A little over four months after it revealed its locally-developed C3 Aircross midsize SUV with 90% localisation, Citroen India has finally launched the C3 Aircross midsize SUV at Rs 999,000 (introductory, ex-showroom, India) for the base You variant. Prices for the mid-spec Plus and top-spec Max variants will be announced at a later date. Citroen has opened bookings for a token amount of Rs 25,000 and deliveries will commence from October 15.
The SUV has been built on the carmaker’s modular platform which also spawns the C3 hatchback, introduced in India last year. The C3 Aircross gets a unique 5+2 seating configuration, with the company claiming that the last row will offer adequate space for children or short adults over shorter distances. The SUV offers a 511-litre boot space with the third row folded flat.
The C3 Aircross enters a cut-throat segment and competes with eight other models. It is priced aggressively as it lacks some features that are considered essential feel-good features like a sunroof, wireless charging, ventilated seats and six airbags.
The base-spec You variant only comes with a 5-seat configuration which means it neither gets a sunroof nor the roof-mounted AC vents of the 7-seat variants. It also misses out on the 10.2-inch touchscreen, speakers, reverse camera, rear wiper, rear defogger and USB chargers. Interestingly, the base-spec model still comes with almost all the safety features from the top-spec Max trim which includes two airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, Hill hold assist, TPMS and reverse parking sensors.
STYLING
Like all Citroen models, the C3 Aircross has the brand’s Chevron logo integrated into the grille and it shares its LED daytime running light signatures with the C3 and the eC3. Unlike the two hatchbacks, the C3 Aircross gets a different bumper with the fog lamps mounted in the air intake housing rather than beside it. The C3 Aircross only gets halogen headlamps whereas all of its competitors come with full-LED units in their top-spec trims.
In profile, the C3 Aircross sits on 17-inch ‘Quadratic’ alloy wheels. It gets traditional lift-up type door handles while the rest of the competition comes with more modern, pull-type handles. The C3 Aircross also gets a small rear-quarter window that merges with the rear windshield to make it look like a wraparound unit. The tail-lights of the C3 Aircross are also slightly different than the C3 hatchback, and are connected by a gloss black panel with the Citroen logo in the middle.
INTERIOR AND FEATURES
Inside, the C3 Aircross shares the same basic dashboard layout with the standard C3. In the centre, it gets a 10.2-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also gets a 7-inch digital instrument cluster but it gets a different layout than the C3 hatchback.
Unlike the C3, the C3 Aircross also gets a centre armrest at the front but it is only attached to the driver’s seat. Other features on the top-spec C3 Aircross include 4 speakers with two tweeters, keyless entry, manual AC, roof-mounted rear AC vents and reverse camera.
POWERTRAIN AND RIVALS
Citroen is only offering one powertrain with the C3 Aircross – a 110hp, 190Nm, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine that is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Internationally, the C3 Aircross also gets a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox that is expected to be offered on the India-spec model as well in the future.
The C3 Aircross competes with the entry-level versions of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and the newly launched Honda Elevate.