It looks very much like a Mini Countryman from the side and also rear three quarters. But this Citroën is not trying to be a Mini, it’s just being itself, showing its typical quirkiness in design which has been the highlight of Citroën cars from the time they were founded in 1919.
History
Founder Andre Citroën looked at his rivals from France and the rest of Europe and decided to be different from day one. In 1934 Andre made a revolutionary technical change in the auto industry by releasing a mass produced front wheel drive car.
The rest is history as Citroën became part of the PSA group and today, there are technical shared drivetrains and platforms.
The Japanese and Koreans have introduced some great rivalling products over the years but they’ve all somewhat lacked in character and design, and this is where the C3 Aircross stands out in the car park.
Concept
The C3 Aircross exterior carries design elements that are truly Citroën. The product planners at Citroën are calling this C3 Aircross a compact SUV, but DSF thinks it’s more like a family wagon.
Styling
Clearly, Citroën’s attractive compact SUV dominates the road. From the very first gaze, the C3 Aircross appeals with its unique body styling, freshness and protective appearance.
Its compact and high-set dimensions (4.15 m long, 1.76 m wide and 1.64 m tall) are well proportioned and showcase the car’s flowing and dynamic design lines.
The design of the C3 Aircross is unique to the segment with its muscular bonnet, both short and high-set.
It conveys a sense of robustness and underscores the front and rear light signatures while remaining free of aggression through its horizontal balance and generous forms.
Standing firm on its large 431.8 mm diameter wheels, the C3 Aircross has a ground clearance 20 mm higher than the new C3, whose platform it shares.
The new model’s wing extenders and protective skid plates also contribute to the dynamic and protective SUV styling. These visual features reinforce the car’s adventuresome aspect and express its singular personality.
At the front, the C3 Aircross sports Citroën’s classic graphic signature with two-tier lights. The headlamps strengthen the expression of the front end and confirm kinship with the brand’s latest models.
The upper part consists of LED daytime running lights connected to the chevrons via a double chrome strip, serving to express the entire width of the car.
The lower part is home to the main light unit. Comprising square-yet-rounded lamps enlivened by a colour surround, this area also houses the fog lamps. A large air intake in the centre strikes a powerful note.
At the lower part of the front end, a protective skid plate underscores the whole and confirms the SUV nature of the C3 Aircross.
At the rear, the powerful shoulders of the C3 Aircross emphasise its width and muscular character. The 3D-effect rear lights spell out the family connection with the C3 Aircross and the C-Aircross concept car.
The sophisticated light units are complemented by Gloss Black inserts in the tailgate featuring the two-tone C3 Aircross badge and Gloss Black chevrons.
This bold combination broadens the two light units and underlines the sense of width while firmly denoting the car’s high-tech nature. The imposing rear bumper topped by a protective skid plate echoes the front end and once again affirms the car’s robustness and SUV spirit.
Through its ingenious architecture, the C3 Aircross makes everyday life easier with absolutely no compromises on comfort or functionality.
Cabin
Look inside and you will see a large living area. The cabin is home to broad and comfortable seats and offers class-leading spaciousness (best ceiling height, generous leg room), unrivalled modularity (sliding bench in two independent parts, flat-folding front passenger seat for a load length of 2.40 m) and exceptional boot volume (410 litres and up to 520 litres).
This C3 Aircross features ingenious storage spaces around the interior. Drivers get a dashboard that is ergonomically designed to allow for easy access to all functions. Women in particular will love the easy access and exit even when wearing short skirts.
Visibility is great with a large expanse of glass and a high driving position that makes it a pleasure to own and drive with good road holding and handling.
It drives like a large sedan despite its height and size, and absorbs the worst road conditions with ease, thanks to the all-round coil spring suspension.
Driving is made easier with automatic lighting, wiper and rear view mirror dimming controls.
For less experienced drivers, the C3 Aircross comes with the anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and electronic brake assist (EBA), which minimises loss of vehicle control in adverse road conditions and ensures safe, sure stops every time.
Engine
The 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 12 valves produces a respectable 112bhp at 5,500rpm and 205Nm of torque at 1,500rpm. Mated to a six-speed adaptive automatic transmission, it is smooth in town, and on the highway allows for easy overtaking.
Some might comment on the ability of the 1.2-litre engine moving this station-wagon with five adults on board up to any hilltop resort. Rest assured it will do the job easily. Remember this is a family car and not a hot hatch DS3.
Underneath
Handling is pliant, firm and confident. This Citroën does not carry the legendary hydraulic suspension system which is well known for leaks and failures after a few years. This is a standard strut and spring system which is tuned for comfort and sure-footed handling.
Attraction
After a weekend with the C3 Aircross it is clear that it attracts enough curb-side attention to make you feel good. The space inside was appreciated by the family.
The hypermarket shopping trip was done with plenty of room left for more personal shopping. City driving fuel consumption was good and the highway fast run was done with little hesitation from the engine.
Decision
The C3 Aircross is priced right, feels right and delivers the right amount of ownership satisfaction until you meet the negativity coming from social media about the brand.
Yes, Citroën has had a chequered past in terms of after-sales service but it has changed its workshop management to a completely new and more dedicated team to ensure brand success with this new model as well as the recently launched DS range.
C3 Aircross 1.2L specifications
Engine: Three-cylinder 12 valve
Capacity: 1199cc
Power: 112bhp @ 5500rpm
Torque: 205Nm @ 1500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed auto with Tiptronic
0-100km/h: 10.4 seconds
Top speed: 200km/h
Price: From RM115,888
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