Citroen C3 Aircross – capable nice guy

Is there currently an automobile manufacturer that does not offer an SUV or at least a crossover? Some car companies are even replacing models that used to be basic classes of cars with them. Citroen is not behind in this fashion trend and offers the C3 Aircross. We are testing it in the middle BEST OF FEEL equipment and 1.2 PureTech engine with automatic transmission.

Citroen has always produced cars that were different from others. Specific technical solutions such as hydropneumatic suspension are already a thing of the past, but the design of their models remains distinctive. It is he who ensures that the models of this traditional French brand cannot be confused with any others.

 From the outside

When shaping the exterior design of the C3 Aircross, Citroen went against the grain. He did not follow the current trend full of angular, sporty and aggressive elements, on the contrary, he chose shapes full of curves and gentle transitions from one part of the body to another. It's hard to find a single edge or sharper finish on this car.

From the front, the high-positioned, narrow LED daytime running lights connected by chrome strips forming the car company's emblem stare at you a little sternly. Above them, a wavy hood stands out to the sides. The function of main lights is taken over by large reflectors filling the sides of the front bumper. The black grille and decorative underbody protection emphasize the massiveness of the front part of the car.

On the side, the clear wrapping of the fenders stands out. The lower part of the door received less unpainted plastic, and thus the 175 mm clearance visually disappears. Nice 16" wheel discs (with 205/60 R16 tires) are located almost in the corners of the body and fit the character of the car perfectly. I like the rear part of the car the most. Lights with 3D graphics are interestingly inserted between the fender and the fifth door. The rear window with a small wiper is complemented by a sports spoiler. The car is also matched by the massive plastic covering of the bumper combined with its silver bottom protection.

I can't forget the fresh-looking decorative orange accessories such as the covers of the exterior mirrors, the frame of the headlights and the strips on the window of the C-pillar. Roof racks of the same color attract not only the same color, but also the shape of their front part. The beige SABLE metallic goes well with these accessories and together with the black roof forms, in my opinion, the most beautiful color combination of this model.

 Inside

After opening the heavy front door, I was impressed by its interior. It consists of hard plastic softened by regular moldings in its upper part, a tasteful chrome handle protruding into the space and an armrest upholstered in thick fabric.

The deep dashboard is made only of hard plastics with different structures. However, the smooth material of its middle part will be prone to scratches. I was impressed by the imaginative ventilation vents in the center and on the sides turned in the opposite direction. The sporty shaped three-spoke steering wheel is slightly flattened from below, has a thick rim and high-quality workmanship. I had to get used to controlling the cruise control on a separate lever on the left side under the steering wheel and the unconventional one-time wiping of the front wipers using the right lever by pulling it towards me. The manufacturer could have placed the infotainment display higher. On the other hand, it is decently readable even in direct sunlight.

I was satisfied with the clear instrument panel and the information on the simple display between the tachometer and the speedometer. The classic indicators of coolant temperature and fuel level in the tank were also not forgotten.

The subtle central tunnel is well-crafted with an interesting automatic transmission selector and an unusually shaped handbrake. The seats, covered with three-colored solid fabric, are at first glance very simply shaped, and I was worried about the comfort provided.

 Driving

Getting into the car for the first time confirmed my initial fears. The seats are soft, the backrest is not shaped in the lower part, in addition, there is no adjustable lumbar support and the side guidance is rather symbolic. However, after a longer drive, I realized that none of this bothers me and the comfort of the seats is sufficient despite all the missing elements. As only the French do it….

Getting in is comfortable thanks to the greater ground clearance and narrow thresholds. The posture is relatively low with the legs stretched forward. The steering wheel adjustment range, the position of the pedals and the seats suited me at my height of 185 cm. On the other hand, the legroom seemed a bit cramped.

The ergonomics of the placement of the automatic selector, handbrake and the few existing single-purpose buttons are fine. I see the problem in the need to control most of the car's functions via the infotainment touchscreen, including the air conditioning, which distracts the driver from what is happening on the road. The multimedia system offers the option of returning to the previous screen with one button. However, this does not apply when using Waze navigation through Android Auto support and trying to e.g. ventilation temperature setting. The system already required more steps when returning to navigation. The space in the shoulder area is sufficient, taking into account the small width of the car, and I was extremely satisfied with the view out in every direction. However, the rear-view mirrors could have been bigger.

Except for some ergonomic mistakes, sitting behind the wheel suited me, but on longer journeys I missed the central armrest a little.

Ride

The C3 Aircross does not pretend to be a sporty crossover and primarily strives to provide maximum comfort for the crew. The car's chassis is buoyant and can filter out normal road irregularities nicely. He simply can't cope with larger ones and will let the car crew know about them. When driving on a wavy surface in corners, you can feel the nervousness of the rear part thanks to the simple correction. Although the car leans significantly in the corner, it can go through it quite quickly and without protest. The natural understeer is tamed by the stabilization system, which intervenes gently, but in my opinion a little early. However, dynamic driving is not entirely characteristic of the car. The mentioned inclinations and the indistinct lateral guidance of the seats discourage the driver from this style of driving.

The car was powered by a three-cylinder gasoline engine with a volume of 1199 cm3, a maximum power of 81 kW at 5500 rpm and a torque of 205 Nm at 1500 rpm. The unit has a raw, but rich and ear-pleasing sound. Despite the number of cylinders, I appreciate the excellent vibration suppression. The engine likes to be revved over 6,000 rpm, but it engages decently and smoothly from 2,500, while it reacts relatively quickly to the movement of the gas pedal. The small volume is felt only when the speed of 140 km/h is exceeded, when the willingness of the car to accelerate decreases significantly.

The engine was coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission with a hydrodynamic converter, which offered, in addition to normal, a sport and "snow" mode. I was absolutely satisfied with the control logic, which was set quite dynamically even in normal mode. The engine did not try to save fuel at all costs, but used a wide range of usable revolutions to achieve the maximum possible dynamics. On the other hand, he did not let the engine fall into low revs. The mode with the flake shifted more gently and earlier, while the sport mode, on the other hand, kept it at higher revs. The reactions of the gearbox are fast enough, but the smoothness of the shift when starting from a standstill was only sufficient.

I was positively surprised by the steering, which was relatively direct and without play around the central axis. I was also pleased with the power steering setup, which was pleasantly stiff and provided equal resistance in every position of the steering wheel.

Thanks to its compact dimensions, the car is easy to maneuver in the city. The turning diameter is a pleasant 10.7 m, but I consider the number of turns of the steering wheel between extreme positions with a value of 3 too high. Despite the excellent view from the vehicle, I would appreciate a rear camera and front parking sensors. In the city, in relatively dense traffic, I achieved a consumption of 8.1 l/100 km.

In the districts, it is possible to maintain consumption at a value of 6.5 when driving briskly. The ride is also pleasant thanks to the above-average soundproofing of the interior from aerodynamic noise as well as from the chassis. I was also satisfied with the effective and finely adjustable brakes. I rate the low beam halogen lights as average, I had no reservations about the high beam performance.

I drove on the highway with a consumption of 7.4. An expressway with a speed limit of 100 km/h reduced it to 5.7. The noise from the engine and chassis remains at a low level as the speed increases, the aerodynamic noise is more pronounced when there is no wind from a speed of 140 km/h. The following table shows the engine speed values at individual speeds on the 6th gear:

I handed over the car with an average consumption of 7.1 l/100 km, which I consider reasonable. I drove briskly without trying too hard to save fuel, with highway driving slightly prevailing. The 45-liter tank actually lasts a little over 600 km.

Considering the focus of the car, I was satisfied with its driving characteristics, I would highlight mainly the characterful engine and the excellent transmission. However, the chassis would deserve a better ability to absorb larger bumps.

Practical side, price

The compactness of the car was reflected in the space on the rear seats. Although I did not sit comfortably "behind myself", there is certainly enough space for children. In addition, I appreciate the correct location of the IsoFix mounts and thus the easy installation of child seats. It would not hurt if the rear doors opened to a greater angle, which would make it easier to put children in the seats. Overall, I consider the car suitable for a family of 3-4 with smaller children.

There are plenty of storage compartments in the interior and they are relatively voluminous, which is especially true for the box in front of the passenger and the storage space in the doors. The rubberized compartment on the dashboard and in front of the automatic selector can also be used (except for inductive charging of a mobile phone).

The luggage compartment with a volume of 410 l is deep, has a regular shape, an adjustable bottom and is easy to use. Folding the rear seats increases it to a respectable 1255 liters.

Despite the absence of safety assistants, I consider the middle FEEL equipment supplemented by the BEST OF (FEEL) package to be sufficient. Personally, I only lacked low beam or high beam LED lights, which would have taken driving at night to a higher level. However, I did not find them in the price list even for an additional fee.

The price of the tested model is set at EUR 18,690, which I consider highly competitive within the class for a crossover with good equipment, a relatively powerful engine and an automatic transmission.

Verdict

Citroen has created a car that goes beyond the current trend of sometimes violently sporty looking crossovers. The C3 Aircross is a car to like nonetheless. However, it sells not only design, but also used technical solutions. I think the tested engine and transmission combination is perfect for this car.