Citroen C3 Aircross in Detail Review | Price, design, Mileage, Pros and Cons

Citroen, the renowned French automaker, has added a distinctive entry to its Indian lineup with the C3 Aircross, bridging the gap between the C3 hatchback and the C5 Aircross.

This mid-size SUV brings a refreshing design and a turbo petrol engine to the Indian market, aiming to make a significant impact. Let's check into the hits and misses of this intriguing newcomer.

Design and Styling: French Elegance Meets SUV Boldness

Citroen is known for its unique design language, and the C3 Aircross proudly carries this tradition forward. It shares the same C-Cubed platform with the C3 hatchback, making it instantly recognizable. The front, especially, bears similarities, but the C3 Aircross adds its own flair with a new lower bumper, a prominent skid plate, and distinctive dummy housings.

The widened air intake and updated Chevron logo in glossy black with a silver surround enhance the car's width and elegance. While the headlamp and Daytime Running Lamp cluster remain halogen, it's worth noting that LED lights, common in this segment, are missing.

Moving to the side profile, the C3 Aircross boasts a well-balanced design with a generous 2,671mm wheelbase, 4,323mm length, and proportionate wheel arches and glass areas. Stylish 17-inch 'Quadratic' alloys, plastic cladding on the doors, a two-tone roof, and striking C-shaped tail-lights complete the aesthetic package.

Inside, the C3 Aircross maintains familiarity with the C3 cabin. The dashboard features a 10.2-inch screen available in two themes: Bronze and Anodised Grey. The front seats are upholstered in leatherette, offering excellent cushioning and support. Rear passengers enjoy ample headroom and legroom, though under-thigh support could be better. The 7-seater version is a standout feature, making the C3 Aircross the only SUV in its class to offer a third row of seats, suitable for children or short drives.

Engine and Performance: The Power Under the Hood

The C3 Aircross offers a single engine option: a three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. Unfortunately, there's no diesel option, and the absence of an automatic transmission limits its appeal to a significant portion of the SUV market.

However, Citroen's turbo-petrol engine is a highlight, boasting 110hp and 190Nm of torque. The engine is refined, with minimal vibrations and excellent mid-range performance. It accelerates smoothly and offers a linear power delivery. While it may not be the quickest in its class, the 1.2 turbo engine performs admirably in various driving conditions.

The short-throw 6-speed manual transmission impresses with its smooth and precise shifts, but the clutch can be a bit snappy in heavy traffic, highlighting the need for an automatic option.

Safety Features: Prioritizing Safety

The Citroen C3 Aircross prioritizes safety with a range of features, including dual airbags, ABS, EBD, hill-hold control, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, reverse parking sensors, and a rearview camera (available in the Max variant). These features work together to enhance occupant and road safety, making it a reliable choice.

Competitor Comparison: Taking on the Competition

In the competitive mid-size SUV segment, the C3 Aircross faces rivals like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, and Volkswagen Taigun. With a price range starting from Rs. 9.99 lakh to Rs. 12.30 lakh (ex-showroom) and a choice of four single-tone and six dual-tone colour options, the C3 Aircross aims to carve a niche for itself in the Indian market. Here is the comparison for Citroen C3 Aircross and Honda Elevate.

Citroen C3 Pros and Cons

The Citroen C3 Aircross is a midsize SUV that aims to offer a distinctive design, a spacious and practical cabin, and a fun-to-drive engine.

Pros:

The C3 Aircross has a funky yet likeable design that stands apart from the crowd. It has a lot of customization options and accessories to make your car truly unique.

The C3 Aircross offers the practicality of a 5+2 seater, which is a first-in-class feature. The third row of seats is innovative and can be folded or removed easily. The boot space is massive and can be expanded to 839 litres.

The C3 Aircross comes with a quick 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 109 BHP and is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The engine is fun to drive and delivers good performance and fuel efficiency.

The C3 Aircross has a sorted suspension that offers a very good ride and handling package. It absorbs bumps well and handles corners with confidence. It also has a decent ground clearance of 180 mm.

The C3 Aircross has a good-looking cabin that is practical too. It has plenty of storage space, a 10.2-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, connected car features, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, indirect TPMS, and a rear parking camera with sensors.

Cons:

The C3 Aircross is missing plenty of features that are expected in this segment, such as side and curtain airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, sunroof, climate control, wireless charging, cruise control, rear AC vents, auto headlamps and more.

The C3 Aircross does not have an automatic transmission option at the time of launch, which is a big miss when ATs are rapidly gaining popularity in India. It also does not have any hybrid or diesel engine options.The quality of cabin materials does not feel great and cost-cutting is evident in certain areas. For example, the door pads are hard plastic, the steering wheel is not leather-wrapped, the glovebox is tiny, and the audio system is very basic.

The third row of seats is best for kids or children only, as adults will find it cramped and uncomfortable. The cabin width also makes the middle row seat suitable for two adults, not three.The long-term reliability and after-sales service quality of Citroen are big unknowns in India. The dealer network is also very small and limited to major cities only.

Citroen C3 Aircross Variants

Citroen C3 Aircross comes in three variants, check out in detail specifications and price of all variants

• You:
• Plus:
• Max:

Difference between Citroen C3 and C3 Aircross

The Citroen C3 and the Citroen C3 Aircross are two models from the French carmaker that share some similarities but also have some key differences. Here are some of them:

The Citroen C3 is a hatchback, while the Citroen C3 Aircross is a compact SUV. This means that the C3 Aircross has a higher ground clearance, a longer wheelbase, and a larger boot space than the C3.

The Citroen C3 Aircross offers the option of a seven-seater layout, with removable third-row seats. The Citroen C3 only has a five-seater configuration.

The Citroen C3 Aircross has a revised styling compared to the Citroen C3. It has a bigger and wider grille, a lower bumper inspired by the C5 Aircross, and connected C-shape taillights. It also comes with dual-tone roof options.

The Citroen C3 Aircross has a more mature interior theme than the Citroen C3. It has a black and beige cabin with a brown trim on the dashboard. It also gets some additional features such as a 7-inch fully digital driver’s display and roof-mounted rear AC vents.

The Citroen C3 Aircross only gets one engine option: a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 110PS and 190Nm. It is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. The Citroen C3, on the other hand, gets two engine options: a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 82PS and 115Nm, and a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 110PS and 190Nm. Both engines are paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.

CarBike360 Says

In conclusion, the Citroen C3 Aircross brings a fresh design, a capable engine, and a focus on safety to the mid-size SUV segment in India. While its lack of an automatic transmission may limit its appeal to some buyers, its unique features and competitive pricing make it a contender worth considering.