All New Citroen C3 AirCross Debuts In India; Launch In August 2023

Citroen India has showcased its latest product in the Indian market, targeted at the compact SUV segment. Dubbed the Citroen C3 AirCross, it is based on the same C-Cubed platform as the Citroen C3 and is positioned as both a 5- and 7-seat SUV, available with a single turbocharged petrol engine. The new Citroen C3 AirCross will be launched by July-August this year, with an expected price range of Rs. 12 lakh to Rs. 18 lakh (ex-showroom).

Exterior

The Citroen C3 AirCross takes design cues from both its siblings, the Citroen C3, as well as the flagship, the Citroen C5 AirCross. At the front is the signature high bonnet, along with the double grille, with a lower skid plate adding a powerful stance. The headlamps resemble the Citroen C5 AirCross; however, these are halogen units and not LED. The split DRLs are a nice touch and look elegant. The Citroen logo sits in the centre flanked by chrome slats. The fog lamps are positioned at the lower section of the fascia, surrounded by black cladding. The boot has an ample amount of cuts & creases to depict the bold styling.

In profile, the Citroen C3 AirCross features muscular wheel arches with large wheels and tyres, with ample cladding to showcase its rugged nature. The SUV sits on 17-inch wheels with a similar alloy design as the C5 AirCross. The rear section of the car looks quite smart, with LED tail lamps stacked neatly in three parts that look like an “E” with brake lights on the side. The centre is connected via a black element above the Citroen logo. The C3 AirCross lettering finds its place on one side of the boot lid, while the variant lettering finds its place on the other side.

Windscreen-mounted brake lights and rear wipers round off the design elements at the back. Citroen has also announced multiple customisation packs on offer with the Citroen C3 AirCross, along with a range of dual-tone and mono-tone exterior paint schemes. To maintain its rugged look, the rear features faux skid plates and a heightened boot lip. For the three-row layout, there’s a small glass on the C-Pillar.

Interior

As already established, the Citroen C3 AirCross will be available in two seating layouts: a 5-seater and a 7-seater. The cabin and the overall design remain identical in both of these versions; however, things are slightly different at the back as the third row can be removed to liberate more boot space. As of now, the 5-seater version consists of a 444-litre boot, while the 7-seater version claims a 511-litre boot. AC vents are mounted on the roof for both the second and third rows, while they are also similar in the 5-seater version. A total of 5 USB slots are offered with the 7-seater version, while the latter receives 4 USB slots.

Power windows are positioned behind the hand brake. The centre-piece is a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment unit sourced from the Citroen C3, with slightly tweaked graphics. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can be accessed via a wire or without one; however, the climate has to be manually adjusted. The overall theme is white to give an airy feel, while two-tone upholstery is also available to choose from. Being under 4.3 m, the Citroen C3 AirCross offers decent room for the second row, while the third row is best suited for children.

The overall fit and finish don’t scream Citroen, though we feel that this will change at the time of the launch, or at least by the time we drive it next month. As of now, it misses out on a few crucial features, that may be introduced in the car at a later stage.

Engine & Gearbox

At the global debut, the Citroen C3 AirCross employed a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol unit, with 108 bhp and 190 Nm of peak torque, mated to a single 6-speed manual gearbox. Although unconfirmed, we are expecting an automatic transmission at the time of the launch. The Citroen C3 AirCross will not be offered with a diesel engine. Globally, there is a more powerful petrol unit mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, along with a 6MT diesel version.

Dimensions

The Citroen C3 AirCross is a compact SUV with a length of under 4.3 m, a width of 1796 mm, and a height of 1654 mm. It sits on a 200 mm ground clearance and claims to offer the best shoulder room in the segment and a best-in-class knee room of 896 mm for second-row passengers. In the 7-seater version, the second row can be split at 70:30, while the third row can be removed to free up more space for the boot. Accessing the third row requires a one-touch tumble of the second-row seats.

Rivals & Prices

The Citroen C3 AirCross competes against a bunch of compact SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, MG Astor, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and even the Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder. As far as the pricing goes, we expect Citroen India to position the C3 AirCross as a premium offering and launch it between Rs. 12 lakh to Rs. 18 lakh, as 90 per cent of components is locally made.