A Bit of French Flair
By Anton Willemse Jnr
The French have always done everything a bit different. From food to architecture and even cars. As a result, the French brands have always had an uphill battle to find a strong foothold in the South African market. Citroën is no exception – in fact, they exited the market back in 2016 but returned in 2019 with the introduction of the Citroën C3 and the C3 Aircross.
Originally the C3 Aircross was aimed at the small SUV market, competing for attention in a fairly saturated market with the likes of the Toyota Rav4, Mazda CX 5 and Peugeot 3008. However, arriving in our test garage my first impression was that it’s another crossover, something more like a Toyota Urban Cruiser, Nissan Magnite or the Kia Sonet. This means that the Citoënn C3 Aircross was probably one of the first vehicles on the South African market to spot the cross over trend.
The C3 Aircross is based on the same architecture as the hatch variant; however, it offers a longer wheelbase and a 20mm higher ride than the hatch variant. It’s precisely the higher ride height and an improved wheelbase that gives the Aircross a strong SUV stance. The one thing that sets the C3 Aircross apart from the rest of the pack is its styling. The styling is proper French and quirky, which means you either love it or hate it. I love it. The styling sets it aside and sets it aside from all the other crossovers in the market. It has a lot of design features that make it unique. I’m especially fond of the side profile and the rear, blending classic French design and modern quirkiness perfectly. You can tell that the designer poured some passion and individuality into the design, and as a result, it stands out.
The interior, on the other hand, isn’t as lovely and quirky. It feels dated compared to its younger counterparts – it is, however, well-specced for the price bracket. The seating, in particular, is exceptionally comfortable. They feel wide and soft, kind of like a trusty lazy boy at your house. The driver seat even has an armrest to allow for maximum comfort. The infotainment system also has Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility, which work through a USB port in the front. The infotainment, incidentally, is the other gripe I have the interior. It follows that irritating new trend of cramming all the vehicle settings within the infotainment system, including the controls of something as elemental as the air-con and I am not a fan of scrolling through sub-menus to adjust the temperature or fan speed. How difficult can it be just to fit conventional buttons or knobs? Additionally, the infotainment system is a bit confusing to operate and sometimes really inconstant regarding Bluetooth connectivity. It would sometimes just not work.
The improved long wheel translates into more passenger and storage space. The loading bay also has a claimed 410-litre storage capacity. If you need more space, the higher-spec offers railed rear seats, which can produce an additional 110 litres of freedom once you move the seats forward. This compact crossover doesn’t feel compact at all – the clever usage of space and the highly comfortable seats makes the Citroën feel spacious and large despite its compact stature.
As for performance, the C3 Aircross can hold its own compared to its counterparts, thanks to a nippy 1.2-litre 3-cylinder turbo engine underneath the bonnet. This powertrain develops an adequate 81kW of power and 205Nm of torque – however, the gearbox pairing is the most enjoyable part of this vehicle. Unlike most Crossover, this one doesn’t have a CVT option but a traditional 6-speed automatic. This gearbox is a big reason I enjoyed this car as much as I did. I must admit it isn’t perfect; quick throttle shifts can catch it out a bit, but it isn’t as bad as the dreadful rubber-band effect you’ll encounter while driving a CVT. Citroën claims the fuel economy to be a fairly frugal 6.5 litres/100km, but during my city commuting I could only get it down to 7.5 litres/100km.
In conclusion
I loved the different and quirky nature of this Citroë. It feels like a fresh and contemporary take on the compact Crossover despite being one of the first to hit the South-African market way back in 2019.
The improved wheelbase length and higher ride height give it SUV feel, and the comfortable seating and clever usage of space make the AIrcross practical and comfortable. The infotainment system is lacking, but thanks to Apple Carplay and Android Auto, it’s not too much of an issue. Still, I would love that trend of putting aircon functions within sub-menus to stop – #MakeAirconAnalogAgain.
Models and pricing
- ▪Citroën C3 Aircross SUV Feel: R401 900
- ▪Citroën C3 Aircross SUV Shine: R424 900
