The Citroen has officially introduced the C3 Aircross, a midsize SUV priced at Rs 9.99 lakh for the base You variant (introductory, ex-showroom, India). The company has also initiated bookings for a minimum deposit of Rs 25,000, and the vehicle deliveries are scheduled to start on October 15.
Prices for the mid-spec Plus and top-tier Max models will be disclosed at a later time. Citroen C3 Aircross is available in three versions: You, Plus, and Max.
It enters a highly competitive market, competing with eight other models, including the Honda Elevate, Kia Seltos, and Maruti Grand Vitara.
Although aggressively priced, it lacks certain desirable features like a sunroof, wireless charging, ventilated seats, and a six-airbag system.
Details on the You Variant
The base You variant accommodates five passengers and does not include a sunroof or roof-mounted AC vents found in the seven-seat versions.
It also does not feature a 10.2-inch touchscreen, speakers, reverse camera, rear wiper, rear defogger, or USB chargers.
Surprisingly, the base model retains most safety features from the top-spec Max trim, including two airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, Hill Hold Assist, TPMS, and reverse parking sensors.
Design Features
Much like other Citroen vehicles, the C3 Aircross proudly displays the brand’s iconic Chevron logo right on its front grille. It shares its LED daytime running light style with the C3 and eC3 models but stands out with a unique front bumper design that cleverly incorporates fog lamps into the air intake area.
While many of its rivals go for full-LED headlights, the C3 Aircross opts for dependable halogen headlamps.
Profile and Exterior
The C3 Aircross sports eye-catching 17-inch ‘Quadratic’ alloy wheels and classic lift-up door handles, giving it a distinctive look when compared to rivals using modern pull-type handles.
A charming detail is the small rear-quarter window that smoothly merges with the rear windshield, giving the vehicle an elegant, wraparound style. The rear tail-lights also have a unique design, and they’re linked by a glossy black panel showcasing the Citroen logo.
Interior and Features
Stepping inside, the C3 Aircross shares a straightforward dashboard layout with the standard C3. It incorporates a 10.2-inch touchscreen offering wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, alongside a unique 7-inch digital instrument cluster.
Unlike its C3 sibling, the C3 Aircross adds a center armrest, though it’s exclusively connected to the driver’s seat. For those opting for the top-tier C3 Aircross models, they’ll enjoy four speakers, two tweeters, keyless entry, manual AC, roof-mounted rear AC vents, and a handy reverse camera.
Powertrain
Citroen simplifies the choices for the C3 Aircross, providing a solitary powertrain option – a 110hp, 190Nm, 1.2-liter turbo-petrol engine matched with a user-friendly 6-speed manual gearbox.
While on the international stage, an automatic version with a smooth 6-speed torque converter is accessible, and there’s a possibility that this automatic option might become available for the India-specific model in the future.
Competitors
The C3 Aircross enters the ring against the base models of various vehicles, including the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, and the recently unveiled Honda Elevate.”
