Funky Citroen hits right notes

WELCOME to the Citroen C3 Aircross. Looks rather snazzy, doesn’t it?

This new SUV in Citroen’s range effectively replaces the C3 Picasso, which is a great pity because practical non-crossovers like the Picasso are getting thin on the roads these days as everyone from Ford to Rolls-royce is busily churning out SUVS.

But moan over, it’s off to Corsica where miles and miles of mountain roads are populated by cyclists and journalists driving new Citroens. Roads that would be amazing in a Lotus but slightly wasted on a crossover. Especially one that is only average to drive.

The Aircross has no glaring faults. It steers well enough and handles safely but doesn’t have much spirit. What it does do is deal with bumps well. Citroen has declared that it is focusing its efforts on producing comfortable cars rather than sporty ones.

I applaud that and hope the engineers go further and use modern technology to make modern Citroens ride as comfortably as classic French cars from the 60s and 70s.

The Aircross range starts at

£13,105 for the entry level Touch with its 80bhp petrol engine. But Citroen expects customers to shun the cheapo models for higher-spec cars, so we’re testing the top-level Flair fitted with a

130bhp petrol engine and sixspeed manual gearbox – yours for £18,400.

Flair spec brings with it a lot of standard equipment and also rear seats that can be slid forwards to

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