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-   -   Citroen C3 Aircross Review (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/official-new-car-reviews/268842-citroen-c3-aircross-review-10.html)

Pricing is good but at the cost of safety? A definite NO from my end.
C3 Aircross is built on the same platform as C3, and Brazil-manufactured C3 scored ZERO stars in Latin NCAP.

I don't see India-manufactured C3/C3 Aircross faring any better until and unless Citroen decides to go for Bharat NCAP or GNCAP testing to prove that India built is better.

I am driving C5 Aircross from last one year at Pune. They do have a service center at Hinjewadi Pune and so far done a good job in servicing.

This is quite fun to drive car in city. I own a NA version and I never had a problem in overtaking or turning or getting into the corners in traffic. I test drove turbo, and that is even better. Turning radius is quite low and maneuverability is on point. You are going to love the steering feel and feedback. Wheel base is longer than Venue so comfort also multiplies. I hope this helps.

I'm guessing it will score well considering even cars with unstable bodyshells are getting 5 star ratings here.

This is the C3 Aircross (SUV), its the size of a Seltos. I believe you are talking about the C3 hatch, they are different vehicles.

My bad, you are right, I was talking about C3. I know it is size of Seltos. I am test driving it coming Saturday, will update everyone soon.

Having said that and going by reviews of media drive, it is quite impressive.

Brother,
Have you checked out the C3 AirCross? If yes, I would really love to hear the opinion of a C5 owner.

Will you buy it as a second car?

Last time I visited Citroen dealership was during taking delivery of my C5 and that was one year back. So, didn't have a chance to drive C3 aircross.

The base variant has reached showrooms.

https://youtu.be/2UBej0BM6eU?si=G5nGYuMskXrgOyqq

Is the C3 Aircross Max variant really value for money?

It is largely perceived that Citroen tried to play the ‘value for money’ card by entering the fast-growing mid-size monocoque SUV market with low on features C3 Aircoss.



In marketing theory, they say that ‘value’ for ‘customer segment’ is always 'relative' to ‘Next Best Alternative’, so I was always curious to understand whether Citroen is really playing value card well in India, with a seemingly no-frills product strategy akin to the Renault Duster (2013).

For this analysis, we need to have an apples-to-apples comparison, and the ‘Next Best Alternative’ chosen here is the EX variant of the best-selling car in the segment, the Hyundai Creta, whose price falls in a similar ballpark (₹ 11,81,200) as that of the C3 Aircross top variant called Max (₹ 11,99,000).

Dimension



Dimensionally, both cars are on par and have the upright stance that Indian buyers look for in an SUV. How much SUV they really look, however, is highly subjective.

Drivetrain



Hyundai here uses a 1.5L four-cylinder, refined, naturally aspirated petrol engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission that gets the job done for a large majority of buyers. Citroen, on the other hand, uses a 3-cylinder, downsized 1.2L turbocharged petrol engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, having similar power figures but significantly more torque. That extra torque has the potential to keep enthusiasts happy or make enthusiasts out of laymen, either way.

In general, petrol engines using forced induction, with or without direct injection technology, are expensive, and the cost of the former reaches in ballpark of the diesel engine. And if potential buyers don’t find value in that additional torque (fun factor), then their willingness to pay a higher price will be limited too.

Features & equipment



Since Citroen has a top-end variant here, it aced in certain cosmetics and digital departments compared to Hyundai’s low-end offering here (EX variant).



Cosmetic upgrades like alloy wheels, roof rails, etc. are still possible from aftermarket for Creta, but a digital instrument cluster, a larger infotainment screen with connectivity features, and a rear USB charger make the C3 Aircoss more pleasing to a large majority for the given price bracket.

On the other hand, the Hyundai Creta seems to have a more family-friendly back seat - a reclining, 60:40 split rear seat backrest, especially when Citroen omitted the much-needed rear AC vent in India for the 5-seater version.

Creta also carries a better warranty and known Hyundai after-sales quality over a lower warranty from Citroen with a slim dealer network. Contrary to Citroen’s approach, MG used a longer 5-year unlimited mileage warranty package at the time of market entry to establish trust in an unknown brand.



Since Creta fared quite poorly in the GNCAP crash test rating, Hyundai stuffed it with a lot of active and passive safety features, which work quite well for optics and sales pitch, thus having a higher perceived value for feature differential here.



Moreover, penny-pinching ideas from Citroen like a large halogen reflector headlamp, a lift-type door handle, and the location of the rear power window switches don’t go well in a segment that is highly aspirational in India.

Conclusion

For ₹ 18,000 less, the Hyundai Creta EX variant still seems to make some sense, even with its limited feature list, less torque but better fit and finish than the top-end Citroen C3 Aircross Max.

Value proposition is a fabric that can be stretched in multiple directions. Citroen seems to be pulling it on the wrong side for the Indian market by not playing value card that well and not giving its mechanically well-sorted product a real fighting chance.

Even in the short run, sales will cave in for a lesser-known brand in India, as demanding Indian customers are spoilt for choice (features, fuel options, performance, etc.) in this segment, largely thanks to the Hyundai-Kia duo.

Despite the blush of objectivity at start, I am afraid this is a subjective conclusion, more of an opinion than objective result. Apart from the facts
(dimensions etc, which I take at the face of it as illustrated in your post), I do not see any objective analysis.

Anyway, amongst many others, I think the most important aspect that has not been factored in the "analysis" is the driving dynamics of both the cars which make world of difference in favor of Citroen C3 Aircross.

Ultimately, the invisible hand of market will determine which is better positioned in the market. I think Hyundai will certainly bring something when Citroen will start bothering them (if at all Citroen will. And given Hyundai's experience, I doubt this is going to happen in next five years).

Nonetheless, Citroen is certainly an opportunity for Indian customers to experience a good comfortable car when they have let many other superb brands go off the market with their skewed gadgetry choices.

C3 Aircross was launched just a few days ago and is already being offered at discounts.

Saw C3 Aircross top model and found the base of leatherette seat on driver side to be not very accomodating since it is proper SUV size vehical I expected the seat to be more wider in real estate. That aside the right arm had ample space and wasn't touching the door grab or door penel.

Citroen needs to convince Indians to buy their cars.

1. Presence: Instead of spreading themselves thin all over the country, Citroen should focus on top 15-20 markets and increase their presence. Citroen needs that confidence booster as you hardly see Citroen cars on the road. Advertise, online as well as near the main traffic signals around competing carmaker showrooms. People don't even know you exist!

2. Automatic: Citroen is mainly an urban dealer network. They badly need a good, well-priced automatic option in C3 as well as C3 Aircross. Quickly. The existing India plants probably already build it for export transmissions. So, I cannot understand this desire at Citroen/Stellantis India to shoot themselves in the foot by not providing a smooth, well-priced automatic.

3. Citroen still has a golden opportunity to build the brand in India for affordable yet modern EVs, like Tata Motors used the Nexon EV push to revive the Tata Motors brand.

eC3 was a total disaster in product positioning and pricing. Low-end configuration for a relatively high price. Sank without much of a trace while Tata Motors have sold nearly 40,000 EVs in last 6 months. Clearly, there is a new and growng EV market in India, and the time to establish yourself is now.

Citroen needs to implement much better EVs:
a. liquid battery cooling and a long battery and electric drivetrain warranty
b. basic tech that is now common in petrol vehicles like LED lighting and a decent screen behind the wheel + EV-necessary cruise control. Remaining tech features can be an option pack, like AEB and adaptive cruise.
c. nice colour schemes to differentiate EV from engine versions. Do not lower the aspiration value of the product. (Look at the European EC3!)
d. A bigger 45-50KWH battery pack in the electric C3 Aircross 5-seater, so it becomes India's first affordable and practical intercity EV. You anyway cannot beat the Nexon EV now on features or design. So, go for ease of use, practical, value for money.

The 4.3m car category in India is ideally placed for EVs because GST on engines cars is high but only 5% on EVs. And the new Stellantis group models for EVs are far more efficient than their previous gen, and could compete. Only if they wake up and don't treat India as a dumpster for obsolete technology. We want value for money and premium feel, not the cheapest possible price, especially when we are spending nearly 15Lacs.

Took a test drive of the C3 aircross 5 person Max variant.

My observations:

Finding a comfortable driving position was easy. Gear shift is easy but a bit notchy. Clutch travel is optimum. The drivers handrest was a bit high for me so kept it folded.

The acceleration is exhilarating. My Ford aspire also has similar acceleration, but this was better. Handling and steering feel were superb. There is zero turbo lag. I was doing 80 in a few seconds on an open highway. But the best feature was the suspension. I have never driven the duster, but among all the cars I have driven or rode in, this was the best I have experienced so far. The car glided over bumps and potholes like they never existed. We did some "off-roading" on an excavated road with water and slush and the car was smooth and the ground clearance was adequate.

Checked the avg fuel consumption, it was 9.1 kmpl. Did a U-turn and the car were able to do that in a very short space comparable to my i20.

The rear seat was roomy, airy and let in plenty of light. It was a very comfortable place to be. There are soft touch elements in the door pad which was nice.

But there are cost cutting elements like flimsy roof liner, very cheap cabin lamps, lack of auto AC, basic key fob, lack of push button start-stop, lack of projector head lamps and rear vents in the 5-seater and these might be crucial factors for someone spending 15 lakhs for the top version. Many of these are already standard features now that everyone expects.

They should have kept the quite efficient rear vent of the 7-seater in the 5 seater too.

Amongst other things, Citroen is offering a cabin air purifier as an accessory.

Attaching the pricelist below. They were willing to allow insurance from outside, but strict on the "handling charges".