Citroen C3 Aircross review - Citroen's seven-seater Creta rival | First Drive | Autocar India
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
- Citroen has entered the mid-size SUV segment with the C3 Aircross and will go up against some strong competition. It has the right proportions, design, and crucially, a third row, but is that going to be enough? Saumil Shah finds out.
Cameraperson: Sharad Vegada
Editor: Vinayak Badekar
0:00 - Intro
1:09 - Exterior
3:48 - Interior
6:08 - Features and safety
6:16 - Missing features
6:35 - Rear seat comfort
7:48 - Seven-seater middle row
8:20 - Third row space
9:14 - Boot capacity
9:48 - Engine performance
12:18 - Gearbox
13:20 - Steering and handling
13:35 - Ride quality and suspension
14:50 - Verdict
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#autocarindia #carreview #citroenc3aircross - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Western journalist’s primary focus: Seating ergonomics, performance, driving dynamics, so on.
Our guys: The key doesn’t FEEL premium 🤡
trolls are all the same😂
Buying a car in India is an occasion in itself unlike in the Western world. With high taxes and multiple taxation at various levels of ownership, it's only normal for buyers to expect premium-ness in their car, from something as simple as a key to a complex touchscreen head unit.
Ergos, dynamics, performance, safety tends to be much lower on the list
@@ScootScoot125 The definition of “premium” clearly varies, some focus on premium suspension, premium handling and the engine. Others focus on premium key, premium door handles, and you get the gist.
In a price sensitive segment, a company can provide only one of the two, and it’s success depends on what the priorities of the public are.
Yeah he did go on about the key for a while too long, but then he covers everything else really well TBF, with a lot less BS than most reviewers
On the spot..
The senior management who approved this strategy and appear to be totally clueless about the local market should be fired asap and sued for their gross negligence. Citroen in India is a great example of good fundamental engineering being totally destroyed by unfathomable management and marketing decisions.
Can't agree more on this..The Management has lost it completely in the age of Skoda, VW, Honda, Kia and Hyundai, how can they even go ahead with such a product.
Agreed
Right. Even a layman understands the problem with their strategy. Why can't those highly qualified engineers and management gurus in citroen realize such big flaws in strategy? Are they not giving value to the opinions of local employees in citroen?
They did exactly the same in Brazil. Gringo decisions for developing countries. It never goes well.
I feel sad for citroen. They might be putting the effort but with a car which lacks basic features required in this segment, it'll be a surprise if they're able to sell
If this is putting effort, then they should've left the country yesterday.
If you look like they are putting effort then they should leave India then
They are not putting effort to be Frank.They are thinking that India is some of the third world country,but we are way above their thinking and we certainly deserve more.This car looks even cheaper then Kiger and Magnite.I will be surprised if this car sells in Triple figures.
@@eniyan100 India is a 3rd world coutury with taxes that are higher than most developed nations. It's not like people lined up to buy C5 aircross in hordes. It's not just Citroen that does the cost cutting for India. Did you know, Fronx and Jimny doesn't even have load sensors for rear seats? The seat belts have to be buckled in at all time or else they keep beeping. And that's done by Maruti, India's favorite company.
I personally feel that this C3 AirCross will really go
Cannot deny that it lacks all the features people are looking for in a car these days. Only one plus point: looks better than any Hyundai out there!
Yes definitely. It looks stunning especially in that blue shade
Looks are one's personal perspective, ain't it?
@@eniyan100no they think if they dnt like Hyundai design like new Verna, creta than noone would like design it's worst design ... basically hater
@@nkj9683Ayo, don't generalize! I absolutely love the new Verna! Even the Exter looks nice.
But I'll admit, I'd buy the Aircross simply because I'm a function-over-form kind of guy!
Not everyone is looking for features, only people who go to office everyday
I am definitely going for this car because of the engine, power, mileage, space, and ground clearance. Actually this car looks so clean and elegant if you drive it will definitely attract those who are car lovers rather than a mobile phone lover. Why I am mentioning mobile here because I phone for example doesn’t have that features offered by Android but still people buy it because of it’s unique features and privacy as compared to Android. It is just an example to make things clear if you are buying a car go buy a car not a mobile feature loaded car but in the end it is up to the mass to decide as per their demands. But as per my opinion this car is a fit for daily drive and highway drive.
Same here bro
The looks and the dynamics of this car are it's pros, hope with the next upgrade they tweak the interior quality and add some features atleast to counter it's rivals.
Indian education system.....made people realize if things are not overpriced then its not going to get respect.
Same happened with nano 😅
Boss, please drive the car before commenting. They are giving you a solid build quality, good suspension, which is the most important. Not some thin soap boxes with useless electronics and leaky sunroof.
Looks good on the outside, quite practical and spacious cabin with the flexibility of 5+2 seating, fun to drive, brilliant ride quality and has all the basic features covered. It all comes down to how Citroen prices it. If they price it on par with the compact crossovers like Creta, Taigun etc, i fear it might be dead on arrival. If they can price it between 11-13 lakhs, it will be able to attract customers from the sub compact crossover segment due to its ride quality and 5+2 seater capability. I have a feeling that Citroen will launch a better equipped variant in the near future. The did the same thing for the C3 as well.
Citroen has surely engaged a really good engine in the Aircross. People looking for features may avoid it, but it's a really good-looking car...
Must say at 12 lakhs this is excellent value for what it offers
Renault Triber very good budget 7 seater car in INDIA 😍👍
This car deserve segment of Triber and Eeco van not creta rival. 2012 model in 2023. Well done citron. 🎉
Just adding an LED projector headlamp can do wonders for its front looks. Not sure how can Citroen ignore such an important factor. Halogen reflector is okay for an SPresso may be.
While people will qualm about "premium features", for a enthusiastic driver this is one of the best engines to rev and with a great suspension setup it got the basics right. I really don't care about auto headlights and sunroof or wireless charging. Novelty doesn't matter. The only things I would have liked are rear seat airbags and cruise control. Otherwise it's a beautiful car and if they price it around 10-12 lakhs we've got a great option to consider specially with 7seats.
100% agree. Fancy features removed for cost benefit is a good tactic. While automatic gets released soon, just wish they had more airbags.
Agreed. Ye keyboard warriors just want a big feature list.. and then never or seldom use the sunroof, wireless charging falana dhimka. Give me a solod basic car baaki sab aftermarket laga sakte hai.
I have already booked PUNCH CNG .. But .. I wait this car only declare price .. And .. if 10-11 l on road this SUV Price than I will buy .... Second ... When U need more Luxury Features .. Than .. U need to ready to pay more Price .... If this SUV Under 11 lac than .... Many Micro SUV buyers think that this SUV more Spacious and Perfect for their Budget.
Ventilated seats is premium?
Citroen has sorted out the performance aspects very well, they just need to work on featrues and after sales servicing now
If the pricing hits right, the engine , Suspension and looks will sell the car ❤
Right pricing is 10lakh on road for this.
Very unlikely. God knows how many other lower variants they have because this looks like a base model for me. No one will pay more than 11 lakh for this car.
If they price it at 10.5 Ex they have loads of sales and the customer service / mfg is not upto the mark. If they price it at 15.00 they sell very few units and lose the market. It has to hit 11-12 Ex showroom and they sell units they can manage. Then get the Automatic (hopefully some one sells them a cheaper unit because Hyundai wont) with LED headlights and cruise control at 14.5 ex showroom.
If they go in any other direction they are only delaying their growth for some reason unknown.
Agreed they cant get a 4x4 as Jeep is their own brand. But they should try to plough through the Koreans as the suspension on that car is truly amazing.
In India, the showy features are given more preference than just getting the basics right, by the consumers. Best eg - Ford. So it's hard to agree that this will sell superbly in India.
Absolutely love it - old school stuff which is robust, beautiful suspension like duster, drives like it and good boot space and mileage good looking - On top of it price and discounts super
What's the manufacturer thinking about the Indian market actually? Missing on safety features and giving substandard finish compared to the competitors.
Blame it on heavy taxes. A whopping 43% tax manufacturers need to pay to government on every unit. Not just that, then consumers need to pay high road tax to get the car registered, heavy taxes on fuel, of course we also pay income tax and they won’t stop at that but also need to pay high toll tax for better roads. 😰
@@Aniruddhmno it's not. There are more succesful car brands which are safer and give more features than Citroen. They also pay the same amount of tax. I agree with rest of your points. Govt needs to be more accountable on road development and infrastructure.
@@kooler999ify highest seller in this segment is Creta(which i own) do you really think it is well built and “safe”? No it isn’t same goes for Seltos. Can’t say much about Grand Vitara because it is yet to go through safety test.
@@Aniruddhmand Hyundai, Mahindra, Tata, VW don't have to give taxes? They are giving much better products than this trash.
@@Aniruddhm Citroen c3 has 0 star ncap. What's your point? Kia/Hyundai gives average safety with good features at a nominal price, citreon c3 offers 0 safety, poor features at the same price. What role does govt play here? Plz explain
The engine and quality drive offered by Citroen cannot be compared with other cars in this segment.
Good competition for grand vitara base model. Maruti should add 2 small seats at the back for grand vitara. Even 2 small kids can seat there. Nice concept from Citroen. 5/7 seater convertible.! I am sure this call will make a good sale..
The SUV has value for money. Driving is comfortable. People want to save few lakhs and compare with features in Creta. Great!!
This car looks like a Triber alternative, so it should be priced in that range as well. If they price it around 12 lakhs for the seven seater version, it will sell like hot cakes.
Agree.. But this is more powerful.. Triber coomes with non turbo engine
This is longer than 4m in length, the additional taxes on that bit alone will make it expensive than the Triber, this one even gets a turbo engine.
Honestly this should be priced at par or at a slight premium over the likes of Ertiga, XL6 and base spec Carens
@@novjose Triber maxed out at 10 lakhs on road. So 2 lakh extra for the 1.2l turbo and extended length is fine I guess.
2 Days back I have been to Citroen showroom for Aircross test drive. Vehicle is good In terms of power, torque, suspension, smooth steering, turning radius. However, I feel that Citroen has launched a vehicle which was suppose to be launched 15 years back. This vehicle lacks a lot many features which a normal hatchback gets these days. For 14.5 L on road in pune, this vehicle is definitely behind time in current competitive market like india.
I’d rather buy a car with its fundamentals right than a tin can with features loaded. Seems I’m an outlier. The thing with Indians is we are spoiled for getting things at cheap dumped Chinese in every other segments that we expect the same in automobile too. Give me engine, suspension, ride quality but also give me 100 features loaded but don’t price it above 12 lacs is typical Indian consumer mindset. That’s not how European car makers operate bhai 😂😂
PS: I’d buy Citroen buy bcoz they continue to get their fundamentals right for a ‘CAR’.
One would think that citreon learnt from their mistake once but soon they decide to make the same mistake at a grander scale. Lol
From outside, this looks way better than my Kia Carens
1 gearbox, 1engine option and 1 variant. Wow, what a move by Citroen 😂
but automatic transmission are coming soon accordingly for now at launch is only available with a manual transmission
If the top model is priced above 12L, it doesn't make sense....blindly Go for kia carens 2nd base variant as it offers better features at same price point.....
@@THUGPUTINI have test driven C3 and Sonet. The Citroën’s engine is way beyond comparison than the competitors. Sadly, the brand is also not concerned about the safety of Indians 😢
@@aimanfitri0ivtoo late, they have missed the initial hype and enthusiasm that comes with a new product launch. There is a reason most manufacturers put their top end models in displays and reviews. By the time Automatic launches, people would have forgotten about this citroen. It's a dead on arrival product unless they do some magic with the pricing, which is unlikely.
@@MrNikrulesu well it's okay this is the only chance otherwise it will leave indian market altogether 🤷
Looks really good, great proportions definitely considering it🎉
Climatronic AC, Auto Dimming IRVM, Foldable key, Automatic transmission variant is mandatory for this brand to make a mark at this price point.
Citroen is hitting all the positives and missing out on these basic features is totally detrimental for their market share.
Those are not basic features ,Good ride quality,suspension ,steering ,safety etc are basic features ,Indians don’t like hose we like high end features like Orvm ,auto headlights etc wtc
This is a car. Good drive, good dynamics, no sunroof, 6 speed, 7 seats. I am sold! Liking a car after my current i10 diesel 2017.
A fresh and premium looking Car with superb ride quality. Around 10L its amazing compared to competetors.👍👍
Mid size segments have much to offer and citron has lost that idea of launching with other gear box and other engine options like the rivals r offering ....
well as of now at launch it is only available in one engine and one transmission it's a 1.2 litre turbo petrol with a six-speed manual (automatic transmission coming soon)
It's disappointing to see a huge carmaker like Citroen pay so little attention to the Indian car market. It lacks almost all the features that are considered basic, or at least standard, among competitors.
I think all the basic features that a good car must have are available in this car. The things that matter the most in car are the good look, good engine & comfort & certainly Citroen C3 aircross qualify in all aspects. The desired features in a car are subjective. For some buyers even the sunroof is an essential features but for many it's not! Also all features are comes with a cost!
Must say Best looking car
Very very good build quality car. The European design and quality at the best. Very very practical good bold looking suv. Good job Citroen. Compared to tin can with loads of features, this car is far better.
I think they will come up with additional vairants which should fill in the missing features which competition is offering
Excellent Review.Hope Citroen succeeds with this iteration of the Aircross.
i hope so it's the most awaited car at the moment it looks beautiful after the launch of the c3 the c3 aircross is no exception 😊💖😄
Without proper Door handles, led headlight and automatic AC, this doesn't make sense... This is basic features and they don't need to manufacture these thing as we have plenty of suppliers here in India... This is also manufactured in jeep production plant...
@@aimanfitri0iv 🙏
@@THUGPUTIN 👍
@@reju8433 🙏☺️🤗😊💖
This car's second version would be perfect because the fundamentals are right.
This car feels more like a competition to the MS Ertiga and XL6 but no wonder this isn’t as comfortable and would be priced more while also lacking some basic features.
I wonder why they are skimping out on basic features that we take for granted these days . Dynamics are sorted but the lack of features is a big negative.
Bhai see the price also
Exactly, they didn't learn from C3 failure which mostly was because of missing out on must have features.
Everyone who's saying price bhi toh dekho, kya Citroen variants nahi nikal sakti hai to cater to different price budgets. Ek hi variant hai. To showcase their best at launch,USP being ride n handling,is what creates an interest among potential customers. Every review is about the lack of features , and genuinely so, which kind of creates a lack of interest among potential customers in this product.
Some people don't need those features, I'm happy with what Citroen is offering if it passes the price benefit of unwanted features to me. ❤
My gripes :
1) Weird power window switch placement reeks of extreme cost cutting, belongs to something from the bare entry segment, not this segment.
2) Poor LatinNCAP crash test ratings (0 stars) for the same platform C3. Citroen seems to have cut corners at the wrong places.
The expected price would likely be very close to Brezza VXi/Grand Vitara Sigma..which make a good case for themselves.
Auto car you really need to stop making statements like cheap and old school without also telling us why you think it’s wrong!! It’s functional and it’s priced for a certain type of buyer!
It looks like Citroen is trying really hard to make a place into our indian market but I'm afraid it's on the same path as fiat, ford, or Chevrolet.. They really need to hire someone at the top who understands our needs.. As an Indian I can say we don't mind paying a bit more if the quality is top notch
if only one variant then it must be priced below 11 lakhs to garner some booking and sales. kushaq and taigun also have good engine like c3 but the base model of those has almost equivalent features like c3 and they starts at 11.60. C3 being new company and not having good safety rating must price aggressive. i hear reviewers giving c3 a cushion of 13 lakh but at that price its a dead on arrival.
Kushak and Taigun worth that 60k difference, only disadvantage with VW twin is 1L engine in city traffic, I don't see any reason people looking for basics not going for VW twin for 60k, at least 1.25L should be the difference for 5 seater to compete with Kushaq.
Disappointed with features…
At least they should have basic features like Dedicated Power window button at rear, Projector lead lamps, cruise control, start stop button, Automatic AC, retractable side mirror.
These are practical features I don’t haven’t given it. I was planning to purchase this car but features 😓
Automotive industry in india is flexing so much ... Its great to see these many launchs ..
What they needed was to study the Indian market for at least another year and create a car which is relevant to us, you can’t get away with this feature list in india
Less of features but Ride quality and performance is super
It can thrive ... it's practical to a small budget pocket
Citroen is confused. Those old world door handles and key can be an instant deal breaker for many. But if engine is good and priced right, they could sell atleast 2000 per month. But people don't know about Citroen , so it looks very difficult to achieve. They have to advertise their brand with a movie star for a long period to establish themselves.
Superb review and what a nice car the C3 Aircross is. I am very happy that it will be introduced in a little different form to Europe.
The only features missing according to me are 6 airbags & cruise control. Other features are just good for a year or two and then will rarely be used again. If a car is strong on its fundamentals like ride quality, safety, performance & is priced well then i'm happy to skip some aspirational features. I'm impressed by this car and it can be the perfect 7 str car for middle class buyers.
Completely agree!
Perfect vehicle for me..i dont need great features. Just a reliable engine and good driving dynamics. Fancy features actually not needed for a good drive
Autocar channel is one of the my favourite channel 🎉
after the launch of the c3 way back months ago i think but finally the aircross variant is here to be honest it looks beautiful though 😊🤗😄💖
AND SAME DOOR HANDLES THAT WE USED TO HAVE 2 DECADES BACK
@@debasishpadhi1837 well this is only cons of this vehicle but other than that it's okay enough
Car is definitely good. It shouts French / European car from interior and exterior. Electronic features and smart features are not that popular in France. Luxury and premium does not always mean electronics. It’s a basic well build suv car.
@autocar loved the Thumbnail ✌️
Whenever I look at a Citroen, I feel those 'Suzuki Cheap' vibes.
So basically what I understand is your worst criticism about the car is the key 😅 Its a nice car for the price at which it comes in. It ticks all the check marks that a comfortable car can provide.
Bruh, wasn't there a bigger car called C5 Aircross?!
Why don’t Car Companies announce the price at the launch itself!? They ought to be very precise if they want people to wait for your products.
Excellent ride quality, Refined engine and good looks....nothing else is good in it.
Good car with unique design, bored with regular design cars creta, seltos, elevate and brezza. And special feature like 7 seater with removable 😍 and turbo petrol engine with less price
Looks cool though... It will hit bullseye 🎯 for Citroen India, lacks some key features and safety thats not entertaining much. But gonna get Citroen name to a level with this model.🎉
I don't see it becoming very popular. It's practical, that anybody would admit, but if it's priced too steep, only a few will sell.
I would buy it, since I have a very large family. Plus, those rear seats can be re-purposed for immense luggage room - which is a big deal for people who change houses or party or any such purpose frequently.
@@Farhan_049 pricing is the Trumpcard here, but if u willing to buy it goes same with others too.... There are people who want good looking, better engine, value proposition cars
With this kind of product packaging, Citroën may very well pack their bags and leave India. They are light years away from consumer priorities in the Indian market.
That said, I really like how it looks on the outside and also find the quirkiness of the dash attractive.
Much awaited❤
it is some people are already waiting for this 😊😄
Competition for ertiga, xl7 and triber.... Nothing else
Looks good
Brilliant drive quality
Who added this very hotel/restaurant like background music to the video and why😟🤷🏻♂️ was there any necessity of it?
Those door handles and the rear powered window button placed in the middle is early 2000s stuff..and the key twisting start stop system would have been acceptable if it was an Alto or Celerio price range Car..Also added with the one transmission one engine approach is going to cost them dearly..Citroen will be soon leaving india if this is their approach..Learn from the Korean twins to understand the indian market..
I wouldn’t pay more than 13.5 to 14 lakes for this. I don’t mind the lack of gimmicks. But the finish is just drab and very budgety. It feels less premium than even a Nexon. They could’ve worked on the interior plastic textures at least.
is it front or rear wheel drive?
The management of the company is still clueless about the features to be incorporated to sell a car India. I don't no why?
Its a typical French offering like Renault's Duster. Very functional with great ride quality, but missing out on features which are the norm now. No projector/ LED headlamps, and those cheap door handles in this day and age are deal breakers! It misses on the WOW factor!
after price cuts and ride quality it has to offer it's really seems like a value for money🎉
Apart from the touchscreen this car looks its from the 90s with its suprising lack of basic features, not having auto folding mirrors in a car of this segment in 2023 is CRIMINAL
Best small displacement petrol engine in the industry, as per the reviewer opinion.
No rear center seat belt? Isn't it suppose to be compulsory? How difficult it is to put a seat belt there?
Certainly looks quiet beautiful in this colour
Most of the people who are price sensitive don't know about this Citroen brand . People who knows about this company are mostly from upper income class and they want all features which gives premium feel
So my suggestion dont make strategy of cheap car
Real car for the real men out there
Great looking car with excellent features
Lovely vehicle
French quirkiness!! Launching a model with outdated features like bringing a knife to a gun fight. Only positive is the seat and ride comfort. Not even a rear Aircon which is common in hatchback these days.
Without aggressive pricing, this car doesn't have any chance. Citroen has brought in a basic model that seems to have come from 2 or 3 generations behind. I scoffed at the key slot on the driver door - Maruti 800's and Omni's used to have them back in their day. No sunroof (at a time when the panoramic sunroof is the norm), providing a mobile holder without a grippy surface, no ADAS or connected tech, and a dull dashboard make this a third world car.
If they add Automatic transmission, electric ORVM and IRVM this is good enough for most people. Seems like a very practical car otherwise. They keep making odd choices with their cars. These cars could be doing so much better in terms of sales but its not thanks to their feature selection.
Good for fleet segment
What about safety rating?
Would like to know how it performs at full capacity , 7 people sitting, speed, suspension
Considering the competition and only one variant to be offered. Citroen should have provided Cruise control & auto folding mirrors as standard.
car looks is amazing ❤
Thanks!
Is C3 Aircross Max 5+2 value for money pack SUV which cost arround 13.5L?
There are many mix reviews for this product related to plastic quality, crash worthiness,material quality ...etc ,
But I love it's looks, ride comfort, 5+2 option
Or please suggest any other valuable SUV under 13.5L on road , petrol, MT . For half highway and half ruller area drive
Better than other rivals of its segment with the engine technology and the cushioned suspension
I like the car. I will buy it. It shouldn't be long for the missing accessories to be available in the after market.
As long as Citroen keeps the price of this vehicle in check, it will be an enthusiasts dream car to get it accessorise at his choice a la a gypsy.
For 10Lakh rupees, ex showroom, they are giving the best suspension in class, a great engine with very good fuel economy, great handling, great build quality and good driving experience with 7 seats and practicality with arguably highest ground clearance in the segment. But its not a good car as it doesn't have a 2000rs sun blind or cheap Chinese gimmicky features that other cars have which we can show our relative and neighbours. A top notch suspension worth lakhs of rupees is of less importance to Indians than that ventilated seats which help in the first 2 mins of switching on the AC. If Citroen made a cheaply made chinese goodies filled average car full of shiny stuff Indians would have bought it like hot cake. There is a reason that in india car reviews, the car doesn't even move in the first 60% of the video. Its just a mobile phone review.
Very true! The driving experience from behind the wheel and then the suspension setup is something one needs to experience in person. It's in a different league in comparison to kias seltos or carens.
What's the NCAP safety rating?