Photography: Vaibhav Dhanawade, Citroën
I can’t think of a car segment that’s being contested as hotly; that’s because including the Citroën C3 Aircross you see here, there will be as many as nine SUVs in the midsize SUV segment that compete with each other directly! Need a list? Here you go: Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Škoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, MG Astor and the soon-to-be-launched Honda Elevate! That’s over half a dozen manufacturers in the fray already. You see, the midsize SUV segment has been the most lucrative pie out there for car makers in India for nearly a decade now, because you look at the volumes, the segment is bigger than quite a few other ‘mass market’ segments!
The front end of the C3 Aircross looks very similar to the C3, especially the grille and DRLs but obviously, this is a bigger vehicle and I like the design and more importantly, the overall proportions. The C3 Aircross has the distinct appeal of being a Citroën thanks to the front-end design, especially the double chevron logo and the way the daytime running lamps are styled. Our test car’s front bumper also had white accents which contrasted nicely with its blue colour, adding flair to the face. That said, in keeping with its positioning as a midsize SUV I would have liked the C3 Aircross to be equipped with LEDs for the main headlamp units, for a more premium feel if nothing else.
The 17-inch alloy wheels use a very distinctive design the carmaker calls ‘Quadratic’. Ground clearance (unladen) stands at 200mm, adding to the SUV’s appeal from the sides. The C3 Aircross also looks very distinctive from the rear, thanks to the tail lamp design and strip of black plastic connecting them, which reminded me of the C5 Aircross. A faux skid plate at the rear adds to the visual appeal, while the departure angle is 25 degrees and Citroen has certainly got the SUV stance right. Overall, this is a distinctive-looking SUV, a little quirky in typical Citroen fashion, but very appealing nonetheless.
The interiors look a lot more functional than some of the other SUVs in the segment, but what’s really worth noting here is the solid feel overall, thanks to the quality of the plastics and excellent fit-finish levels. Despite its relatively simpler design, the dashboard looks very appealing, especially thanks to the contours and surface finishes, and also the colour combinations. The large infotainment screen adds to the appeal, besides which the driver’s cockpit feels spacious, thanks to the width. Wheelbase we’re told is best in class at 2,671mm which results in excellent cabin space. Rear legroom and kneeroom are generous, be it in the five-seat version or the seven-seat one. The seats in the C3 Aircross are a class act too and feel very supportive and comfortable, as is the case with all Citroën cars. The boot is very spacious with the C3 Aircross boasting a boot volume of 511 litres in the five-seat version. As for the seven-seat version, folding and taking the last row of seats is the quickest we have seen yet, as you can remove both seats in just a few seconds!
Citroën has gone in for a very functional approach when it comes to the feature list too. So you get a seven-inch instrument cluster display and a large 10.2-inch infotainment screen offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. You only get one USB port at the front though which is a Type-A port and the C3 Aircross also misses out on a wireless charging pad. The second and third rows both get two USB ports each though. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen boasts a crisp resolution and looks bright, but the seven-inch display for the instrument cluster could have done with more brightness and a more appealing layout.
The C3 Aircross also misses out on automatic climate control which is quite glaring given the segment it sits in, though admittedly, the air-conditioning system is very quick to cool the cabin. There are no sunroof or ventilated seats either, even as an option. I do like the fact that the seven-seat version gets roof-mounted AC vents. Overall, there are a few misses on the features front which is sure to raise eyebrows from most if not all buyers.
The C3 Aircross is on offer with a single engine option, the same 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine we’ve seen in the C3 hatchback. Outputs are the same at 110PS and 190Nm. At launch, the C3 Aircross will be offered only with a six-speed manual gearbox, with an automatic version expected to join the line-up later. The engine is one of the highlights of the SUV, given its refinement and performance both. Bottom end grunt is very impressive and throttle responses are sharp which makes for brisk acceleration, be it from a standstill or at slow speeds in traffic. The engine also feels relaxed and smooth at highway speeds, which is particularly impressive for a three-cylinder engine performing duty in a midsize SUV. ARAI-certified fuel efficiency stands at 18.5kmpl. The six-speed manual gearbox offers an engaging feel while driving while clutch action is light and I have to say, I do like the engine and gearbox combination on the C3 Aircross for its sporty feel.
The C3 Aircross delivers on the dynamics front too, as we have come to expect of Citroën’s cars. It feels confident on the road, but the bigger highlight is the brilliant ride quality. The C3 Aircross does not get the C5’s patented suspension that uses hydraulic shock absorbers with air pockets and offers a phenomenal level of ride quality. But the suspension here has been tuned really well, after testing the SUV for lakhs of kilometres in Indian conditions, and the result is a ride quality that is excellent, to say the least. So, the C3 Aircross soaks up ruts and potholes with utmost ease and also ensures you don’t feel undulations on highways by feeling planted and composed. Its handling will delight those who like driving, as the steering feels precise and responsive, besides which the suspension ensures the SUV holds a line around corners and body roll is well-controlled too. Overall, the balance Citroen has managed to achieve between ride and handling is very commendable and besides the powertrain, its road manners are yet another highlight for the C3 Aircross.
To sum it up, what obviously makes the C3 Aircross unique in the midsize SUV segment is that you can also spec it with three rows of seats. It also looks good and is very spacious though admittedly, it could do with more features because that’s what a lot of buyers want today. And to take care of this, Citroen will need to price the C3 Aircross aggressively, especially given how well-established most other names in the segment are and how loaded they are. We expect prices to start from about Rs 10.5 lakh and go up to 15 lakh rupees ex-showroom, which in my books, should certainly help Citroën convince buyers.
