A classic in the making
CITRoen’S original family utility car — the legendary 2CV — was designed to be a simple, low-cost vehicle that would carry a farmer, his wife, two children and a basket of eggs across a ploughed field.
War broke out just as the prototype was about to be unveiled in September 1939 — so they buried it ahead of the invading Germans, and only dug it out again after France was liberated by the Allies, putting it on display at the 1948 paris Motor Show, when it became an international hit.
Citroen’s new C3 Aircross could make a fair claim to being its 21st-century spiritual heir.
It’s a fun, practical but quirky, family-oriented, small SuV that is tastefully furnished inside and out. It stands out from the crowd and is on sale now from £13,995 to £19,720, with first deliveries from november.
I drove it this week on and off-road across the island of Corsica, napoleon Bonaparte’s birthplace. It has real character and lives up to its three trim levels: Touch, Feel and Flair.
It has chunky exterior styling with splashes of colour and fabric interiors that wouldn’t look out of place in a furniture store. The 7 in dashboard touchscreen controls everything from satnav to air-con and music.
Riding on 16 or 17in alloys, it’s not a full-blooded off-roader, but perfectly adequate on steep, rutted, muddy tracks.
I drove a sprightly 1.2-litre three-cylinder 110bhp model with six-speed automatic transmission that promises 50.4 mpg, rest to 62 mph in 11.2 seconds, a top speed of 114mph and Co2 emissions of 126 g/km.
The 1.6-litre six-speed manual diesel 120 bhp was meatier, while averaging 68.9 mpg and Co2 emissions of 109 g/km. Top speed is 114 mph, with rest to 62 mph in 10.7 seconds. All in all, a worthy successor to the iconic 2CV.