on the side of comfort, as opposed to pin-sharp handling, but for a car that is 5cm shorter than the Vauxhall Corsa and 9cm shorter than the Peugeot 207 and the Renault Clio, its poise on the road is remarkable.

For such a compact car, it also offers a surprisingly spacious interior and a decent boot, with a lowered sill that allows easy loading. The boot also has four lashing rings and can be equipped with a removable load net.

With prices starting at about £11,000, the upmarket feel of the car is backed by big-car options ranging from cruise control with speed limiter, a Gear Efficiency Indicator that helps maximise fuel economy, rear parking sensors, colour satnav and multi-media system and Bluetooth phone connection.

The test model was equipped with the optional visibility pack – automatic headlights, automatic wipers and auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror – complete with a row of three white LED lights that illuminate the upper dashboard and central console.

Engine choice includes four petrol power-plants – two co-developed with BMW – and three of Citroën’s HDi diesels. The C3 is available in a choice of 10 body colours, so if you fancy something a little less head-turning than Botticelli Blue, then it’s available.

And to make the car even more attractive, it also comes with a £199 fixed price servicing offer, that covers all recommended and scheduled servicing, and brake fluid replacement for up to three years or 35,000 miles.

Anyone looking for a comfortable and spacious compact car with high levels of specification should take a look.

Bumper to bumper Price: £15,290 Insurance group: Four Fuel consumption (combined): 65.7mpg Top speed: 112mph Length: 394.1cm/155.1in Width: 172.8cm/68in Luggage capacity: 10.6 cu ft Fuel tank capacity: 10.6g/48l CO2 emissions: 110g/km Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles