Citroen gets personal with C3 Aircross

IMAGINE being able to personalise your compact SUV so that it stands out from the crowd. Well, that’s exactly what the all-new Citroen C3 Aircross can do.

Yes, it’s yet another compact SUV in an already packed sector but it supersedes the somewhat dated C3 Picasso model and offers a vibrant, bright and feature-rich option.

Priced from £13,999, there are three trim levels, called Touch, Feel and Flair. In addition, there are six powertrains – four petrol and two diesel – with carbon emissions from as low as 104g/km.

But it’s the fabulous range of colours along with mix-and-match options that are the real story.

There are eight body colours, three roof shades and four colour packs that introduce lots of snazzy trim.

In fact, there are 85 different colour combinations and that’s before you venture inside, where there is one standard trim with four colour options.

Citroen proudly claims the C3 Aircross delivers the best of both worlds – it’s an SUV on the outside, with a punchy, eye-catching design, yet it offers all the versatility and practicality of an MPV on the inside.

Design cues include 16in or 17in wheels, moulded wheel arches, robust bumpers, a skid plate, a floating roof, roof bars, 3D-effect rear lights and an expressive front end with two-tiered lighting, including LED daytime-running lights.

There is a bright vibe to the interior too, with a clutter-free cabin boasting plenty of techno treats and an ultramodern appearance.

We tried out two models – one petrol and one diesel – and they each showed their own individual character.

First up was the 1.2-litre, threecylinder petrol model in Feel grade with stop/start priced at £16,200 (£19,120 with options fitted).

This car could sprint from 0-62mph in 11.3 seconds, maxed out at 115mph and can deliver combined fuel economy of 56.5mpg with carbon emissions of 115g/km.

The road-holding was excellent and the steering precise with ample driver feedback. The car can be thrown into bends with a degree of confidence and it has to be driven fairly hard before any engine or road surface noise becomes an issue. Next up was the 1.6-diesel 120ps diesel model in rangetopping Flair trim with sixspeed manual gearbox. This car started at £19,720, but a few options bumped the cost up to £22,690. It could sprint to 62mph in 10.7 seconds and maxed out at 114mph. It can achieve combined fuel efficiency of 68.9mpg with CO2 emissions of 107g/km. Once again the C3 Aircross was great fun to drive and coped with a variety of roads. It was comfortable at motorway speeds and beautifully nimble in busy town centres. All in all this is a great contender in a sector bursting with choice.