[AdvanceStarter]

I don't know if it's only me but I find this design really ugly. Tried hard to like it but it just wouldn't grow on me. May be I'm just more of a traditional sedan/SUV guy and cannot understand this SUV-Coupe mashup trend that we are set to be stormed by. The BMW X6 made me uncomfortable years back and today, even amongst the premium brands, the only SUV-coupe that I find just about palatable is the Audi Q3 Sportback.

[PB65]

To be honest, this has some really good and properly usable features instead of gimmicks. This might just be the "Duster" for Citroen.

They have hit the 🎯 with pricing though.

[Ray379]

Thank you for the detailed review as always!

I think this is a very good proposition. If the base spec is 8L with the NA petrol, the top spec would not be more than 12-13L, at which price point it's competing with the 1/2 level lower than the top spec sub compact SUVs(Nexon, Brezza, etc.), entry level compact SUVs (Creta, seltos, etc with NA engines) and entry level compact sedans (Verna, Virtus, etc.). It's Citroen's one car to compete with them all- giving more space than the sub compact SUV while offering similar or more equipment than the other two segments with similar space.

I wish Citroen has taken a book out of Kia, which also entered the Indian market (with a banger of a product- Seltos) on the shoulder of its big brother Hyundai, and has succeeded by offering lots of features in their cars right from the start. (Though I am not sure if Jeep is a big brother to its Stellantis counterpart)

I think it's best suited for someone who is looking for a chauffeur driver car within 14L which even they can drive on weekends.

I really hope Citroen succeeds with the Basalt!

[Asoon]

7.99 for a 4.3M car, this surely will shake multiple segments (4.3M, 3.99M CSUV, 3.95M B segment). Plus it is going to be hard for Curvv.
They should have followed M&M strategy of wider price range (XUV from 14 to 25, Scorpio N from 13-24, price attractiveness base models & premiumness with feature loaded top models), a 15.5 L ex-showroom model with Sunroof and ADAS would be a killer offering.

They should have started with this instead of C5 / C3, Imaging a new brand coming with a new shape with killer price, that would have been a true Kwid / Duster moment

[dipen]

My Speculated Basalt feature and prices

[saikishor]

This is a very nice attempt from Citroen. It has been quite some time since I had read an official review with so much interest. The car looks very nice and contemporary. Features wise I feel Citroen covered all the basics this time but definitely skimped on feel good stuff like a sunroof, door handles, keyless entry etc. If I were to buy this I would buy it after a year or two, maybe when Citroen comes up with a facelift. I am pretty sure this time with a facelift, Citroen will address the lack of feel good features given how they added features to the C3.

I signed up for this car on their website. A dealer called me today and told me that the dealer launch would take place on 17th. I told him I had no plans to get one and just signed up as it was a new launch. The guy said he would share details to me on whatsapp but didnt share them yet, guess he didnt do as I told him I had no plans on getting one.

Either way, I really want to see this car in person and take a test drive!

[ashkamath]

Originally Posted by saikishor

I signed up for this car on their website. A dealer called me today and told me that the dealer launch would take place on 17th. I told him I had no plans to get one and just signed up as it was a new launch. The guy said he would share details to me on whatsapp but didnt share them yet, guess he didnt do as I told him I had no plans on getting one.

Either way, I really want to see this car in person and take a test drive!

I visited the Citroen Showroom at Panaji, Goa to check out the new Basalt. They didn't have any display car neither test drive car at this point of time.

I was provided a brochure in pdf format and was told they will revert next week or a fortnight when the display car and test drive car arrives and there's more clarity on the pricing.

Surprisingly, the sales advisors at the showroom had little information on the car. Infact I had more information on the car (through YouTube videos) and educated them a bit on the same.

Waiting for the Basalt, so that I can see the car in person and test drive and if I am enthused, probably book one.

Interesting days ahead.

[Gamemaztr]

With respect to pricing, I stand corrected. The pricing definitely caught me off surprise.

And as usual, a fantastic review.

[84.monsoon]

Wow, this is amazing pricing indeed. Yesterday, Tata took a totally opposite strategy on price reveal, by announcing the highest end of the pricing range, for the Curvv EV first, which starts at 17.49 lakhs. Citroen has announced the starting price of its lowest variant at 7.99 lakhs. The number of posts on this thread in just a day shows that Citroen's strategy has worked, the level of attention this car is getting here and also all over automobile and social media is insane. However, if we look at recent launches across brands, the price range from the bottom-most to the top-most variant has broadened so much that the base variant often costs half the top variant or sometimes even less. For instance, when Tata launched the Nexon facelift last year, the pricing spread was all the way from 8.1 lakhs to 15.5 lakhs. So we have to wait and watch to see if Citroen prices higher variants of the Basalt, especially the top end Turbo AT ones reasonably.

Tata has its work cut out for it on Curvv. With a very similar body shape, and dimensions mean the two cars will be compared side by side by prospective buyers, even though Tata desires a more premium positioning for the Curvv. The Curvv is more feature rich, with ADAS, Ventilated Seats, Cruise Control, Pano sunroof and many other features not available on the Basalt. I think Tata will still feel the heat from today's price announcement of the Basalt, and feel challenged to launch the base Curvv at less than 10 lakhs for the entry variant (which has a Turbo Petrol engine versus the NA engine of the Basalt).

On the looks front, although Curvv looks a bit more futuristic, I still prefer the Basalt's rugged proportions to the Curvv. I think Tata has repeated the same mistake as in the Nexon - of going for super high ground clearance. Indian customer generally like high GC, but beyond a point, increasing GC takes away from the elegance of the design. Tata have provided a higher GC for the Curvv than necessary and have raised the back end even further, to a point where it has led to an uncouth shape overall and looks like a boat on wheels. Take a look at the side-by-side comparison of the two cars below to see what I mean.

[callvvijay]

Am I the only one to see an uncanny resemblance (at least in this photo) to the old Swift Dzire??

Nevertheless, the car looks great and is priced perfectly.





Cheers!

[Nanolover]

Originally Posted by Asoon

7.99 for a 4.3M car, this surely will shake multiple segments (4.3M, 3.99M CSUV, 3.95M B segment). Plus it is going to be hard for Curvv.
They should have followed M&M strategy of wider price range (XUV from 14 to 25, Scorpio N from 13-24, price attractiveness base models & premiumness with feature loaded top models), a 15.5 L ex-showroom model with Sunroof and ADAS would be a killer offering.

They should have started with this instead of C5 / C3, Imaging a new brand coming with a new shape with killer price, that would have been a true Kwid / Duster moment

I would like to remind all forum members that this base price is for the NA engine with hardly 82 hp. It will struggle to move this much bulk. So please bear in mind this fact.

If it was the turbo that was launched at this price, it would have been a steal,but that will never happen!

[It's Magic]

Originally Posted by Aditya

• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns; dealer network is small. Example, a metropolitan city like Mumbai has just 2 outlets in the far suburbs, while Bangalore has 1

I believe this drawback is very crucial for many buyers. Regardless of how good the product is, many people might look elsewhere because of it. Since Citroen is still considered a new brand in India, many people will think twice about the minimal presence of it's dealership and service network.

[volkman10]

Some performance figures of the Citroen Basalt 1.2 Turbo AT



Link:

[gauravdgr8]

Apart from the pricing, I think Curvv will surely grab more eyeballs. Overall design, interior elements and the wow factor works in Tata's favour. Not to be missed the safety ratings.

I have hardly seen Citroen in Chandigarh or Hyderabad. That's primarily because people want to be seen in better looking cars and some Tata cars have created that sort of a niche. Totally opposite of what it was seen as a decade ago.

Most of the premium features are missing in the Basalt, and the market surely demands them these days.

Feels like Citroen is ok selling 1000-1500 units every month.

[VRSriram]

Seems many are getting carried away by pricing for base model with underpowered NA engine and minimum features. Hope they price Turbo right which is an excellent engine. With their abysmal service network, even 9L price for base turbo variant might not work though at this price point it would be VFM for driving dynamics. They should have launched much ahead before Curvv to get some traction. Tata will breathe fire.