Car Expert Reviews
Is the very practical but lackluster feature set of the C3 Aircross enhanced by the addition of an automatic transmission?
The Citroen C3 Aircross, with its 5+2 seating arrangement, is a unique offering in the small SUV market. Its rivals include the five-seater SUVs with an emphasis on amenities and an upscale interior: the Hyryder, Taigun, Kushaq, Astor, Elevate, Grand Vitara, and Creta. However, it is clear that Citroen prioritizes functionality over features of Citroen C3 Aircross.
Even though it was quite practical, there was a major flaw in the shape of an absent automatic gearbox. Now that a 6-speed automatic has been added, that has been fixed, but is it still excellent enough for you to notice and think about the car?
Still attractive
It’s hard to criticize Citroen for sticking with the C3 Aircross’s design. The squarish inserts on the lower air dam, the split LED DRL system, and the muscular front with flared wheel arches are all still present on the new automatic models in Citroen C3 Aircross.
In profile, the elegant 17-inch alloys remain attractive when combined with modest paneling on the side sills. The back is still erect, with some cladding on the rear bumper and the same U-shaped contour for the taillights. Even though the back end still looks really nice, it does seem a little simple in comparison to the huge front end.
In the grand scheme of things, the styling is still straightforward and uncomplicated, but often it’s the small details that give your face the deepest dimple.
Boot space
This section is divided into two sections. The 5-seater C3 Aircross has a 444-liter stowage capacity, which will leave you wanting more room. It’s deep as well as huge, so packing enough luggage for a whole weekend or even more won’t be a problem. However, when all the rows are up, the 5+2 seater model only has 44 liters of storage capacity left.
However, if you remove the third-row seats entirely, 511 liters of room become available. Should that prove insufficient, you have the option to descend to the second row, which offers an enormous 839-liter storage capacity. Nice, however you still need to be aware of the exposed seat mount brackets that could obstruct your path.
Still basic
Other than the gearbox console, of course, there are no modifications to the cabin’s appearance. There aren’t many soft touch materials that feel good to the touch, and the dashboard design is primarily derived from the smaller C3 hatchback. Nevertheless, the proper roughness has been added to the harsh plastics so that the experience doesn’t feel cheap. The plastic panel on the door pad, which contains the window controls, is one exception; it feels flimsy and weakened.
The semi-leatherette seats, the driver armrest, the leather on the door pads, and a leather cover for the steering are the few high-end components. To accommodate the passenger, the latter may have been significantly widened as well.
There is no resemblance between the gear lever and the console in terms of appearance. Given its appearance and markings, you would have a difficult time determining that this is a torque convertor automatic rather than an AMT.
Experience in rows two and three
It remains true that the C3 Aircross provides a nice second row experience. Even for taller passengers, there is sufficient leg, knee, and headroom, and three individuals of average size may fit shoulder to shoulder. However, there is no headrest adjustment available for the middle one.
In terms of features, the 5+2 models are the only ones featuring roof-mounted AC vents with blower settings, a few USB chargers, and a convenient bottle holder in the door. For the 5+2 models, there is no middle armrest available – Citroen C3 Aircross.
The left second-row seat now folds and tumbles when the strap is pulled to reach the third row. There is plenty of room for entry and exit, but be aware of the height of the roof. Once inside, you won’t find much to be dissatisfied with.
Although the underthigh support is a little on the small side, you won’t be able to touch the chairs up ahead until you’re at least 6 feet tall. Although there is enough width for two people, the headroom is a little on the small side. The USB chargers and two cup holders check the practicality box. However, the elevated front seats and small rear quarter window limit view all around Citroen C3 Aircross.
It’s not the most comfortable for extended periods of time, but it works well for quick trips into the city.
Practicality
One of the advantages of the C3 Aircross is this. The door pockets are roomy enough to fit one-liter bottles with ease. Beneath the air conditioning vents is a designated phone tray as well as extra room for items like receipts, wallets, and keys. The glove compartment is similarly sizable, and there are two cup holders directly in front of the gear knob.
Two cup holders are located on the center tunnel for second row passengers, and two more are located in the central armrest (for five-seater versions). Third row passengers also receive two separate cup holders, as was previously indicated. A 12-V socket, a USB port, two USB ports for the second row, and two USB ports for the third row are among the charging ports. Some people will regard not having any type-C ports to be a miss.
Features and safety
Not much has changed on this front either. The list still includes features like electrically adjustable ORVMs, manual AC, steering-mounted controls, a 7.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 6-speaker sound system, and a digital instrument cluster measuring 7 inches.
However, the C3 Aircross now has remote control start/stop, so you may use it to turn on the air conditioning and let the interior cool down before you leave. However, as compared to its competitors, the list is remains tiny despite this recent addition. Features like automatic climate control, sunroof, cruise control, and auto day/night IRVM are getting more and more prevalent and ought to have been available on the C3 Aircross as well.
The C3 Aircross’s safety kit includes dual airbags, ABS with EBD, a tire pressure monitoring system, hill hold aid, and an electronic stability program, even though there is no crash test rating to determine the vehicle’s actual level of safety. While not the most comprehensive kit, it does provide the essentials. It would have been nice to have six airbags, especially at that price.
Engine And Performance
The C3 Aircross’s 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine remains, but the torque has been increased to 210Nm thanks to a new torque converter and 6-speed automated transmission.
It functions best when you drive slowly, especially in urban areas. Most of the time, you won’t even notice the rapid and seamless upshifts. However, if you request even a small amount of acceleration, it will quickly downshift, causing a delay before experiencing a sudden acceleration spike. If you are not very deliberate with your throttle control, this can make driving a little jerky. Driving isn’t quite as smooth as it usually is with gearboxes that have torque converters installed. Still, it is foreseeable.and as an owner, with time, you should get used to managing it.
It does become much smoother and a more comfortable driving experience at speeds above 45 kmph. Once more, driveability is highly linear and excellent for traveling on the highway with ease. Thus, much like the car with the manual transmission, this isn’t a car for enthusiasts, but it’s excellent for logging miles.
There is a manual mode available for those who want even more control, however it is shifter driven and lacks paddle shifters. Speaking of the gear selector, it’s a fairly antiquated setup that led us to believe that the car’s original transmission was an AMT rather than a torque converter.
Although we were unable to test the cars, we were able to estimate the efficiency based on stop-start driving, accelerations, and periods of idle time, all of which occur throughout our shoots. The results showed an estimated 10.4 kmpl. Additionally, this value was increasing, indicating that it might be fairly efficient in practical situations.
Ride and Handling
The French automaker has a talent for perfecting the ride quality of its vehicles, as we had seen with the C3 Aircross manual. We are pleased to inform that, in terms of the automated, everything is unchanged and comfy. All potholes, highway gaps, and undulations are easily absorbed by the suspension, and it does it largely silently.
In some cases, there will be some horizontal movement, but this may be managed by reducing the speed and navigating the bumps more slowly. When driving in the city, the steering feels heavy, but when you turn a corner, it becomes lively. The steering has a wonderful weight to it.
There may occasionally be some horizontal movement, but this may be easily remedied by reducing the speed and navigating the bumps more slowly. The steering feels heavy when driving in the city, but it comes to life as you turn a corner. It has a wonderful weight to it.
We were also impressed with the handling on our quick drive to Lavasa, as the vehicle remained composed and stayed flat on turns. Although there was some body roll, it was quite reasonable for a car this size.
Verdict
The largest hole in the SUV’s armor has been patched by Citroen with the release of the C3 Aircross’s automatic gearbox. It enhances the simplicity, adaptability, and comfort of the C3 Aircross package by adding a convenience element. Though it still lacks several nice-to-have features, the C3 Aircross’s utility factor—rather than its creature comforts—was always its main selling point.
It excels at everything from the fundamentals, such as providing a comfortable ride and a capable engine for good all-around drivability. Its convenience is increased by the presence of an automatic, and all of this is provided for less than Rs 16 lakh. To give you an idea, top-spec SUVs in this class (such as the Creta and similar models) with all of its bells and whistles have surpassed the Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom) threshold.
You won’t be disappointed with the C3 Aircross if you’re on a tight budget and value room, comfort, simplicity, and versatility over a luxurious and feature-rich interior experience.