[Omkar]

Mod Note: Our Citroen C3 Aircross Review has been taken live at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the new thread. Thanks!

Citroen has unveiled the C3 Aircross. The car competes against the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq, Toyota Hyryder and Volkswagen Taigun. While more details will be released closer to its launch, what we do know is that the C3 Aircross will be available with 2 seating configurations – 5-seater and 7-seater. It will be powered by the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine from the C3, and the lower variants are likely to also get the naturally aspirated powerplant.



The C3 Aircross is built on Citroen’s Common Modular Platform or what Citroen likes to call the ‘C-Cube’ platform. It also underpins the C3 hatchback and the eC3:


Overall build quality feels satisfactory at first glance and the car doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy:


The front end, although very similar to the C3, has a few unique characteristics. There is a big double chevron logo on the grille and a large split air dam. There’s also a skid plate at the bottom along with fog lamps:


Headlamp and DRL setup have been carried over from the C3. We would’ve expected some LED lights instead of simple halogen units here since the C3 Aircross is competing against some very well-equipped cars:


The Citroen C3 Aircross measures 4.3 meters in length with a wheelbase of 2,671 mm and a ground clearance of 200 mm:


Black body cladding a simple white strip detailing on the sides for the SUV look. Notice the flap-type door handle with a keyhole. Doesn’t look or feel premium at all:


ORVMs get piano black covers and integrated turn-indicators:


17-inch, 4-spoke dual-tone alloy wheels have a busy design IMO. They’re shod with 215/60 section tyres which is the same size as the Creta / Seltos. You get disc brakes at the front...


...and drum brakes at the rear:


White roof looks a bit odd. I’m sure a lot of people would prefer a black roof. It gets a scoop in the middle and you don’t get a sunroof. Roof rails are finished in brushed silver:


Rear design of the C3 Aircross is quite different from the C3 hatchback. Tailgate is more upright and tail-lamps have been redesigned:


Pronounced spoiler at the top. The car also gets a rear washer and wiper. Also, notice the gloss black applique connecting the tail-lamps above the Citroen logo:


Interesting detailing on the the C-shaped tail-lamps:


Bumper houses a faux silver skid plate at the bottom:


Steel spare wheel is carried below:


Powering the C3 Aircross will be the 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine. While this unit makes 109 BHP and 190 Nm in the C3 hatchback, power and torque figures of the C3 Aircross will be revealed only at the launch. This engine was imported earlier, but now, it is being manufactured from scratch in India at Hosur:


Bonnet gets insulation underneath:

[Omkar]

Cabin is very similar to the C3 hatchback. You have a black & white dual-tone dashboard with a big gunmetal grey coloured trim that runs across:


Leather-wrapped steering wheel gets piano black finish around the buttons:


On the left spoke are the controls for the MID, while on the right spoke, are the multimedia and telephone controls:


You get a new digital MID screen with some nice graphics. The display is customisable and you get to play around with a few options as well:


Vertically oriented A/C vents on the sides. Notice the detailing on the dashboard:


Below, are switches for auto start-stop (new here) and power window lock. There’s also a knob for the ORVM controls. Notice the manual headlamp leveller:


Front seats are draped in fabric upholstery. Seat design feels inspired by the C5 Aircross and my first impression was that they’re comfortable:


Manual adjustment for the seats. Hyundai Creta gets 8-way electrical adjustment for the driver seat:


There’s no centre armrest, Driver seat gets an attached armrest:


Front power window console is placed on the doorpad:


10-inch touchscreen feels good to use. It has smartphone connectivity:


You don’t get automatic climate control:


Storage area is like the C3. You have a mobile holder and two cupholders:


Turbo-petrol engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. An automatic gearbox is expected, but no specific timeline for its arrival has been shared:


Power window buttons for the rear windows are placed at the end of the centre console in between the front seats. There’s also a bottle holder behind it:


A look at the dashboard trim on the front passenger side:


Glovebox is decently sized. It’s not ventilated, nor does it have any illumination:


Halogen cabin lamp in the front. Looks outdated IMO:


Rear bench of the 5-seater variant. Feels more like a 4-seater as the middle passenger doesn’t get a headrest and only gets a lap belt:


Legroom with the front seat pushed back feels adequate. At 5’10”, I wished the seats provided more under-thigh support. Headroom is sufficient. Seatback pocket does seem narrow:


Two regular USB ports for rear passengers:


In the 7-seater variant, you can pull the strap on the seat to tumble it forward. This is just a first impression, but the second row in the 5-seater version felt a tad more spacious than the 7-seater variant:


A look at the last row of seats. You get adjustable headrests and the seats are easily removable:


I could sit in the third row, but wouldn’t want to. It’s like being seated on the floor and my head was very close to the rear windshield and roof:


Quarter glass is super tiny and barely lets in any light:


There is a cupholder and two USB charging ports on the right-hand side…


…while you get just a cupholder on the left:


In the 7-seater variant, there is a roof-mounted blower unit:


With the third row of seats up, you don’t have any boot space. Removing the third row seats will give you a cargo space of 511 litres:


Boot space of the 5-seater variant:

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[Venkatesh]

Story behind the C3 Aircross

https://youtu.be/ODQ_iSvsjak

Press Release

[sarathlal]

Originally Posted by Omkar

With the third row of seats up, you don’t have any boot space. Removing the third row seats will give you a cargo space of 511 litres:
Attachment 2445095

Crisp and clear review, thanks!

Regarding 7 seaters, not just the C3, but take any of the new gen 7 seaters, the boot space is a joke making it impractical for any kind of family trip, which is supposed to be the real use case of these cars.
It's really sad to see these half hearted attempts being introduced, or they are literally making cars just to 'seat' 7 folks with no baggage attached!

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Omkar

This engine was imported earlier, but now, it is being manufactured from scratch in India at Hosur

Does Citroen/Stellantis have a plant in Hosur? They have only in Tiruvallur right?

Originally Posted by sarathlal

the boot space is a joke making it impractical for any kind of family trip, which is supposed to be the real use case of these cars.

You should check the 3rd row thread (3-Row SUV & MPV owners | How frequently do you use the 3rd row?). The regular users are outnumbered by occasional and non-users. Even as part of being the minority 14% of regular users, I only have kids to carry. As a one-car family, am looking to own an allrounder that'll be a daily driver as well as highway runner. A Crysta at 4750x1850 mm or Carnival at 5100 x 1900 mm are tad too big to lug around the urban jungle and are guzzlers.

All said and done. At 4300 mm length, the C3 Aircross is a size too small to fit 3 rows.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by Omkar

Volkswagen Tiguan.

Typo there. It should be Taigun.

[Iyencar]

Competing with the Creta and Hyryder/Grand Vitara but:
No sunroof
No electric seat adjustment
No ACC
No AT
Only way to even do half the numbers of the aforementioned cars is to undercut pricing by a serious amount and still it’s probably not a given. Mind boggling strategy.

[gck_tourer]

I think the crash ratings for this car are going to play a great part in in its sales. Citroen should listen to the feedback here and make this car feature rich if it really wants to compete in the big league of Creta, Seltos.

[motorworks]

Either Citroen is playing some games by indirectly hinting that this is a Creta rival and then would announce prices at par with the Brezza / Sonet or they have royally messed up their product strategy.

There is no way that this car is a Creta rival. How can anyone omit Automatic climate control in all variants in this day and age? How can an european manufacturer not offer an automatic transmission in 2023? The interiors of the car reek of cost cutting and almost similar approach to the Triber.

[DRPSREDDY]

Originally Posted by Iyencar

Competing with the Creta and Hyryder/Grand Vitara but:
No sunroof
No electric seat adjustment
No ACC
No AT
Only way to even do half the numbers of the aforementioned cars is to undercut pricing by a serious amount and still it’s probably not a given. Mind boggling strategy.

Apart from this, doesn't have central armrest, unergonmically placed power window switches, no cooled glove box, outdated door handles, no wireless charger, rear AC vents old fashioned, misses autodimming IRVM, projector head lamps, and many more.

The Renault Lodgy too had the same issues. It was spacious and had a mediocre engine. But the problem was it was bare basic and didn't have features. Thought price economically it funked.

I think this will be the mid variant just like the C3 hatch in the future and a top end car with all the bells and features will launch with the automatic variant. But by that time hope the damage is not done and this doesn't turn as a sales dud. Coz by then will be a disaster and needs revival from scratch which is nearly impossible in India.

[Nilesh5417]

Not sure what makes Citroen take this weird strategy - first launching a variant that sits in the middle compared to competition. The engine is fully localised so that means they can launch a full line up of variants at competitive pricing. So why not do that?

Have their earlier launches succeeded with this strategy? Succeeded beyond their own conservative maths I meant. I just don't see why a manufacturer would always launch the mid and low variants first. They aren't selliig aspirational cars like Thar or Jimny nor hi-tech EVs nor something unique such as MG Comet ev. Selling pretty mainstream cars with no real USP.

[ashutoshb]

Originally Posted by DRPSREDDY

Apart from this, doesn't have central armrest

The 5 seater has the rear seat armrest.

The 5+2 seater doesn't have one.

[DRPSREDDY]

Originally Posted by ashutoshb

The 5 seater has the rear seat armrest.

The 5+2 seater doesn't have one.

I was discussing about the driver and passenger armrest that should have been between both the seats, that should have housed a bigger glove box. The car is also a bit of low on storage spaces.

Even the Mahindra Marazzo too has the same set of issues and falls in the same category and has not been recieved well though priced lower than the competition.

[Nilesh5417]

Originally Posted by DRPSREDDY

I was discussing about the driver and passenger armrest that should have been between both the seats, that should have housed a bigger glove box. The car is also a bit of low on storage spaces.

Even the Mahindra Marazzo too has the same set of issues and falls in the same category and has not been recieved well though priced lower than the competition.

OT: I own a Marazzo and it has got a huge storage space between the front seats with a nice sliding hatch on top. The door pockets though are totally useless.

But true that it was priced at par with competition but skimped on providing a similar feature set. Mahindra never bothered to fix the short comings ever. Citroen can learn from these failures for sure.