C3 AirCross 1.2T Shine - French Connection
Citroen has returned to South Africa again and have brought with them a host of new models. We took the all new C3 AirCross for test and found it to be rather agreeable. Many of our colleagues thought so too as the C3 has been named as a finalist in the 2020 AutoTrader Car of the Year competition.
French Connection
French car manufacturer Citroen is much like the proverbial cat that can't make up its mind, they were here and they left, then they came back and left again and now they are back once more, this time they have a definitive plan and are hoping to bring the extra quirky design that they are so well known for to the fore of the market. Spear heading that offensive are three new models one of which is the C3 AirCross that we recently had on test.
Related: Citröen returns to SA with 3 new models!
Let's take a look at what this new design has to offer.
Styling
The Citroen C3 AirCross stays true to form with some rather odd styling choices and a European colour palette consisting of four colours namely Platinum Grey, Natural White, Soft Sand and the one we have here with the orange detailing, You get weird orange venetian blind type stickers on the rear quarter glass, and some nice orange accents on the side mirrors, roof rails and wheel centre caps.
The front and rear are also embellished with aluminium skid plates and chunky looking bumpers and arch cladding in black.
You also get auto-levelling LED headlights, LED taillights and 178 mm ground clearance provided for by 16" mag wheels. The C3 isn't exactly small either, it comes in at just over 4m long, 2.6m wide and just over 1.6m tall.
The Drive
The AirCross has a decidedly Euro feel to it and drives very similarly to its other French cousin the Peugeot. The one and only problem we found with the C3 surfaces when decelerating and the automatic transmission begins to drop gears. The programming seems to be slightly off here as the gears seem to thunk into place with a noticeable shudder while it hovers in first if you stand still at a red light. Outside this minor annoyance, the C3 is a lovely companion, It accelerates smoothly and is akin to driving your favourite easy chair around town.
Performance
Despite its size and relatively small power plant, the C3 AirCross is capable of a 0-100km sprint of 10.7 seconds and can reach a 187km/h (untested) top speed. This is in part due to its suspension but mostly the 1.2l, 3 cylinder, turbo petrol engine and the 6 speed automatic transmission.
Space and Comfort
The C3 AirCross seats 5 adults at a pinch with just enough leg room and shoulder room to make the drive comfortable.It has a class leading boot capacity of 410l that can be expanded to 1289l if you lay the rear seats flat. The interior is styled accordingly with orange accents pasted onto most surfaces to match the exterior. You get cloth upholstery and a leather covered adjustable steering wheel that houses the multifunction controls for the infotainment.
The C3 is loaded with technology too with the centre fascia dominated by the touchscreen infotainment system. The infotainment is Apple Car Play and Android Auto ready. You will get keyless entry, Auto rain sensing wipers, a reverse camera setup and park distance control. The windows on the C3 are all electric and the rear ones features privacy glass. The drivers' binnacle houses an onboard computer that houses the driver assistance services (see below) and the traffic sign recognition system.
Safety
This is a European car after all and as such falls under the very stringent Euro NCAP. It has 6 airbags, EBD (electronic brake force distribution), hill start assist, TSC (traction control) BAS (brake assistance system), tyre pressure monitoring, lane keep warning, park assist and a coffee break alert system.
Fuel Consumption
For a vehicle of its size the C3 is surprisingly frugal using just 8.9l / 100 km on the combined cycle.
Price
The Citroen C3 AirCross 1.2T Shine model that we tested retails for R 359 900 and comes with a 5 year / 100 000 km warranty and service plan.
Verdict
We love everything about this weird little French machine, everything except the transmission. The shuddering and jerkiness ruin what would otherwise be a superb vehicle. We do hope that Citroen will address this in future models and will hopefully stick around for a few more years. The C3 was also recently named as a finalist in the 2020 AutoTrader SAGMJ Car of the Year competition along with its cousin the Peugeot 5008. All that remains now is to see if its quirky French flair pays off.
Recommended next:
Citroen C3 vs Ford Fiesta vs Volkswagen Polo: which one has the best infotainment system?
