Are C3 wetbelts really that bad?

My driving test is next month and if I pass, my mom said she’ll buy me a car. I’ve always liked Citroëns and I’ve pretty much decided I want a newer 3rd gen automatic C3 (2021-2024).

The problem is I keep being told that French cars are unreliable, and specifically that the C3’s wet belt can break/deteriorate and cause major engine damage. Obviously that doesn't sound good, especially when a whole new engine would be really expensive.

I’ve been looking at things like a Hyundai i10 or Toyota Yaris instead, but they seem quite a bit smaller for roughly the same price, and honestly I just prefer the C3.

I know the sensible thing would probably be to get something reliable but I also don’t want to spend a lot of money on a car I don’t really like just because I’m scared of reliability issues.

I’d also feel guilty if I knowingly bought an unreliable car when my mom is the one who’d have to pay for maintenance/repairs.

So are the wet belts actually a big enough issue that I should avoid the C3 altogether? Or are they fine as long as the car has been properly maintained and the belt is changed when it needs to be?