Citroën C3 Aircross | Video Review | CarsIreland.ie

Published on 11 April, 2018

The Citroen C3 Aircross manages to stand out not just in how it looks but also in the very important areas of space, comfort and value for money.

Overview

Overview

Citroën’s entry to the exploding B-SUV segment is the all-new C3 Aircross. Despite the name, the car is built on a whole new platform, which Citroen say gives it a competitive advantage over rivals in terms of cabin space.

The striking looks can be complimented by a range of different personalisation options, including a bi-tone roof, and various different colour packs – giving a total of 85 different possible combinations.

It certainly feels spacious inside with heaps of headroom all round thanks to the boxy shape, and the sliding rear bench available on the Feel and Flair trims allows you to extend the 410-litre boot to an impressive 520 litres.

The aim of the C3 Aircross is to be ‘an SUV outside, but an MPV inside’, so space and versatility is plentiful. It sits 20mm higher than the C3, and so offers more ground clearance and a much higher driving position than its super mini sibling.  It also sits quite a  bit higher than most others in this class, so if you like a nice high driving position - this is one you should take a look at.

The cabin is an insanely cheerful place to be. A large pulled back windscreen lets plenty of light in and the little touches of quirk around the place like the pops of colour on the air vents and airplane-style handbrake make it an interesting place to be.

It is well equipped from the ground up with the entry level Touch model offering manual air-conditioning, rear parking sensors and lane departure warning as standard.

The mid-spec Feel trim will add 16 inch diamond cut alloy wheels, a leather covered steering wheel, privacy glass and Apple Carplay/Android Auto. It also gets the ‘family pack’ which includes the aforementioned sliding rear bench, rear sun blinds, and a rear middle armrest with cup holders.

Top spec Flair models like this one come with some especially impressive ‘big car kit’. You get the bi-tone roof and colour pack as standard, as well as 17 inch alloy wheels, keyless go, wireless phone charging, SatNav, reversing camera, a colour heads up display and an additional safety pack.

This safety pack includes 12 different driving aids including park assist, intelligent highbeam adjustment, traffic sign recognition and automatic emergency braking.

Citroen expect to see a massive shift back toward petrol power with the Aircross, and are expecting the petrol versions to outsell diesel by a ratio of almost 3:1. The choice will be between the award-winning 1.2l 82hp PureTech, and a turbo-charged 110hp version of the same. The sole diesel on offer is the well-tested 1.6l 100hp Blue HDI.

The PureTech 110 we tested would be our pick of the bunch for the extra bit of pep it offers, and it really suits the fun character of the car. Whether drivers in this traditionally very practical and budget-conscious segment will be willing to pay the premium for that bit of extra power remains to be seen. It’s a pleasant car to drive, though definitely geared more toward comfort than excitement. The steering is well weighted, and the suspension is nice and supple for a very soft, comfortable experience behind the wheel, made even more so by some great supportive seats.

The Citroen C3 Aircross is certainly entering a very crowded market, but that makes it all the more impressive that it is still able to stand out not just in how it looks, but in the more crucial areas of space, comfort, and value for money.

Starting at just under €20,695, it's one of the better value options in this segment and definitely worth a place on the shopping list.

Facts & Figures

Sinead McCann

Sinéad is our resident car tester who has the unenviable (-ok, slightly enviable) task of reviewing all the latest new cars to hit the market. You can follow her on Twitter @smcani and on Instagram @whatshedrives