Citroen C3 Aircross 2017 first drive

You might note that the Citroën C3 Aircross is a rufty-tufty-looking crossover. Deciding to replace the Citroën C3 Picasso MPV with an SUV must have been about as hard as deciding whether to get out of bed in the morning. So here we are: B-segment SUV/crossover/call it what you will. 

It’s a 4.15m long, Citroen C3-based and 1.6m tall funkmobile that looks, I think, pretty interesting - in a fun, striking, slightly aggressive, angry Jelly Baby way. A bit like a Panda 4x4. Only, being a Citroën, it’s only ever a 4x2.

That’ll be because of the Citroen C3 supermini (and Vauxhall Crossland X) platform, which means this is a front-drive tall hatchback rather than a full-on SUV; albeit one with 175mm of ground clearance, and hill descent control, an adapatable traction control for off-road and all-season tyres on some versions; so it’ll get to places as rugged as you really want it to. 

To beachside or mountainside or yurtside, presumably - for this is one of those cars ideally suited to your active lifestyle, don’t cha know. There are roof rails, 60/40 split rear seats (like rear windows that open, not necessarily a given on a small Citroën), a fold-flat passenger seat and even, on this top version, a sliding rear bench to increase luggage capacity from 410 to 520 litres. Perhaps up to 1289 litres with the rear bench folded. Think of how much active stuff you could get in there. And you will. Because, damn, you so cool, bruh.

Mechanically? I suspect you don’t much care if you’re buying one of these. But given you’re reading this, you do. So you can have a 1.2, three-cylinder petrol with 81bhp, at a base trim that hardly anyone will buy from £13,995. The next trim up, of three, costs from £15,100 and is where it really starts. Adding a turbo to the 1.2 gives you 109bhp or 128bhp. The auto option (109bhp only) is now a six-speed proper automatic, rather than the awful single-clutch automated manual. There are 99bhp and 119bhp 1.6-litre diesels, too, both manuals. Pricing is all done by £19,525. There are struts at the front and a torsion beam at the back; both facts about as surprising as finding it gets dark at night.

If you’re fans of funky-looking exteriors, step right this way, then. And also if you’re fans of quite interesting interiors, too. But not if you’re fans of high-grade, solid-feeling interiors. Inside, it’s all pretty small Citroën stuff – stiff, brittle-looking surfaces, a bit shiny in places, but dolled up here and there to look the part. The two higher-spec versions get a big touchscreen that also, annoyingly, has the climate controls.