The compact SUV segment is one of the more lucrative spaces in the Indian car market. Almost every top carmaker is present in this segment, more are entering this space every year. And Stellantis-owned French carmaker Citroen will be the next entrant with the C3 Aircross. Now, we have already reviewed the upcoming compact SUV, which you will find on the car&bike’s website. However, if you want something a bit briefer, here’s a quick photo review of the new Citroen C3 Aircross.
Also Read: Citroen C3 Aircross Review: Just Another Compact SUV Or More?
The C3 Aircross has a strong SUV stance with muscular lines, flared haunches, a straight roof with large roof rails and a lot of cladding all around. In terms of styling, this is the quintessential Citroen SUV.
Up front, you have the signature look with the twin slat grille and the Chevron pattern logo at the centre and Y-shaped LED DRLs. But you do not get LED or even projector headlamps on this SUV, only halogen headlamps. What are you thinking Citroen?
The SUV comes with a set of larger 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, which looks quite stylish. The taillamps are also not LED, but the C-shaped wraparound units look nice. It also gets a flat rear windshield with a rear wiper, a beefy rear bumper with more cladding and a large silver faux skid plate.
The C3 Aircross is 4323 mm long, 1796 mm wide, up to 1669 mm tall and comes with an impressive 200 mm of ground clearance. It's offered in both 5- and 7-seater options, featuring a best-in-class wheelbase of 2671 mm, which translates to a spacious cabin.
The dashboard is pretty much identical to the hatchback, and you will see those elements on these AC vents, the steering design and even the touchscreen display, which is the same 10.2-inch unit offered in the C3. However, you do get different colour tones. In fact, Citroen offers two dashboard colour options – Anodised Bronze and Anodised Grey.
Also Read: Citroen C3 Aircross Bookings To Open In September; Deliveries Will Begin In October 2023
The cabin is also extremely spacious, the seats are also well bolstered, and the cushioning is also very comfortable. But, you only get a manual AC, no rear AC vents in 5-sthe eater model, no sunroof and no wireless charger either.
In comparison, the three-row version is a better package. Unlike the 5-seater version, here you get roof-mounted AC vents as well and the last row seats can be removed to create a segment-best boot space of 511 litres.
In terms of safety features, this top-end trim of the C3 Aircross comes with an electronic stability programme, hill hold assist, tyre pressure monitoring system and a rear-view camera. Other standard features include - dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, seatbelt reminder and rear parking sensors.
The SUV is powered by the same 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that is also offered in the C3 hatchback. It makes the same 108 bhp and 190 Nm torque. It’s extremely peppy and fun to drive, and it pairs really well with the SUV.
There is a good grunt in the lower revs and a lot of usable power in the mid-range as well. The motor is paired with a new 6-speed manual gearbox, compared to the 5-speed unit offered in the C3, and I quite like it.
The SUV soaks in all the small bumps and undulations on the road with great ease, with minimal vibrations seeping inside the cabin. Even the handling is quite nice. The SUV feels stable even at higher speeds and responds nicely to steering movement.
The new Citroen C3 Aircross looks very good, the cabin is quite spacious and comfortable, and the SUV is extremely fun-to-drive. And these are things I really like. However, today’s customers are looking for a lot more than this.
The make-or-break situation for the company would be to price it aggressively so that customers see some value in this. Depending on the variants on offer, I would ideally like this to be priced between Rs. 9.5 lakh to Rs. 13 lakh (ex-showroom).
