Citro?n C3 Aircross: All Style, No Substance

Since the C5 Aircross' launch and the brand's formal introduction to the Indian market, Citro?n's journey in India so far hasn't covered a lot of ground. The carmaker did launch the C3 hatchback last year, and then followed up with an electric variant 6 months later, as well as a facelift for the C5 Aircross, but even then their sales volumes aren't anything to write home about. Now, the brand is gearing up for their fifth India launch - the C3 Aircross.

By now, it's evident that Citro?n have caught on with the gargantuan SUV craze in the Indian market, so it's no small wonder that the C3 Aircross goes up against established titans such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. However, the segment is densely populated with offerings from longstanding manufacturers, so how does a brand-new entrant like Citro?n differentiate themselves from the herd? The answer is a 5+2 seating layout in addition to the standard 5-seater variant, which is a segment-first feature, as well as customisation options for the exterior. The 5-seater gets a large 444 L boot and the 7-seater gets an even larger 511 L boot (with the seats folded down, of course). And of course, Citro?n also promises an outstanding driving experience and exceptionally comfortable suspension setup. All of this combined with the chic, authentically French styling sounds like a compelling package, but it's only when you go a bit deeper when the C3 Aircross' glaring shortcomings come into plain view.

First up, the engine options, or more accurately, the lack of them. The C3 Aircross is built on the same platform as the C3 hatchback, which means you get the same 1.2L turbo-petrol developing 110 hp and 190 Nm of torque. Even if you can make an exception for the engine as it's tractable and efficient, what makes it worse is that there will be no automatic option available at launch, only a 6-speed manual. Compared to the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos which offer 3 engines (petrol and diesel) and 3 transmissions with a smorgasbord of mix-and-match variants, the C3 Aircross takes quite a huge blow in this regard. Not to mention that when Citro?n does make the automatic transmission available, it will be a rather basic 6-speed torque converter, which is a far cry from the snappy 7-speed DCTs that have become popular among buyers.

One thing to note, though, is that just like the C3 hatchback, an electric-powered Aircross will also be launched a few months after the ICE version. However, EVs are still a long way to go from being favoured over traditional engines, and overall, the lack of choice in powertrains will certainly play to the detriment of the C3 Aircross.

However, the biggest drawback of the C3 Aircross is undoubtedly the barren feature list. Features that have been commonplace in competitors for years now such as ventilated seats, wireless charging, a sunroof, heads-up display, ADAS, etc are all missing on the C3 Aircross, but the most egregious omission by far is the lack of automatic climate control. My 15 and a half year-old Suzuki SX4 has automatic climate control! I was puzzled when Citro?n didn't offer this basic feature on the C3 hatchback and chalked it up to cost-cutting for a competitive price, but I'm simply baffled that they still didn't bother to include it in their first offering in the most competitive segment of the market. The only new feature they've added over the C3 hatchback is electric adjustment for the ORVMs. Expect a fairly thin product pamphlet in dealerships.

Interior quality is very middling. It's pretty much the same interior from the C3 hatchback, with different colours and textures in various places. The leatherette upholstery is a welcome touch, but hard plastics are still take up most of the cabin, particularly on the top of the dashboard and the AC control knobs, which dulls the impact of the unique aesthetic Citro?n is trying to present.

Every Citro?n car released in India so far has been plagued by a lagging feature set - even their range-topping C5 Aircross which goes up against the Hyundai Tucson, but misses out on ADAS, ventilated seats, smart car features, ambient lighting, rear cupholders, and more. There is no doubt in my mind that Citro?n make supremely comfortable cars that drive and ride wonderfully, but they need to prioritise value-for-money over simply going to any extent to undercut their rivals. A good selection of features is crucial for the mid-size SUV segment, where most buyers gravitate towards more expensive, loaded variants. The most popular variants of the Creta are the topmost SX and SX(O), which means that if the features on offer are compelling, buyers will indeed spend extra for them.

Thankfully, in an interview with Autocar India, Citro?n CEO Thierry Koskas did acknowledge that their start in India has been slow, with only 9000+ cumulative units being sold across the whole brand, but their strategy will keep evolving from the experience they gain in the market, and that they intend to stay the course and keep launching new models. It's great to see a newcomer brand this committed to the market, and I sincerely hope Citro?n can become a mainstream name in the near future.