After showing us the first set of design sketches this March, Citroen has now officially unveiled the production-spec Basalt coupe-SUV for India. This is the fourth model based on Citroen’s C-Cubed programme that’s specifically meant for India, but it will also be made available in South American and European markets. The Basalt, which will be joined by the Tata Curvv later, is a new niche of coupe-SUVs in the hotly contested midsize SUV segment.
The production-spec Citroen Basalt hasn’t strayed much from the original design sketches shown earlier this year – the only difference is that the body cladding all around gets a regular matte plastic finish as opposed to the gloss black finish in the sketches.
Elsewhere, the design bears a very close resemblance to the C3 Aircross SUV with which the Basalt shares its underpinnings. The fascia is nearly identical to the C3 Aircross save for a slightly different finish for the grille inserts; you get the same chrome-lined Chevron logo at the top, a two-part grille and a faux silver skid plate for the chin. But what’s a welcome upgrade is that the Basalt finally gets projector headlamps – a first for a C-cubed model in India. The LED daytime running lamp signature remains unchanged, though, and so does the bonnet.
In profile, the Basalt has a very distinct design with the squared-off cladding over the wheel arches, a pinched window line on both sides and the smoothly flowing roof line that meets the high deck of the boot lid. It rides on stylish 17-inch alloy wheels, but the pull-type door handles have still been retained from the C3 Aircross. The short and stubby rear end gets a well contoured tail gate, halogen tail lamps with a 3D effect and chunky dual-tone bumper finished in black and silver.
The Basalt will come in five monotone colour options – Polar White, Steel Grey, Platinum Grey, Cosmo Blue and Garnet Red. The white and red paint options also get a contrast black roof.
On the inside, the Basalt carries over the dashboard from the C3 Aircross, but there are notable upgrades here. The most welcome update is a new HVAC panel with digital readouts, toggle switches and auto AC function over the manual AC on the C3 Aircross with rotary dials. Other upgrades include a new, larger front armrest with storage space and restyled, contoured rear headrests. In addition, the rear bench seat gets adjustable thigh support, which is a segment-first feature. Citroen claims the Basalt’s boot can carry up to 470 litres of luggage. There are AC vents for the rear passengers both on the roof and behind the front centre armrest.
It continues with the 10.25-inch, centrally mounted floating touchscreen and a 7-inch all-digital instrument cluster in higher-spec variants. It get the familiar three-spoke steering wheel. A 15W wireless smartphone charger is also on offer, along with connected car tech. Citroen’s signature C-Cubed design motifs can be seen on the central AC vents and on the steering wheel. As with the C3 Aircross, the Basalt’s interior also gets a good mix of gloss black and textured surfaces that add some flair to the overall look and feel.
In terms of safety kit, all variants of the Basalt will get six airbags, ESP, hill-hold assist and a tyre pressure monitor as standard.
Powering the Basalt are two 1.2-litre petrol engine options. There’s the 82hp, 115Nm naturally aspirated unit and a 110hp turbo-petrol engine. The turbo-petrol engine comes mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox (where it makes 190Nm) or a 6-speed torque converter automatic (generating 205Nm), while the NA unit gets a 5-speed manual only.
Citroen claims fuel-efficiency figures of 18kpl for the NA petrol, 19.5kpl for the turbo-petrol manual and 18.7kpl for the turbo-petrol automatic.
Coming to its rivals, the Basalt’s introduction coincides with the Tata Curvv coupe-SUV, which is its most direct rival in the midsize SUV segment apart from traditional SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Honda Elevate and more.