Here’s your first proper look at the completely reinvented new Citroen C3 Aircross, coming with rugged new exterior styling and the option of seven seats.
Yep, the C3 Aircross is going from compact crossover to full-on, family-sized SUV this year.
When it joins the leasing party this autumn it’ll be available as both a five or seven seater and with petrol, mild-hybrid and fully-electric powertrains to choose from.
Comfort suspension - with dual progressive hydraulic bump stops for the first time and on all versions - means it should be easy to live with, even on cratered UK roads that currently resemble the surface of the moon.
At 4.39 metres in length (for both the five-seater and seven-seater) the C3 Aircross is slightly shorter than the likes of the Peugeot 5008 or Skoda Kodiaq but there should be ample room for passengers and the exterior styling is eye-catching indeed. Citroen calls the design language ‘robust and assertive’.
The five-seater gets a 460-litre boot and the ‘best knee room’ and ‘best elbow room’ in the category, says Citroen.
The seven-seat C3 Aircross features two retractable extra seats in the third row that can be folded to provide a flat surface when not in use. You also get cupholders, a USB socket, a footwell and air conditioning in that third row.
When it comes to the engines on offer, the most popular one is likely to be the ‘Hybrid 136’, a mild-hybrid powertrain underpinned by a 1.2-litre petrol engine and 48V electric tech.
Citroen tells us: “The powertrain is easy to use and requires no recharging. Ideal for families, it reduces both fuel consumption and emissions, making it good for the wallet and the planet.” Unlike a lot of other mild hybrids, the C3 Aircross Hybrid can be driven using electric power alone in urban traffic.
There will also be a traditional 1.2-litre petrol engine with power of 100 hp.
Meanwhile a fully-electric Citroen e-C3 Aircross will also be available - but it’ll come exclusively with five seats. A 44 kWh battery provides power of 113 hp and a relatively modest range of up to 186 miles between charges, though a 250-mile version will be added in 2025. Rapid 100 kW charging can take the battery from 20-80% full in 26 minutes.
Inside the cabin of the Citroen C3 and e-C3 Aircross there’s a twin-level horizontal dashboard that’s covered in soft fabric.
And there are two trim levels - PLUS and MAX - to go at.
The entry-level PLUS comes with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless smartphone mirroring, active safety braking, lane departure warning, rear parking sensors, a rear parking camera, and 17-inch alloys.
The MAX versions add extras like 3D LED rear lights, a white or black roof, 3D sat nav, wireless phone charging, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel.
New Citroen C3 and e-C3 Aircross will go on sale in the autumn in the UK with first customer deliveries by the end of the year.
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