IT’S comfy, spacious, well equipped and economical – but most of all the new C3 Aircross is… well very Citroen.
The French car maker has been famous for quirky and distinctive designs over the years and I am glad to say they have lost none of that flair in this newly-refreshed crossover.
The recently revised C3 Aircross has all the usual Citroen funkiness but is also practical with a range of excellent petrol and diesel engines. Ride comfort is good, too, while the distinctive interior has lots of kit and useful touches.
There’s still plenty of opportunities for further personalisation to build on the already-funky looks with a range of bright colour options plus contrasting roofs and different interior trims. The facelift in 2021 also brought in an improved and more practical interior with better storage and a new infotainment set-up plus tech upgrades.
It’s a C3 supermini on steroids with revisions including slimmer headlights, a wider grille and revised running lights. Inside there is a redesigned centre console with storage cubbies adding to the car’s everyday practicality.
The C3 Aircross replaced the C3 Picasso as the small MPV in the range but it has much more space inside yet shares a platform and running gear with the C3 supermini.
Power comes from a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine or a 1.5 diesel. The 1.2 is called PureTech and comes in 109bhp and 129bhp guises, the latter being fitted to our test car – the Shine Plus PureTech 130. The lower powered petrol engine gets a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, while our more potent version has a six-speed auto transmission.
The 99bhp BlueHDi diesel has a six-speed manual only and there is no four-wheel drive option. However, Citroen does offer its Grip Control switchable traction control system plus mud and snow tyres for those more likely to stray from the tarmac.
Equipment levels start with the C-Series, followed by Shine and Shine Plus specifications. Standard kit for the C-Series includes 16-inch alloy wheels, LED eco headlights, rear parking sensors, automatic air conditioning and Apple CarPlay plus Android Auto connectivity. Upgrading to the higher trims brings bigger 17-inch alloys, rear privacy glass, front parking sensors and a nine-inch infotainment touchscreen with sat-nav (in place of the seven-inch version offered with the entry-level car).
While it has a somewhat tried and tested chassis set up the C3 Aircross handles well with not too much body roll and direct steering plus there’s that Grip Control system if you’re going to get the wheels muddy from time to time, which also has a hill descent setting for even more peace of mind.
The 1.2-litre PureTech petrol in our test car is the turbo engine used in a variety of Peugeot and Citroen models. It’s refined enough with not too much three cylinder ‘thrummyness’ while the auto box allows swift, smooth progress.
MPG figures are good at a shade over 50 while a top speed of 121 and 0 to 60 time of just over 9 seconds are both respectable.
The most frugal version is the diesel with a claimed combined fuel economy of 67.2mpg, and CO2 emissions from just 123g/km.
Citroen is hoping to attract new customers to the brand with the C3 Aircross as it believes buyers will be drawn in by its funky design and scope for personalisation. Another plus is the price, with entry level cars undercutting many rivals at £16,740 going up to our well-equipped Shine Plus version at £23,080 on the road.
More info at www.citroen.co.uk
By Motoring Editor Steve Howarth