Citroen C3 Aircross road test, review

The quirky C3 Aircross takes on the uber-competitive midsize SUV segment. We put it through its paces to see if it’s up for the job.

Published on Jun 18, 2024 03:34:00 PM

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C3 Aircross is available with an automatic and manual gearbox.

Dash looks attractive and light upholstery accentuates sense of space.

Front seats are well cushioned, but light upholstery gets soiled easily.

The 5-seater gets a larger 444-litre boot space; no 60:40 split rear seats.

The Citroen C3 Aircross is unconventional and it stands out with its innovative seating configuration, strong mechanicals, and good ride and handling balance. The powertrains are also smooth and punchy, it’s affordable and the design makes it stand out as well. However, what’s disappointing is the cost-cutting with some materials, a severe lack of features, and the lack of powertrain options, especially when compared to nearly every rival in this segment.

It’s cleverly packaged and affordable, but let down by its features list.

Being a late entrant to the Indian market and competing in the hotly-contested midsize SUV segment, Citroën would have benefitted from throwing everything at the C3 Aircross—including missing features and a longer standard warranty—that would at least pull potential buyers to the showroom. In conclusion, then, the Citroën C3 Aircross is a well-engineered SUV that’s let down by poor product planning.