Citroen currently offers four models in India, including the C3, E-CE electric, C3 Aircross and C5 Aircross.

Citroen India will offer improved safety features across its entire range from the second half of this year.

Citroen cars will get 6 airbags as standard. These will include front, side and curtain airbags. ISOFIX child seat anchors and rear seat belt reminders will also be available across all models and variants.

Citroen currently offers four models in India, including the C3, E-CE electric, C5 Aircross and the most recent addition to the line-up, the C3 Aircross.

Citroen also introduced the C3 Aircross automatic last month. The SUV is powered by a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine, which makes 109 BHP and 205 Nm and is paired with a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Source: Carwale

Citroen is also offering discounts of up to Rs 2 lakh on its flagship SUV, the C5 Aircross.

Citroen had earlier announced festive discounts worth Rs 1 lakh on its cars. Now, the carmaker is offering additional benefits worth Rs 50,000 on the C3 and C3 Aircross.

Both the C3 and C3 Aircross are now available with discounts of up to Rs 1.5 lakh. Citroen is also offering a 5-year extended warranty and fuel for a year free.

The Citroen C3 is the brand’s entry-level offering. It comes with two engine options. These include a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that makes 81 BHP and 115 Nm and a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol unit that puts out 108 BHP and 190 Nm.

On the other hand, the C3 Aircross is a mid-size SUV. It is powered by the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine and comes in 5-seater and 7-seater configurations.

Citroen is also offering discounts of up to Rs 2 lakh on its flagship SUV, the C5 Aircross.

The offers on the C3 and C3 Aircross are valid on deliveries till December 31, while C5 Aircross customers can avail of the benefits till November 30, 2023.

Source: Autocar India

The prices of the top-spec 'Shine' trim are said to have been increased by Rs. 50,000.

Last year, Citroen launched the C5 Aircross facelift in India. At the time, the SUV was only offered in a single 'Shine' trim. Now, according to a media report, the carmaker has quietly introduced a new entry-level variant.

The C5 Aircross is now available in a new 'Feel' trim priced at Rs 36.91 lakh (ex-showroom). The carmaker is also said to have increased the prices of the top-spec 'Shine' trim by Rs 50,000.

While the exact details of the Feel variant are not available, the SUV is expected to miss out on a few features like the electric tailgate and panoramic sunroof.

The C5 Aircross facelift is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine that makes 174 BHP and 400 Nm. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Source: Carwale

My options were the Skoda Superb, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Fortuner and Innova Crysta.

BHPian mathew.door recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

We got home our Tijuca Blue C5 on December 21.

Key considerations were:

1. Must have a good suspension considering that my wife and I both have vulnerable backs and the 2 XUV5OOs that we owned from 2014 till 2021 nor the roads of Bangalore only added to our agony
2. Needs to be a diesel given that on average I do around 2k to 3k per month both within the city and long trips to Kerala and Hyderabad.
3. Spacious boot to throw in everything in our weekend trips to our farmhouse 80 km from Bangalore
4. Should be aesthetically well designed
5. Must be a well-built car. Having owned and driven 20+ various cars in the last 25 years, I was looking for a car that doesn't rattle after 50k on the odo.

(PS: The cars I owned were a 1971 Ambassador (My Dad's), a 1992 Premier Padmini, Tata Estate 1996, a Zen 1997, Ford Escort 1997, Daewoo Matiz (Dont remember the year), Indica V2 2003, Indica Vista 2009, Ford Global Fiesta 2012, Mahindra XUV 500 2012, Mahindra XUV 2017) Fords were the worsts cars I owned and the XUV 500 2017 was one of the best, I still have it. The only real problem with this car is its suspension that throws you all around.

I waited for the Tucson to be launched, The Kodaiq was not available at that point in time. Was not sure of an entry-level Merc or a BMW (The GLA was just launched) because for a middle-class family a luxury brand comes with its own obligations and I didn't want to go for an entry-level luxury badge and didn't have the budget for a GLC or an X3.

My options were the Skoda Superb, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Fortuner, and Innova Crysta. My family didn't want the Crysta, I didn't like the Fortuner (Overrated car). Interestingly the Citroen was not even an option. For some reason, I went with my wife to the Citroen Showroom in Ecity and took a casual test drive, while I loved the way the car drives, I wasn't very impressed with the interiors and the features. Ruled it out. After driving the Skoda Octavia which was a disaster. The tires felt so rigid and we could feel the slightest of undulations. Test drove the Superb, liked the car, the problem was it was only available in Petrol (Which doesn't work for me). So, we were stuck. We decided to go for the BMW X1 and went to the showroom, no test drive car, no demo car and we didn't like the attitude of the sales guy there. Dumped the idea.

We explored the idea of used luxury cars and went to a few dealers but didn't muster the confidence. We decided to give the Citroen a second chance. Went back to the showroom along with our daughter this time, and we took a test drive through slush, highways, and non-existent roads and were mighty impressed with how this car tackled all of it. The sales guy was eager to sell and I managed a good bargain. Booked the Shine variant in Tijuca Blue. Retrospectively, this was a wise decision.

Living with the Citroen C5 Aircross

I am driven to the office, and I drive during the weekends. Every time I drive this car I thank myself for ignoring all the negative comments on the Internet and putting my money on this car.

The car is powerful, the gearbox is a dream, Suspension is amazing. You can do some amazing speeds on this car and you will not know unless the 120 km beep gently nudges you. Have had my share of brushes with an Idiotic driver of a Bolero reversing hard into the front of my car. To my surprise, from behind the steering wheel, it felt like the front was severely damaged, it only resulted in a minor dent on the front bumper and a few clips coming off. That's the moment I felt that this car was built well. There were a few more such incidences but each time the car proved that it was built strong. In crazy Bangalore traffic, the car still gives 12-13 km per litre.

On highways, I can drive for the whole day and still not feel tired. That's the best part of this car. The boot is cavernous and the mileage is around 14-15 while driven at 100-120 km on the highway

Service costs are between 9-13k per service so far. Service experience has been good.

The not-so-good stuff:

• The battery gave up in the 14th month, the service guys were considerate to give a 50% off on the new battery which is quite expensive at 16k.
• While the car is exceptionally good, there are a few adjustments I had to make. The back seats are not as comfortable as the front and therefore in the front even while being driven around by my driver.

All in all, I am happy with the car. Happier that there are not many around and even after 18 months I still get appreciative/inquisitive glances and a few enquires at the fuel stations on how the car is. All in all, very happy with the car.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Citroen is offering a discount of Rs 50,000 on the C3.

Customers can avail of discounts of up to Rs 2 lakh on Citroen cars this month.

Citroen is offering a discount of Rs 50,000 on the C3, while the MY2022 C5 Aircross is available with benefits worth Rs 2 lakh. The offers are valid till February 28, 2023.

In India, Citroen offers the C3 with two engine options. These include a 1.2-litre petrol unit producing 81 BHP and 115 Nm and a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine that puts out 109 BHP and 190 Nm.

The French carmaker is now gearing up to launch its first pure EV in the Indian market. Based on the C3 hatchback, the eC3 uses a 29.2 kWh battery pack that has a claimed range of 320 km.

The C5 Aircross is the brand’s flagship SUV in India. It is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine that makes 174 BHP and 400 Nm and comes with an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Even after driving 16k kms, the car feels fresh and new just like day one.

BHPian streetfighter recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Service Experience

Since I had purchased the vehicle from B4S Motors Pune, I called up the service head and asked for an appointment. He offered to pick up the car from Mumbai and get it delivered post-service. I was a bit sceptical about this but he himself offered to pick up and deliver the car personally. The car was serviced and serviced to my full satisfaction. Since I purchased the 5-year service package during buying the car, I had to pay only for the 13L AdBlue (Rs 1053) and nothing extra. There were a few preventive service campaigns applicable to the car, which were conducted too. Overall a delightful experience by B4s motors and their service head.

Insurance Renewal

Again B4S motors team did a great job here. I was contacted by them and a reasonable renewal quote was sent to me. I was trying to get the NCB (no-claim bonus) transferred from my old car to this but Bajaj Allianz was unhelpful when I contacted them directly. The B4S representative got this done and applied the 50% discount on the quote. Further, I had a referral benefit (my friend also purchased a C5 Aircross after my recommendation) pending on me, so that amount was also adjusted in the final insurance payment payout. It was again a delightful experience dealing with the Citroen dealership.

Car and comfort

I have done drives from Mumbai to Jaisalmer & Jodhpur, Mumbai to Goa & Coorg and recently did a roundtrip from Mumbai to Odisha. The driveability, comfort, road presence, safety assurance, ride and handling have exceeded my expectations. In all the above trips, I travelled with my family (wife and 2 kids aged 12 and 6 years, the Goa-Coorg trip was with my pet dog too). Never did we feel tired even after 12-14 hours of driving. In fact, I drove back from Coorg to Mumbai (exactly 1000 km) without a stay and we still had the energy and felt fresh. (I had planned to break the journey at Kolhapur but I and my family felt we could carry on till Mumbai).

Just a couple of days back, I completed a 4000 km roundtrip journey to Odisha which involved back-to-back 2 days of average 750+ km drive each day during the onward and return journey. Needless to say, the C5 assured me that the long drive would be safe and comfortable which inspired me to do this adventure (yes, my family was with me). In spite of the long drives, we arrived at our destination in comfort without any fatigue for all occupants. The car has enough power and the automatic response well to quick overtakes. 99% of my drive was in normal mode, I engaged sport mode only while in crowded towns/cities where I needed an instant burst of power. I got a consistent mileage upwards of 16kmpl (see photo below) which includes driving through the newly inaugurated Samruddhi Mahamarg where speeds were consistently between 100-120kmph. This car is a mile muncher and I plan to do more such long trips in the future.

On a couple of occasions, I had to brake hard. The car stopped in a straight line without any drama, and the hazard lights lit up automatically.

The TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) worked well too, it warned me as the pressure dropped due to a puncture.

Misses

• Pricing of the car: A lot has already been discussed on this. Only an insider knows what is behind Citroen India's pricing and product placement strategy.
• Missing features: I'd have liked ventilated seats due to hot and humid conditions, but I added an accessory from Amazon that helps quite a bit.
• There is no wireless Apple Carplay, so I had to buy an extra Carlinkit adapter which works well.
• Do I miss ADAS features, certainly not. I personally found it a little unnerving when the XC40 auto-braked itself while doing a test drive. I also haven't been able to use cruise control much even on highways owing to stray animals and bad drivers cutting lanes.

I am very happy with the car and the positive dealership experience certainly enhances the ownership experience. The overall fit and finish and quality of materials are at par with the competition and I don't have any complaints about it. Even after driving 16k kms, the car feels fresh and new just like day one. The full-size spare wheel with alloy assures that Citroen has not tried to cut corners when it comes to the product. I did get a lot of attention wherever I went, some even asking if I imported the car. A new dealership has opened in Bhubaneswar, Odisha but they're selling only the C3 currently. But good to know that Citroen is increasing its footprint. The Pune dealership informed us that they are getting a great response for C3. A Goa dealership is coming up soon too. I think Citroen is committed to the Indian market. Each time I bring up this topic to any Citroen (dealership) official(across dealership), they assure me unanimously that "we are here to stay and will help you when you need us"; and that's quite assuring. Adding a few pics

Mileage during my last drive:

The nearest competitor

In the wild

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Bought the SUV after driving & owning a 3rd-gen Honda City for 10 years.

BHPian Frusciante recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I recently completed 1 year of owning a Citroen C5 Aircross. Given all the chatter about Citroen’s sales strategy (or lack of it), I thought I’d look back and document how my year with my machine has been for the benefit of anyone who might have the C5 on their shortlist.

Background

After 10 years of owning a 3rd gen Honda City, which is, as we all know- a very reliable and competent car I felt the need to upgrade. Primary lookouts were overall riding comfort (especially from a driver's perspective as the car would be 100% self-driven), a refreshing and standout design and rock-solid reliability. My budget was up to 50L so I was very open to exploring across segments which I did – from Alcazar and Hector on one end to the X1, Gloster and Fortuner at the other end though frankly, I didn’t need a 7 seater I still wanted to evaluate all cars in 20L+ bracket. Topping my wishlist in early 2021 was the mighty Endeavour, which I had to drop for obvious reasons. I had even booked a Gloster, but as luck would have it the delivery was delayed and the more I researched about its ownership reviews, I was not convinced at the prospect of spending 45L on such a car with a hit or miss reliability record. For some reason, the C5 was never on my initial list of considerations but when I got down to a test drive, the car checked off all the boxes on my requirement list. The ready availability of the vehicle in the colour of my choice was the icing on the cake and I took possession of the vehicle in early Dec ’21.

Ownership Experience

Without extolling on all the features of the C5 (already done in its forum thread), I’ll leave it at re-emphasizing that the car has completely delivered on its promise of comfort and delight in every sphere – from the ride quality to overall ownership and maintenance experience. It is a fabulous long-distance cruiser and I have done about 10k kms of highways, bad roads, no roads, sand, hills, jungles etc the C5 has munched all of those miles with ease and kept us very comfortable and secure. 14+ hours of drives have been stress-free, as have been night highway drives which I used to hate with my earlier cars. The power and torque on tap, mated with the excellent gearbox and light steering make it an ideal companion for city and highway driving alike. Tech-wise, I believe the car is equipped with everything needed for a safe and comfortable driving experience. The only addition I would have wished for is a 360-degree camera, but the proximity sensors and blind spot detectors do a fab job in aiding your drive. The in-cabin feel is unbelievably quiet, plush and comfortable, thanks to the acoustically shielded window panes and the Michelin tyres which seem to emit no road noise.

After-sales experience and costs

One point that seems to crop up time and again in these forums with respect to Citroen is the possibility of poor after-sales support, given their sparse footprint. Well, I can only speak from my experience which has been phenomenal. The service and support teams have been very proactive, professional, thorough and eager to help. And I’m not talking just about the service centre but even allied support departments like insurance renewal etc where the team worked with me to get me a great renewal deal. I know a couple of C3 owners and they have the same thing to say about Citroen’s ASS support. I have also heard positive stories of their anytime anywhere service on wheels facility even in Tier 2,3 cities. All in all, keeping one's fear aside, there is every reason to believe that Citroen will continue to deliver on its promise of a hassle-free ownership experience.

Costs have been nominal too. The car has been surprisingly frugal in its fuel consumption for the performance it delivers and I usually get an avg of 12 kms/L despite driving in heavy Mumbai traffic with the air conditioning on 100% of the time. In terms of maintenance costs, I have spent a little over 7k INR in consumables at the time of its 2nd service which again I think is very reasonable. Given the longer service intervals of the vehicle, I do not anticipate future costs to be way out of line with my expectations.

In Summary

At the time I was buying the C5, several of my well-intentioned acquaintances advised me to go for a Harrier, Compass, or Seltos pointing out that I’m wasting a good 12+ Lakh rupees for a 5-seater by a new brand, which does not even carry the luxury brand value of the German big 3. And I would be lying if I said the thought did not haunt me for a while. But with every review of the Harrier, Compass, XUV 700 and MGs that I read where the car has inherent mechanical or electronic faults with the cars spending more time in the service stations than with their owners, I thank myself for opting for a lot more solid product. There is no price I would put on ensuring a 100% safe and reliable journey especially when I’m travelling with my family. As mentioned above, I have put my car through some arduous conditions and it has delivered without a fault, or even as much as a squeak or rattle out of place. And I believe THAT level of solid engineering and reliability alone is worth a premium. Good over cheap – every single time.

So would I opt for a C5 if I was in the market for a premium crossover today? Tough question. As much as I love my car, a few newer cars on the block do pose stiff competition in my opinion – especially the new Tuscon. I have not driven the Tuscon but going by the reviews on the Team-BHP forum, it seems like a very worthy competitor to the C5 packed with some compelling features. It also doesn’t help that the C5 now costs 8 whopping lakhs more than when I bought it (for 38L OTR Mumbai). On the plus side, I prefer the classic and timeless design of the C5 over the cuts and creases “origami unfolded” look of the Tuscon. As you can see, it would have been a tough call for me, so I’m kinda glad I bought the C5 when I did. No one knows how things would pan out for Citroen as a company, a decade down the line – will they thrive or go the Ford/Chevy way? Hard to tell but they seem to be doing the right things in having a good and varied product mix in the pipeline for India. Also helps that at least by word of mouth, no Citroen owner should have anything poor to share about their experience with the company. If the C5 is on your list of considerations – hope this ownership review helps you in your decision-making.

Here's what BHPian DivyanshuDiv had to say on the matter:

Congratulations on purchasing, owning and experiencing the plush Citroen C5 Aircross. And your car, in black, looks fabulous just like every french luxury product. I hope it gives your safe, memorable and delightful rides. And to add, Tucson is undoubtedly amazing and my favourite, but C5 in my option is a notch above. It is an uncompromised offering until they become a player and jump on the bandwagon(Renault-Nissan/VW Skoda group with India 2.0)

The only issue for me with C5 has to do with its price and thus positioning. Not sure, what Citroen is trying to complete.

Here's what BHPian Shreyas Aterkar had to say on the matter:

Congratulations on completing 1 yr with the C5. Looks really very beautiful and good to hear all praises of the car from you. Nice review of the car, would be great to see the interior pics and your view of the second-row comfort - the split 3 seats.

Whenever I see one on the road, I turn back and have a second look, I just can't resist. Will certainly test drive one when I look to change my 4th Gen City. Though, the prices have significantly increased with the facelift and are bound to trigger second thoughts.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The new logo will debut on a new concept car at the end of September 2022.

Citroen has showcased its new brand identity and logo. It will debut on a new concept car at the end of September 2022.

This is the 10th evolution of the Citroen logo in the brand's 103-year history. The new logo is inspired by the original, adopted by the company in 1919. It features the chevron logo nestled inside an oval.

According to Citroen, the introduction of the new logo also marks a new direction in design language.

Citroen India’s current portfolio comprises of two models: C5 Aircross and the C3. The carmaker is now gearing up to launch its first all-electric car in the Indian market. It will be showcased on September 29, 2022.

So, what's new on the 2022 Citroen C5 Aircross facelift? You have a heavily redesigned front end, some changes at the rear and a few modifications on the inside.

2022 Citroen C5 Aircross Facelift Pros

• A superbly engineered & properly premium crossover
• Very stylish exteriors & interiors! We love the design. It's matched to solid build quality
• Good quality cabin with comfortable seats, lots of storage & fantastic insulation
• 2.0L diesel engine is quick, efficient & extremely refined
• Smooth 8-speed AT gearbox impresses
• Excellent ride comfort and mature road manners. High speed behaviour is sorted too
• Large, well-shaped 580 liter boot gobbles up holiday / airport luggage
• Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, handsfree tailgate opening, customisable instrument cluster, double laminated front windows, terrain modes...
• 4-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. 3-point seatbelts for all five occupants, 6 airbags, blind spot monitoring system, ESP, hill hold, hill descent control and more

2022 Citroen C5 Aircross Facelift Cons

• Very expensive! We wish Citroen had priced-it-to-sell-it (aka penetration pricing)
• Rear legroom is strictly adequate. Two 5’10" adults can sit behind each other, but not two 6-footers
• No turbo-petrol engine (big miss), no AWD for tourers & no manual gearbox for MT fans
• Not really sporty to drive. Cars like the Compass & Tiguan are more fun
• Missing some features we expect today (connected car tech, ventilated seats, electrically adjustable passenger seat, ADAS, 360-degree camera, subwoofer…)
• The bolstering of the 3 individual rear seats is suitable for slim passengers, not heavier ones
• Audio sound quality is alright, but nothing special as you’d expect in a 40-lakh car
• Many competing crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats, which the C5 Aircross doesn't have
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are still big unknowns

Read Team-BHP's detailed Citroen C5 Aircross Review.

Tucson is the top choice. Superb engine, gearbox, Hyundai-backing, comfortable, features etc. Second choice Compass Diesel AT.

2022 Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson Pros

• A futuristic-looking, well-engineered premium SUV
• Complete urban package with comfortable suspension, light steering and a smooth automatic
• 2.0L diesel engine is not just refined, but punchy too
• 540 litres of boot space is enough to haul holiday luggage
• ADAS safety features like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitor and lane-keep assist are cool & work reasonably well
• Loaded with features like a panoramic sunroof, multi-air mode AC, ventilated and heated front seats, connected car tech, wireless charging, boss control for the front seat etc.
• 5-star Euro NCAP rating. 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, downhill brake control, TPMS, 360-degree camera & more

Hyundai Tucson Cons

• Edgy looks & funky styling may not be to everyone's liking
• At ~43 lakhs on road for the top-end variant, the Tucson is expensive!
• Not as engaging to drive as the Kodiaq or Tiguan
• Naturally-aspirated petrol isn't as punchy as the competitors' turbo-petrol units
• Other crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats. Tucson is a 5-seater only
• Some missing features such as paddle shifters, rear sunblinds...
• Hyundai badge lacks the snob value that many 40-lakh rupee customers are looking for

Link to Review

Jeep Compass

Jeep Compass Pros:

• Handsome Cherokee-inspired styling & loads of character
• Solid build. Feels very robust, just as a Jeep should
• Powerful 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, fast on the open road
• 1.4L turbo-petrol makes 161 BHP! Offers fast performance.
• Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
• Capable AWD available (unlike some competitors)
• City-friendly: Compact size, higher seating, smooth gearshift, soft clutch & low NVH
• Topnotch safety: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags
• We think the Compass is well-priced for what it offers. The driving experience & overall package feel premium

Jeep Compass Cons:

• Small size for the price! A sentiment echoed by most people who saw it in person
• Suitable for 4 adults, not 5. Boot is small too
• Inexplicably, only the AWD Diesel gets 6 airbags! All other variants have 2
• Tiny dealership network. Plus, after-sales quality & long-term reliability are unknown factors
• AWD's premium is over 2 lakh rupees on-the-road. Includes 4 extra airbags, but is still too much
• Turning radius of 5.65m is wide. Also, 17º approach angle is too low
• Missing goodies (blanks on the steering, auto-dimming IRVM, auto wipers & headlamps, lumbar adjustment, reclinable rear seats)

Link to Review

Link to Review - The Petrol AT

Link to Report - The Trailhawk

Citroen C5 Aircross

Citroen C5 Aircross Pros:

• A superbly engineered & properly premium crossover
• Very stylish exteriors & interiors! We love the design. It's matched to solid build quality
• Good quality cabin with comfortable seats, lots of storage & fantastic insulation
• 2.0L diesel engine is quick, efficient & extremely refined
• Smooth 8-speed AT gearbox impresses
• Excellent ride comfort and mature road manners. High speed behaviour is sorted too
• Large, well-shaped 580 liter boot gobbles up holiday / airport luggage
• Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, handsfree tailgate opening, customisable instrument cluster, double laminated front windows, terrain modes...
• 4-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. 3-point seatbelts for all five occupants, 6 airbags, blind spot monitoring system, ESP, hill hold, hill descent control and more

Citroen C5 Aircross Cons:

• Rear legroom is strictly adequate. Two 5’10" adults can sit behind each other, but not two 6-footers
• No turbo-petrol engine (big miss), no AWD for tourers & no manual gearbox for MT fans
• Not really sporty to drive. Cars like the Compass are more fun
• Missing some features we expect today (connected car tech, wireless charging, ventilated seats, 360-degree camera, subwoofer…)
• The bolstering of the 3 individual rear seats is suitable for slim passengers, not heavier ones
• Audio sound quality is alright, but nothing special as you’d expect in a premium car
• Many competing crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats, which the C5 Aircross doesn't have
• The LHD orientation of many controls (gear shifter, e-brake, bonnet release, engine start button)
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns

Link to Review

Volkswagen Tiguan

Link to Review

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq Pros:

• The ultimate “value luxury” SUV! Classy styling, solid build & superb quality
• Cabin offers space, practicality and lots of intelligent features
• Impressive 2.0L turbo-petrol is mated to a quick 7-speed DSG automatic
• Cushy ride quality in “Comfort” mode (L&K variant)
• Sorted handling & road manners in “Sport” mode. Adjustable suspension is a USP of the L&K
• 3rd-row of seats is an advantage over some 5-seater competitors
• Massive boot with 3rd seat row down. Boot is useable even with the 3rd seat row up
• Impressive kit (12-speaker Canton ICE, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, auto parking...)
• AWD is available to get you out of tricky situations. Tourers will love it
• 5-star safety rating & equipment (9 airbags + a host of electronic aids)

Skoda Kodiaq Cons:

• Workhorse 2.0L turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
• Single digit fuel economy of the turbo-petrol AT in the city. Drops drastically if you drive aggressively
• Its sibling, the VW Tiguan, is priced a couple of lakhs cheaper
• Expensive! Worse still, Skoda increased the Kodiaq’s pricing within days of the launch
• Cramped 3rd row of seats is strictly for small children. A 5+2 SUV, not a 7-seater
• Styling does look Estate-ish from some angles. Doesn't have that much street cred or presence
• We feel that the “Sportline” variant should’ve been offered with the DCC & other L&K features
• Skoda’s ill-famed dealership network & after-sales horror stories
• Skoda’s patchy long-term reliability track record (including, but not limited to, the DSG)
• Silly feature deletions from older Kodiaq (rear door sills, 1 umbrella, 1 blanket, chrome tip on power window switches, removable torch in the boot, red warning lights on the front doors…)

Link to Review

Jeep Meridian

Jeep Meridian Pros:

• Handsome unmistakably-Jeep styling & loads of character
• Robust build quality. Feels very solid, just as a Jeep should
• Classy cabin now boasts a versatile 5+2 seating configuration and better accommodation when compared to the Compass
• Competent 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, quick on the open road
• Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
• Capable AWD available, with 214 mm of ground clearance
• Feature packed: electric front seats (driver memory), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, powered tailgate, LED projector headlights…
• Topnotch safety kit: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags
• Diesel AT now available without the AWD as well, thereby making it more accessible for urban dwellers (Compass Diesel AT only available with AWD, 5-lakhs more OTR)

Jeep Meridian Cons:

• Cabin has limited width, can feel snug for larger passengers. 5th passenger (in the 2nd row) will feel unwelcome
• 3rd row is strictly for children and small adults
• Should’ve had more power for the price. Same 2.0L diesel available in SUVs from a segment below
• No petrol engine in a market that is moving to petrols in a big way. Delhiites will be disappointed
• 9-speed Automatic gearbox is competent, but not brilliant
• We’d have liked to see front parking sensors, paddle shifters, gearbox ‘sport’ mode, a sliding middle row, more connected tech features (it’s very basic currently)
• At low speeds, the firm ride quality always keeps you aware of the road quality you’re driving on
• Jeep India’s dealer & service network coverage is still limited
• Just the higher Limited & Limited (O) variants at launch. Not sure when lesser variants will follow

Link to Review

Mahindra Alturas G4

Link to Review

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Diesel: Tucson is the top choice. Superb engine, gearbox, Hyundai-backing, comfortable, features etc. My second choice Compass Diesel AT, but I would pick the Tucson over it today. Sure, the Tucson is overpriced, but what car isn't in 2022? OEMs are in the business to make money and will charge whatever is the max they think they can extract from the customer.

Petrol: Kodiaq, and I would wait months for its delivery. It's a crossover that always punched above its weight, and is now better in the 2022 avatar with the faster turbo-petrol engine and adjustable suspension. The "comfort" & "sport" suspension modes make a world of difference.

Let's keep this discussion around the car-like crossover options. Not including body-on-frame SUVs like the Fortuner & Gloster due to their higher price & size. Kept the Alturas only because it's among the cheapest here.

Here's what BHPian AYP had to say on the matter:

I'd go for the Tucson diesel among the options listed here. Its diesel engine with more than 400NM torque and close to 200 BHP of power is very difficult to ignore, especially when the diesel options are getting more and more limited. IMHO, diesel has a very limited lifespan left. I wouldn't be too surprised if 8-10 years down the line, diesel disappears for good or gets limited to a very selected list of cars. For all practical purposes, a person buying a diesel in the next 2-3 years will be the last diesel he or she will ever own. The TSIs and the petrol, in general, shall continue to be available for at least the next 15-20 years if not more.

For the second position, it is a very close call between the Meridian and the Kodiaq. From a neutral perspective, the Kodiaq is the best car hire period. But the Meridian offers a 'decent' diesel while still being luxurious enough on the inside. I'd pick the Meridian diesel with the manual gearbox over the Kodiaq. The Citroen C5 Aircross is a dark horse though with its potent diesel+ AT combo and its performance in all probability shall push me towards it over the Meridian.

Overall: Tucson diesel> C5 Aircross> Meridian> Kodiaq> Tiguan> Compass diesel> Compass petrol> Tucson petrol> Alturas.

Here's what BHPian Gsynch had to say on the matter:

I have voted for Jeep Meridian.

I took a TD of both Meridian and Tucson back to back and found Meridian to be more bang for the buck for a city dweller. Tucson Signature Diesel AT and Meridian FWD AT Limited (O) are almost at the same price point and Meridian offers much more. Gives the flexibility to use it as an occasional 7-seater when needed. Meridian interiors are half a step above Tucson's interior (purely subjective observation). Jeep is also a pure-play SUV brand recognized the world over.

Lastly and this could be important to many people, Meridian is available within a couple of weeks while Tucson D is 3+ months waitlisted (which, in today's uncertain times, means one potential price hike by the time one gets the car)

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

Kodiaq is undoubtedly the best car here. From space to pace to finesse to sheer quality. Nothing quite like it. If one has the budget, this is a no-brainer.

The second choice will be Jeep Compass, diesel manual. An absolute hoot to drive, perhaps the most fun you can have on this side of a BMW. It is a good 10L cheaper than the other options listed here and is a phenomenal car overall. It is the perfect car for the enthusiast with a small family. Stellar fuel efficiency is added bonus.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.