The new Citroen C3 Aircross’s sister car, the Vauxhall Frontera, has arrived in the UK at virtually the same time as the Citroen. As we’ve discussed before, the two Stellantis group models are effectively the same car, but both the Citroen and Vauxhall get their own look and dashboard, and choosing the Citroen brings the brand’s Advanced Comfort suspension and seats.
More interesting is that on average, a C3 Aircross is £500 cheaper across the powertrains – with increased specifications. Considering how close these two models have been launched in the UK; it will be interesting to see which manufacturer and model will be the best-seller in fleet.
Design and interior
The Citroen’s tall and slim silhouette is the closest link to its Vauxhall sister car. The C3 Aircross follows the latest Citroen family look, with its vertical front design, with new Citroen logo in the centre, and three-segment lighting signature. Like the Frontera, the most distinctive part of the design is a curvy C-pillar, which stands out more with a white contrast roof. The back of the C3 Aircross again is quite upright, with the rear light clusters stretching across the boot. Overall, it’s an attractive design that along with its new big brother, the C5 Aircross, shows Citroen’s more aggressive new family look best. However, it’s not just the Citroen and Vauxhall that share the same new ‘Smart Car’ BEV-native platform; there’s the excellent Fiat Grande Panda to come.
Inside, we prefer the Citroen’s simpler, ‘C-Zen Lounge concept’ design, with new head-up vision system, to the Vauxhall’s ‘Pure Panel’ 10in screens system. To clarify, the Citroen’s instruments are in a slim display at the top of the dashboard. To see them, you need to look over the small steering wheel. So, it’s not really a ‘head-up display’, it’s more like the Peugeot I-Cockpit – except in our opinion this works better! The display is much closer to the driver, and the small steering wheel doesn’t obscure the instruments.
The dashboard has a 10.25in infotainment screen in the centre, plus separate, physical ventilation controls below. The driving position is comfortable, but the Advanced Comfort front seats, despite their increased padding, are not notably more comfortable than those in the Vauxhall. With its taller dashboard design, the Citroen’s interior stowage doesn’t feel as impressive either.
There’s a surprising amount of rear room in the C3 Aircross, and like the Frontera, the big coup for buyers is the optional extra pair of seats in the boot. Although, they’re sadly only available on mild hybrid models, for an additional £765. However, don’t be too sorry, as having tried them, they are only suitable for kids and short journeys! Also, with the extra seats fitted, the practically shaped 460-litre boot drops to a more awkward 300 litres. Like the Vauxhall, the affordable pricing equals plenty of hard plastic around this Citroen’s interior, but the C3 Aircross’s clever use of fabric and colour disguise it better, making the Citroen feel better quality inside.
Performance and drive
Citroen’s new C-SUV model is available with the choice of electric, mild hybrid, and petrol powertrains. A larger battery version of the EV with a range of up to 248 miles is expected next Spring. Until then, like the Frontera Electric, the E-C3 Aircross is fitted with a 44kWh battery, with 113hp and 125Nm of torque, and a range of 188 miles. Capable of being fast charged, it can go from 20 to 80% on a rapid charger in 26 minutes.
On the road, the E-C3 feels willing enough, if not exactly fast in everyday use. The Citroen, like the Vauxhall feels sharp off the mark, but choose the more relaxed ‘Comfort’ mode, which retards the throttle, and progress is significantly slower. So, whilst the Citroen’s performance is perfectly adequate, where it stands out from the Frontera is the Advanced Comfort suspension, which offers more comfort and refinement – even with both cars on matching 17in wheels. Brake feel is fine, too. Although, the E-C3 Aircross’s steering lacks feel, and sometimes that small steering wheel is too small in our opinion.
Alongside the E-C3, the Aircross will also be available with a 100hp, 1.2-litre turbo petrol, and six-speed manual transmission. Plus, the 136hp 1.2-litre 48V mild hybrid engine, which is fitted with a belt-driven starter/generator.
Citroen is predicting an equal split of sales between EV and petrol versions of the C3 Aircross but having also got the chance to drive the mild hybrid, our favourite is still the E-C3. However, of the Stellantis models the Citroen is the more refined drive, as the mild hybrid engine feels more at home here than in the Frontera. Starting in electric mode, the engine quickly fires up, and its three-cylinder thrum can be clearly heard, with the petrol engine seeming to be working hard most of the time. This Citroen might boast 121g/km CO2 emissions, with a 29% company car tax BIK figure, plus 53.3mpg fuel economy, but again it likes to defer to the highest gear possible on steep inclines, making it feel slower and noisier than its 10.1-second 0-62mph acceleration figure would suggest.
The C3/E-C3 Aircross feels like a car of its time, and according to Citroen has received much more interest from leasing companies. Despite only being on sale for a short time, we’ve already seen plenty on UK roads. Our opinion remains the same – Citroen’s changes to the comfort, plus extra specification and lower prices, make it our favourite of the two Stellantis offerings.
Positive: Attractive if unadventurous design, spacious and practical interior, cheaper and better-equipped than the Vauxhall Frontera.
Negative: Adequate to drive, seven-seat option only for kids and short journeys, basic infotainment.
Standard equipment: 17in alloy wheels, roof rails, dark tinted side and tailgate glass, LED headlights and daytime running lights, automatic headlights, electric front and rear windows, heated electric mirrors, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, 10.25in touchscreen, Advanced Comfort seats.
Engines: Petrol: 100hp 1.2; Mild hybrid: 136hp 1.2; Electric: 113hp
Equipment grades: Plus, Max
Transmissions: Six-speed manual, seven-speed automatic (mild hybrid), single-speed automatic (EV)
| Model | Citroen E-C3 Aircross Max 44kWh |
| P11D (excluding Electric Car Grant): | £25,030 |
| Residual value | 42.3% |
| Depreciation | £13,573 |
| Fuel | £3,617 |
| Service, maintenance and repair | £1,758 |
| Cost per mile | 31.6p |
| Range | 188 miles |
| CO2 (BIK%) | 0g/km (3%) |
| BIK 20/40% a month | £13/£25 |
| Luggage capacity | 460 litres |
| Battery size/power | 44kWh/113hp |
| Score | 8/10 |
