After four years on the market, the Citroen C3 Aircross has been completely redesigned with a brand-new front appearance. The current C3 Aircross has a more aggressive appearance with standard LED headlights, toothed grilles, and an aluminium skid plate, unlike the former model’s welcoming appearance.
Although we may disagree with the way it looks, you might. The ancient Aircross wasn’t particularly attractive, but at least its rounded front end suited its personality. The new car has a rather aggressive face for a vehicle that isn’t. Not in the slightest. At least from the A-pillar back, the C3 appears to be unchanged.
Other features include updated seats with 15mm extra padding, an intuitive and responsive 9.0-inch touchscreen, and a revamped centre console with more excellent storage. Almost everything else, including the tried-and-true engine lineup, is carried over from the previous vehicle.
The Citroen C3 Aircross is still one of the unique options in the competitive compact crossover market, even with this upgraded model’s all-new look from the manufacturer. Citroen is trying to emphasize comfort and practicality as the qualities that set it different, which helps it stand out against its eye-catching competitors such as the Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Mokka. Although the absence of a battery-powered model like those given by the 2008 Mokka and Peugeot may hinder the push to go electric, it is also quite affordable.
Citroën boasts a slight increase in residual values for this new version,
It pays to keep your options open and search for the most outstanding value because many models compete for customers’ attention in this market niche. But if the distinctive appearance of the C3 Aircross has already won you over, you can rest easy knowing that the price is competitive with models like the 2008 Peugeot, Vauxhall Mokka, Volkswagen T-Cross, and more. However, Citroen claims a tiny improvement in residual values for this new version, which should help keep financing rates competitive. That’s just half the story, and most people will look forward to the monthly payments.
Despite the lower starting price, it’s interesting that Citroen anticipates that more than three-quarters of the vehicles sold will be the top-of-the-line Shine Plus trim, which costs more but still presents well compared to rivals. Unfortunately, unlike the 2008 Mokka-e or e-, there is not yet a pure EV option in the C3 Aircross portfolio if you hope to reduce operating expenses through electrification.
You’ll get an upgraded five-year warranty included as standard.
The larger Stellantis group includes Citron. In dependability assessments like those conducted by WarrantyWise, it still trails partner brands like Vauxhall and Peugeot by a small margin, consistent with earlier research by organizations like industry group JD Power. In contrast to rivals like Renault, Hyundai, and others, Citroen offers a basic warranty of five years and 60,000 miles. The C3 Aircross warranty can be extended for an additional fee or as part of an arrangement with the store. Interestingly, a newer five-year warranty is automatically included if you purchase online.
Citroen cements its reputation for building cars as comfortable as a safety feature.
Sadly, Citroen didn’t use the chance of this update to incorporate automated emergency braking, even though it’s available in the higher trim levels that the majority of customers choose since we criticized the previous C3 Aircross for not having it as standard. All models include features like lane departure warnings and traffic sign recognition. Still, Citroen is using its reputation for creating comfortable vehicles as a safety feature based on its survey finding that calm drivers are less likely to become irritable behind the wheel and cause accidents.
The C3 Aircross is impressively optimized for a car of its size
The firm is eager to bring back Citroens’ historic reputation for ultra-soft suspension and prioritize comfort over all other factors with the newest generation of vehicles. As a result, the Advanced Comfort seats on higher-spec models of the new C3 Aircross include extra padding comparable to a mattress topper.
This, along with correctly placed support, promotes proper posture. These seats were in our test car, and while they were undoubtedly quite supportive, the flat design didn’t keep you seated, and the front seat cushions appeared a little too short for anyone with longer legs. The enormous blind areas further overshadow any visibility gains from an elevated seat that the thick windscreen pillars produce, making intersections and roundabouts challenging. It also seems a little unfair that centre armrests are only available on higher trim levels.
So it’s not perfect. But on the highway, the C3 Aircross is impressively refined for a car of its size, and Citroën’s renewed focus on comfort seems to be paying off in terms of creating a comfortable place to rack up the miles. You can only get it on the top trim level. Still, the clever sliding rear seat offers the option to increase trunk space (albeit at the expense of legroom), two backrest positions, and different split/fold arrangements for carrying larger loads. On this model, you can also fold the passenger seat flat, which we found helpful for maintaining the bike when we had the previous version on. Citroën’s renewed focus on comfort seems to be paying off in creating a comfortable place to rack up the miles.
The ingenious sliding rear seat, available only on the top trim level, allows you to carry more fantastic items and enhance trunk space while sacrificing legroom. It also has two backrest configurations. When using the previous model, we found that folding the passenger seat flat on this model was handy for carrying the bike. Citroen’s newfound emphasis on comfort appears to be paying off in producing a comfortable environment to log kilometres.
Larger wheels, a contrast roof, and upgraded cabin materials are also included in this top model.
The C3 Aircross comes in three trim levels; however, based on all the trim levels and extras it offers, it appears that most purchasers go for the top trim level. That includes Advanced Comfort seats, the larger 9.0-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation (the cheapest model has a smaller screen, but all include CarPlay and Android Auto as standard), and a sliding rear bench seat.
This top model also comes with bigger wheels, a different roof, and better materials inside the cabin, with 70 possible customization options to make it your own. Citroen has at least taken note of the criticism that the previous Handbrake’s design was sleeker than content and that it was more traditional, which now leaves room for holders. Cups. However, we’re still not impressed with the industry’s tendency to put all controls (including heating and ventilation) on display.
The vast majority of people will go for the PureTech petrol version.
Citroen has kept the a’BlueHDI-branded diesel engine option available for this new C3 Aircross, most likely because almost half the fleet’s customers purchase them. The somewhat reduced CO2 will cut the monthly costs associated with this vehicle. However, most customers will choose the PureTech petrol model, powered by the same three-cylinder turbocharged engine with two power settings.
The automatic gearbox used by the 130-horsepower version has a good performance and is fine when moving, but it has a very awkward “gate” when switching from P to Reverse and Drive, making it difficult to manoeuvre back and forth. A lack of subtlety can also be seen in the engine shivering as the stop/start mechanism activates. If you frequently travel through remote areas or inclement weather, the optional Grip Control system lets you set traction control for various situations.
Space and usefulness
The C3 Aircross is quite outstanding if practicality is essential to you. The Aircross has 410 litres of boot capacity in its base configuration, which isn’t the most in the class but isn’t bad either. Top-spec Additionally, sliding rear seats are included with Flair versions, which reduces back seat room but increases cargo capacity to 520 litres. The cargo space is 1,289 litres when the back seats are folded flat. All variations also have a boot floor that is movable and can either be kept in place for a level floor that makes loading easy or lowered so you can fully use the boot space.
The inside of the Aircross seems incredibly light, open, and useful despite its comparatively modest size. All but the tallest people will have ample legroom, however, we advise against buying a vehicle with the optional panoramic roof since it drastically limits headroom.
The Citroen C3 Aircross is among the safest cars in its class thanks to its five-star Euro NCAP safety certification. Higher-spec versions are equipped with automated emergency braking in addition to basic features like speed limit recognition and lane departure warning. It’s a pity that not all models come with this as standard equipment.
drives
On the C3 Aircross, three different gasoline engines and one diesel engine are offered.
The base model features a 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine with 81 horsepower. The 0-60 mph pace of 15.7 seconds makes it seem out of its element on national speed-limited routes, but it’s excellent for city driving.
The 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which makes 108 horsepower and is the sole model available with an automatic transmission, is the best (and most popular) engine in the lineup. It comes with a manual or automatic gearbox. The same engine that has been modified to generate 128 horsepower is used in the upper-range model.
The 1.6-litre BlueHDI with 98 horsepower is the sole diesel engine available, and we also suggest it. Citroen once offered this at 118 horsepower, however, modern vehicles no longer include this.
Operating costs
Engines with Aircross equipment will all perform well. The 108bhp 1.2-litre is the most efficient engine, handling up to 56.6 mpg and CO2 emissions of 109g/km. All of the petrol engines revive economic numbers touted in the 1950s.
It seems sensible that diesel engines are the most effective ones. With low CO2 emissions of 105g/km, the 98 horsepower diesel can achieve the claimed economy rating of 70.6 mpg. This engine is best if you travel a lot of miles annually. Depending on the mover you use, there are somewhere between six and twenty insurance categories. The most affordable Flair cars will actually be the higher-spec versions since they come fitted with independent emergency braking, which may assist in lower rates.
