CITROEN

Citroën C3 Aircross: the most affordable 7-seater on the European market 

The new Citröen C3 Aircross is the latest seven-seater model to hit the market, but its trump card lies in the fact that it is also one of the most affordable, along with the Dacia Jogger. Derived from the popular C3, the C3 Aircross is aesthetically appealing, but obviously larger than the vehicle it comes from, growing in length by 38 cm (reaching 4.395 m, instead of 4.015 m) and 13 cm in the wheelbase, which is now 2.67 m, instead of the 2.54 m of the C3.

The greater length and, above all, the more generous wheelbase, allow the C3 Aircross to offer a more livable interior, especially for rear seat occupants, who benefit from more legroom. The Aircross version of the C3 also offers 5 cm more height, which is noticeable on board, reinforcing the feeling of interior space and benefiting the boot, whose capacity increases from 310 litres (in the C3) to 460 in the C3 Aircross.

One of the C3 Aircross's greatest strengths, especially in relation to the C3 on which it is based, is the fact that it is a utility model (segment B) with a track length of around 4 metres, while the former - being longer, taller and with details on the bodywork that give it a more radical appearance - is positioned to compete with the other SUVs in the B segment. This means competing in the market with the traditional leaders of this segment, which is one of the most sought-after in Portugal and Europe, such as the Peugeot 2008 or the Renault Captur. Interestingly, these two vehicles are both shorter and shorter wheelbase than the C3 Aircross, as well as offering a less voluminous trunk.

For customers looking for a family vehicle with the capacity to occasionally transport seven occupants — since, in this segment, the third row of seats is not advisable for longer journeys —, the C3 Aircross will have to face the Dacia Jogger, which until now held the monopoly in this price range and which is substantially longer (4,547m), also offering a more generous wheelbase (2,898m), which guarantees more space for the 3rd row of seats. In contrast, Citroën has the advantage of offering a complete range, with combustion and electric engines, and is also (slightly) more affordable, selling the seven-seater petrol version for €21,890, compared to €22,050 for the equivalent Dacia version. Still, for those who can accommodate the limitations of LPG, it is worth remembering that the Romanian brand sells the bi-fuel version for just €19,250.

ë-C3 Aircross electric promises to make a difference...The new C3 Aircross is offered with five and seven-seater versions, with the third row of seats available from the Plus version, the intermediate version between the more affordable You and the more equipped Max, for an additional R$700. The first two engines to appear feature the supercharged three-cylinder with 1.2 liters of capacity and 100 hp of power, announcing an average consumption in WLTP of 5.9 l/100 km or, alternatively, the mild hybrid version, which the manufacturer calls Hybrid and which uses the same combustion unit, but in a more “pulled” version, in order to provide 136 hp, with electrification being handled by a small engine with 29 hp, powered by a battery with only 0.43 kWh useful. The C3 Aircross Hybrid demands an additional €5,300 and, although it promises more speed and acceleration, it reduces the advertised average consumption by just 0.6 liters (5.3 l/100 km).

However, for some drivers, the most interesting option is probably the ë-C3 Aircross, the family tram. This model, which inherits the engine and battery that we already knew from the smaller ë-C3, continues to offer a 113 hp (83 kW) engine, powered by an LFP battery with a useful capacity of 43.8 kWh, which recharges at 100 kW in direct current (DC) and up to 11 kW in alternating current (AC), which allows it to announce a range of 307 km, a top speed of 143 km/h and 0 km/h in 12.9 seconds.

We drove the new ë-C3 Aircross for a short trip and, despite the difference in dimensions and weight, there are no significant changes in behavior, comfort or even acceleration capacity, with the ë-C3 announcing 135 km/h and 11.0 seconds from 0-100 km/h. The driving position is correct and the feeling of quality on board is good, because although the plastics are hard, the reality is that they do not produce parasitic noises, not even on less good surfaces. Proving comfortable, this B-SUV offers more space in the back (in the second row of seats) than most of its rivals, as does the trunk capacity.

The new Citroën C3 Aircross is one of the lowest-priced models on the market with 7 seats. In addition to its versatility, it offers gasoline versions (100hp) and hybrid and EV versions with 136hp.

With balanced behavior and capable of maintaining an interesting pace, the electric C3 Aircross could, however, improve its consumption. This is because, when driving calmly, it is easy to register 19 kWh/100 km, a value that is in line with that announced by the manufacturer (18.3 kWh/100), but which prevents this Citroën from going further between visits to the charging station. To give you an idea, the ë-C4, which is larger and heavier, is almost 20% more efficient. Still, the ë-C3 Aircross makes up for it by being offered for €26,490 in the You version, the most affordable, with the final price “jumping” by €2,200 when the equipment level evolves to Plus and Max, the most sophisticated. This puts Citroën's B-SUV at the forefront of electric vehicles in this segment.

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