Updated, but is it any better?

Family-focused crossover is given a new look, extra space and an upgraded interior

The C3 Aircross is an important car for Citroën, third only in sales terms to the C5 Aircross and C3, so its mid-life refresh for 2021 has bigger implications than its slightly more chiselled front end and revamped options list would imply.

New for 2021 are more than 70 colour combinations, standard LED headlights, added storage capacity, plush Advanced Comfort seats and a larger infotainment touchscreen.

While some 4% of buyers still go for the diesel, it’s the 108bhp 1.2-litre petrol that will take the bulk of sales.

It’s a characteristically thrummy turbo three-pot, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, and it provides a good turn of pace when put to work. It’s not nippy or malleable like a Ford Ecoboost or Volkswagen TSI, but it’s reassuringly grunty off the mark and energetic enough in its mid-range.

It’s also not a motor that rewards liberal use of the accelerator, but it manages to go big on fuel economy (it officially achieves 47.1mpg here) without sacrificing too much zing.

A more powerful (128bhp) yet barely less efficient version is on offer, but it’s paired exclusively with a sixspeed automatic that’s dim-witted enough to make even the numb and inexplicably square-knobbed manual feel almost tactile.

By its own admission, Citroën doesn’t make cars to go round corners quickly, and nowhere is that more obvious than at the helm of the C3 Aircross. It tips into turns with wilful abandon, making repeated quick cornering a near-nauseating experience. Yet that wallowiness doesn’t translate into a neatly cushioned ride, with potholes and expansion joints sending a jolt through the seats and steering.

Where the C3 Aircross does shine is in its impressive packaging and welcoming ambience. The rear bench slides, reclines and folds f lat, while the flat roofline makes for excellent rear head room and cargo capacity. Unusually, the front passenger seat folds flat too, while a wealth of large cubbies are dotted around the cabin.

Perhaps, when all is said and done, the C3 Aircross’s appeal stems from it undercutting rivals at the till while just about edging them for utility.