The look, pricing, and interior of the Citroen C3 Aircross are broadly appealing.
And there’s no doubt that it’s a practical little SUV that has plenty of room for an active family lifestyle.
It’s a car that also appeals to individualists thanks to the many personalization options available.
However, there are many vehicles in this class that offer more responsive drivetrain, although it is only fair to point out that the vehicle is not aimed at those who have dynamic handling and a smooth transmission high on their priority list.
The C3 Aircross recently received a facelift and the results are encouraging.
Most noticeable are the design changes at the front, the vehicle now has a very distinctive and contemporary face
There’s a redesigned lower apron that now has a larger air intake as well as a sharper and wider front grille. There is also a more aggressive front bash plate.
The C3’s split headlights are still a unique selling point, although the lower lights are now thinner than on their square predecessors.
It’s a nice looking car and the finishing touches to this version were given by 17 ”’Origami’ Diamond Cut Alloys.
If it’s really something different, there are no fewer than 70 contrasting roof and body paint combinations to choose from, after adding seven new shades to the color palette.
The combination of gray body, white roof and black window frames worked well on the test car.
The interior has also been tweaked and upgraded to offer improved practicality and sophistication.
The dashboard is nicely designed and benefits from some plush materials.
There’s a nice, raised riding position and plenty of space in the front and back. A sliding back seat allows you to prioritize the trunk or the passenger compartment. That means you get a potential 520 liters of trunk space, which makes the C3 Aircross a very versatile machine.
The Advance Comfort seats on this model also add extra sophistication.
This top trim test car from Shine Plus was equipped with the new nine inch infotainment system which is a very user friendly part and a clear improvement.
Under the bonnet, the power comes from a supercharged 1.2-liter petrol engine, which has an output of 110 hp and pulls in well even in the low speed range.
It’s also smooth and quiet, though you need to drive with restraint to get much more than 30 mpg out of a variety of real-world driving conditions.
When setting up the vehicle, the focus was more on comfortable driving at lower speeds than on a sporty drive on the open road.
This means that driving fast on hilly B-roads is not a pleasant experience.
Due to the soft suspension, there is a good body support in curves and a sometimes somewhat floating driving experience.
Steering is on the light side too, which means there is a sense of distance between the tire and the steering wheel.
If you spend most of your time in town, on the way to school or in the shops, you won’t be bothered in the slightest.
It’s worth noting that the manual gearbox isn’t the gentlest either, and doesn’t like to rush.
In conclusion, the appearance, price, pleasant interior, and engine are all items in the plus box, but the car’s inability to provide a smooth ride on varied B-roads is a downside.
The low point
Citroen C3 Aircross Shine Plus PureTech 110
ENGINE: 1199 cc, 3-cylinder, turbo gasoline
PRICE: £ 21,500
WARRANTY: 3 years or 60,000 miles
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 114 mph 0-62 mph in 10.1 seconds.
ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY: 41.6 – 51.5 mpg, 134 – 154 g / km
